Clearwater Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem
The clearest water on the island, no shops, no resorts —
and M’Pai Bay is the gateway.
Clearwater Bay is what people imagine when they picture an untouched Cambodian island beach: soft white sand, water so transparent the name feels like an understatement, and — for now — essentially nothing built on it. It sits on the northern end of Koh Rong Sanloem, which makes M’Pai Bay the natural jumping-off point.
What it’s like
Wild, in the best sense. No restaurants, no shops, no sunbeds — whatever you want there, you carry in (and carry out). Swimming and snorkelling are superb on calm days, and midweek you may have the entire bay to yourself. Word is that development is coming eventually, which is exactly why you should see it now.
How to get there from M’Pai Bay
Two options. On foot: walk to Long Beach (five minutes from the village) and continue on the coastal jungle trail — about an hour, proper footwear and plenty of water required. By sea: a longtail boat taxi from M’Pai Bay’s pier runs around $5 and takes minutes; any guesthouse or the boat captains in our directory can arrange it, and boats can collect you at an agreed time.
What to bring
Water (more than you think), snacks, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear (rentable in the village), and a dry bag. There is no shade infrastructure and no help nearby — treat it like the wilderness beach it is, and take every scrap of rubbish back with you.
Nearby beaches
Long Beach, back toward the village, is the easy everyday alternative. Across the island, Sunset Beach and Lazy Beach trade wildness for bungalows and dinner. All of them are mapped out in the complete island guide.
Stay Ten Minutes from Paradise
Base yourself in M’Pai Bay and Clearwater Bay is a $5 boat ride away.