As we are now nearing the end of rainy season (middle of May to early November), the weather on Koh Rong Island is starting to change for the better, with less rain appearing during the day. If it does rain, the bursts usually last for 30 minutes to an hour, and the rainy views are beautiful, so we’re sure you’ll have a great time if you come!
It is still quite hot (25°C – 35°C), but it can be a little cloudy and humid. Below is the weather forecast for the next few days. If you don’t trust weather forecasts, message us and we’ll let you know what the weather is like on the islands.
Average Temperatures on Koh Rong
To give you a rough idea of the average temperatures over this past year (note: these are the average temperatures in the shade – temperatures in direct sunlight can be much higher):
Middle of November / December / January / February: Warm and dry. 25°C daytime.
March / April / May: Hot and dry. 35°C daytime.
June / July / August: Hot and wet. 35°C daytime.
September / October / Early November: Warm and wet. 25°C daytime.
We would say that the best time to visit Koh Rong and its sister island Koh Rong Samloem is between the middle of November and the start of May. During these months you’ll have beautiful hot days (25°C – 40°C) with very little cloud and low humidity.
Koh Rong’s Climate Over Time
In general, Koh Rong’s weather patterns tend to be consistent over time, being strongly dependent on the direction of the wind and Koh Rong’s close proximity to the equator in the Gulf of Thailand. (Because the two islands are very close to each other, Koh Rong Samloem’s weather patterns are identical).
Between the end of November and the start of March the hot dry weather comes from the north-east direction, while between June and September the rain and wind come from the south-west.
The average monthly maximum temperature in the above charts is the average air temperature in shaded areas. As such, Koh Rong temperatures in direct sunlight are much higher.
Although the temperatures on Koh Rong do not vary much over the course of a year, humidity on the island varies significantly, with April and May being particularly humid and December and January very dry.
The amount of sunshine on Koh Rong and on Koh Rong Samloem is very dependent on the season, with the dry season having significantly more sun than the rainy season.
Images courtesy of www.weather-guide.com
Rainy Season on Koh Rong
The rainy season on Koh Rong is from the middle of May to early November. It’s hard to predict exactly what the weather will be like during these months, but most of the time there will be short burst of heavy rain throughout the day, lasting for about 2 hours or so. Closer to September is when the weather is most volatile – it could rain just during the night or just during the day, it could rain for days at a time or stop for several days straight. Take a look at this short video of what it’s like on Koh Rong when it rains:
One thing to note is that, although it is wonderfully hot throughout the peak season, there are several advantages of visiting Koh Rong during the rainy season.
For example, those that visit during the rainy season get to enjoy half-priced accommodation and beautiful rainy scenes, and because it never gets too cold in Cambodia, swimming in the ocean is still a very pleasurable experience (the water rarely drops beneath 25°C). Take a look at this article for more information: 5 Reasons to Visit Koh Rong in Rainy Season
The Weather on Koh Rong in 2018
In 2018 the weather on Koh Rong was a little unpredictable. Firstly, we had a few short bursts of heavy rain randomly spread out throughout the peak season (middle of November to the start of May). The rain was very rare, so it shouldn’t affect your trip here if you’re planning to come this peak season (starting November 2018).
Secondly, on some days the weather forecast predicted rain, but it was actually very sunny, while on other days the weather forecast predicted a lot of sun, when instead it rained.
To conclude – Just come over, we promise you’ll have a great time!
FAQs
- Q: When is the best time to visit Koh Rong?
- Q: When is the rainy season on Koh Rong?
- Q: What is the weather like in October?
- Q: What is the weather like in November?
- Q: What is the weather like in December?
- Q: What is the weather like in January?
- Q: What is the weather like in February?
- Q: What is the weather like in July?
- Q: What is the weather like in August?
- Q: How do I get to Koh Rong?
- Q: What activities are there?
- Q: Is Koh Rong a party place?
- Q: Where can I see the glowing plankton?
- Q: Where are the best beaches?
- Q: What should I bring with me?
- Q: Is it easy to get a Cambodian Visa?
- Q: Is there an ATM on the islands?
- Q: Is there a medical facility on Koh Rong?
- Q: Is it a family-friendly place?
- Q: Where was Survivor Kaoh Rong filmed?
It will take about 40 minutes to get to your destination if it’s the first stop. If the boat first stops elsewhere, it may take 1 hour or so.
All 5 services will charge roughly $25 return, though prices can vary depending on time of year, special offers, etc. All services leave from the Ochheuteal (AKA ‘Serendipity’) pier in Sihanoukville and go to the main tourist beaches on the islands. If your hotel is not on the main beaches (Koh Touch / Saracen Bay), please read Sihanoukville to Koh Rong.
The 5 services offer modern speed boats with comfortable chairs, life jackets, and the option to buy food and drink on board. Not all of the ferries have air-conditioning, but once the boats set off there is a strong cool breeze throughout the sitting areas which more than makes up for it.
All ferry services tend to be very busy – we strongly recommend you buy your tickets in advance. You can buy your tickets online now here: Book Ferry Tickets Online Now
The islands are known for their stunning underwater panorama. Whether it’s snorkeling or scuba diving that you’re after, there are plenty of superb locations.
Kayaking & Paddle Boarding
Enjoy the crystal clear ocean waters by Kayaking or paddle boarding your way around – An ideal activity for couples and families alike.
