Review: Inn the Village, Koh Rong

Inn the Village offers the opportunity to find out what traditional life is like in a Cambodian fishing hamlet.

Located in Daem Thkov, a small fishing village on the southwestern side of Koh Rong (it’s also known as Sangkat Village and Lor Tuek Trei Village), Inn the Village offers an authentic Cambodian experience, and they will even help you learn a bit of Khmer so you can communicate with the locals. They get high marks from other business owners on the island for being a socially responsible business that helps the local community.

Inn the Village Koh Rong

Inn the Village offer simple rustic bungalows where you can unplug.

Be advised that a truly authentic Cambodian experience means limited electricity that’s only available in the evenings, no running water (they capture rainwater for bucket showers), no Internet, and no fans. It’s a world away from the Koh Toch section of the island, and if it’s simplicity you are after, Inn the Village can’t be beat. But if you are desperate for an internet connection, Daem Thkov Village gets excellent reception with Smart, so get a SIM card before you go.

Inn the Village has three mixed dorms in the main house, two with four beds and one with six beds. There are two bungalows with bunk beds that sleep four, and one bungalow that has one double bed and one single bed, and another bungalow with one double bed. The bungalows have balconies from which you can check out village life.

Koh Rong Inn the Village

Inside one of the bunk bed bungalows at Inn the Village.

Although there is no denying that island life on this part of Koh Rong is decidedly slow, Inn the Village has a pool table, book swap, and volleyball net, and the lovely white sand Coconut Beach is a 10-minute walk away. They can also organize many other activities including boat tours, snorkeling, scuba diving, and pagoda visits. Their restaurant serves mainly Western food, and they encourage you to explore the village and try traditional and inexpensive Cambodian dishes at some of the small restaurants there.

There’s a community boat from Sihanoukville to Daem Thkov Village every day at 3 p.m., which is the only way to reach Inn the Village. The boat leaves from Pier 52 at the Sihanoukville Port (about a $5 tuk tuk ride from town), and tickets cost $5 each way. If you’re already on Koh Rong you can take a taxi boat or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can make the two-hour trek starting from behind Monkey Island on Koh Toch Beach.

Daem Thkov Koh Rong

Daem Thkov, a small fishing village with many names, is a place to experience real Cambodian living.

Inn the Village has a great reputation with expats and villagers, as well as visitors wanting to see what life in a Cambodian fishing village is really like. The English owner, Sarah, and her Cambodian husband Som, are heavily invested in Daem Thkov Village, and they close the hostel for a few months to house marine conservation volunteers who have been working on projects like building an artificial reef to encourage more ocean life around the village.

We were quoted the following prices at Inn the Village:

  • Bungalows: $30
  • Dorm beds: Between $6.50 and $8.50

Inn the Village has a minimum two-night stay, and bookings can be made directly through their site (although it doesn’t always work). In addition, reservations can be made on Hostelworld and on Agoda.com, where prices are slightly lower. Be sure to search for two-day visits on Agoda or it will not show any availability.



Booking.com

Inn the Village

Daem Thkov Village, Koh Rong
T: 070 238 862
innthevillage.com

Looking for more? View the full Koh Rong island guide for tips on where to stay, what to eat, and where to party.

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