Cambodia has long been famous for some of the most majestic ruins, such as Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, known for being the setting for the 2001 rendition of Tomb Raider. However, the Southeast Asian destination has been opening up to tourism even more, seeing the opening of new restaurants and resorts.
This week, Six Senses Krabey Island has just opened, welcoming its first guests to 40 private pool villas in an island hideaway with dense tropical jungle and rocky coastline surrounded by azure waters. The hospitality brand’s debut in Cambodia also introduces the iconic Six Senses Spa — which will offer treatments inspired by the sacred Khmer Kbal Spean River — as wellness offerings such as the comprehensive gym, rooftop yoga pavilion, indoor aerial yoga studio, Crystal Water Room, Meditation Cave and the Alchemy Bar.
The new Six Senses resort is just one of the luxury resorts which has opened in Cambodia. Here, five new luxury resorts in Cambodia to check into this 2019.
The highly anticipated Six Senses Krabey Island is located in a landscaped 30-acre private island located 5 kilometres off Ream National Park in the Gulf of Thailand in southern Cambodia. The resort features 40 private pool villas surrounded by dense tropical jungle and rocky coastline surrounded by azure waters. Additionally, the resort will also be home to two unique restaurants with menus focused on quality local produce and seasonality, with much of it grown at the resort’s own 40,000 square feet (3,700 square meters) organic farm and herb garden.
Bringing a new concept for a luxury camp experience in Cambodia is Bill Bensley’s Shinta Mani Wild. The resort is set in an unprotected wildlife corridor connecting the Bokor National Park with Kirirom National Park. Accommodation comes in the form of 15 custom designed tents set along 1.5 kilometres of swift moving rivers and waterfalls, providing an out-of-the-world experience unlike any other resort in Asia.
Activities here include exploring the waterways of Southeast Asia’s last wild estuarine ecosystem aboard one of Shinta Mani Wild’s private luxury expedition boats, to accompanying rangers and researchers as they study the wild jungles and their inhabitants.
Situated just ten minutes from mainland Cambodia is Alila Villas Koh Russey, an ecological escape on the enchanting island of Koh Russey on the Cambodian Riviera. The 50-pavilion, 13-villa boutique resort boasts a strong Khmer influence, infusing the architecture, landscaping and interior works with the destination while paying tribute to local artisans. The resort makes a lavish base for guests to explore the natural beauty of Cambodia’s southern shores and enjoy bespoke Alila Experiences — such as taking in temples, coastal towns and the Bokor National Park.
The Balé Phnom Penh hotel, located in the Koh Dach area of Phnom Penh, is a high-end collection of 18 large, private suites showcasing the best of modern Asian architecture, design and gourmet cuisine. The resort is perched on the banks of the majestic Mekong River, with breathtaking views across dazzling waters. The in-house restaurant, Restaurant Theatro, serves refined Cambodian classics in a sleek mid-century setting.
Soaring 188 meters above the heart of Phnom Penh’s business district is Rosewood Phnom Penh. The hotel occupies the top 14 floors of Vattanac Capital Tower, the city’s most iconic modern structure. Accommodation comes in the form of 175 rooms, including 37 suites, and blend traditional refinement with sophistication. The hotel is also a dining destination in the city, offering five very distinct venues, from French infused with Cambodian cuisine to an Izakaya-style restaurant.
Dewi Nurjuwita
Senior Writer
Dewi Nurjuwita is a travel and design writer who can be found exploring the streets of foreign cities with passport in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