Mountain Biking & Jungle Trekking
Explore the exotic jungle habitat by foot or via a mountain bike.
Bioluminescent Plankton
Sparkling like a starry sky all around you, the bioluminescent plankton are a wonderful sight to behold at night times.
Jet Skiing & Windsurfing
For some fast paced action on the beautiful clear waters, hire Jetskis or Windsurf.
To learn more, please read our Activities Guide.
As such, if you’re staying on Koh Touch (the main tourist area on Koh Rong) or on Saracen Bay (the main tourist area on Koh Rong Samloem), the easiest way for you to see the plankton is by booking a boat tour (you can also walk to Police Beach on non-party nights (15 minutes left from the main pier) and Tree House Bungalows (15 minutes right from the main pier) on Koh Touch, or make your way to Long Set Beach around the corner from Koh Touch).
For more information, please read: Glowing Plankton on Koh Rong
1) Lonely Beach – Possibly the best beach on the islands (even bettering Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Samloem), is Lonely Beach to the northern side of Koh Rong Island. Although it is not in the most convenient location, it really is absolutely stunning. The small alcove feels like a real island-paradise, with crystal clear ocean waters, soft white sandy beaches, and tall palm trees all around. The atmosphere is quite serene – so peaceful and quiet with just a few crickets chirping in the background. There are very few people around, so you feel quite isolated and secluded out in a truly beautiful setting.
2) 4K Beach (Long Set Beach) – We would say that 4K beach is number two on the list, though there are now several resorts built along this wonderful stretch of white sand, sparkling turquoise ocean, and tropical jungle wilderness. What’s great about this beach, apart from the stunning scenery and inviting pristine waters, is that it’s a short walk away from the main tourist area on Koh Rong Island (Koh Touch).
3) White Beach – At number 3 we are going to put White Beach – A 10 minute walk from the main pier on Koh Touch. Admittedly, there are probably better beaches, but the convenience of White Beach and the quality of the resorts around this area push it up a place or two. Despite what you might read elsewhere, this far side of Koh Touch is not a party location and does not suffer from the same setbacks that other more popular areas experience. The beach on this part of the touristy stretch is clean and well-kept, with soft white sands and beautiful clear ocean waters.
In 2012, a special edition of the French Survivor (‘Koh Lanta’) was filmed near Sok San Village with an All-Star cast. The production team returned in 2013 and again in 2016 to film the regular editions.
In 2015, the American version of Survivor produced Season 31 (Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance) and season 32 (Survivor: Kaoh Rong – Brains vs Brawn vs Beauty) on Koh Rong Island.
The 16th edition of Expedition Robinson (Sweden’s Survivor) was also filmed on the island.
Useful Resources:
Accu Weather
World Weather Online
Weather Forecast
Comments
Елена
Здравствуйте, мы прибывает в аэропорт Сиануквиля в 15.30m, сможем ли мы в этот день добраться до Ко Ронг Самлоем? По расписанию последняя лодка в 17.00pm, но может есть возможность воспользоваться услугами частных перевозчиков?
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. It doesn’t take too long to get out of the airport usually so you should be ok for time but you are cutting it a bit short… There are no private transfer to the islands after 5 (partly because it starts to get dark so all boats stop working).
Marta Trujillo
Buenos días,
Estamos pensando en venir a pasar 2 noches a Koh Rong Sanloem este mes de agosto. Las lluvias duran todo el día? Que tiempo estáis teniendo?
Muchas gracias
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. It’s quite hard to say what the weather will be like in August, but the rain should be starting so subside by then – check the weather forecast regularly before you come!
Brenda
Hola! Planeo ir a Koh rong en junio, es recomendable? o no voy a poder disfrutar de la playa. Realmente me preocupa mucho el tema de las lluvias. Gracias desde ya, aguardo información
Visit Koh Rong
Hello again. It is difficult to say what the weather will be like at the start of June, but you might just be OK – please check the weather forecasts though before you go…
Brenda
Hola! Estaré en la isla de koh rong los primero días de Junio. Realmente es un lugar que deseo mucho conocer pero temo ir y que llueva todos los días. Podrían informarme si junio es un mes donde podré disfrutar de la playa o lloverá mucho? gracias desde ya, espero respuestas! saludos
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. It is quite difficult to predict what the weather will be like at the start of June, but you might just be OK – please check the weather forecasts though before you go…
Karine
Bonjour à vous,merci pour ce site fort institut! Je suis sur koh rong Salaem depuis ce matin pour quelques jours, et le temps est de plus en plus nuageux. J ai même vu qu il devrait pleuvoir. Pourriez vous me confirmer (ou m infirmer, je prefererai!) Merci! Ka
Jade
is around the end of october a good time to go to koh rong? my friends and I (we’re all like 14-15 year olds tho so.. no experience) are planning to go to koh rong without adults and (probably a bad idea) we’re not sure whether october is a good time to go since it seems to be raining pretty hard these few weeks in phnom penh. also, there seems to be a really bad change in the weather in 2017..
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Jade,
We can’t say for certain what the weather will be like by the end of October, but it will be nearing the end of rainy season then so it’s likely to be raining less frequently.
Also, if you’re at all worried, Koh Rong Samloem is a very family-friendly place – It doesn’t have a night life but it’s very beautiful. The main tourist beach on Koh Rong can get quite busy and has a bit of a party atmosphere, so perhaps not your scene?
Hope that helps!