Ultimate Cambodia

Over twelve nights and featuring four destinations, a luxurious and expertly curated tour of Cambodia takes you to the heart of this absorbing county in unimaginable style and comfort

A country where the world’s most incredible temple network meets unspoiled forests and pristine beaches, Cambodia is an essential destination for travellers of all ages. Its bustling capital Phnom Penh is a joy of sensory overload, with delicious street food and colourful markets proudly presented by some of the friendliest locals you’ll meet anywhere on the planet.

Whilst synonymous with the joy of backpacking, there is – thanks to three leading hotel groups – a far more comfortable way to see this remarkable country. Encapsulating wild experiences, therapeutic traditional massages, and fine dining, Shinta Mani Hotels have partnered with luxury hotel colleagues Rosewood Phnom Penh and Six Senses Krabey Island to create the Ultimate Luxury Tour of Cambodia.

Exploring four breathtaking destinations and immersing guests in the most luxurious hotels in the country, the tour offers an in depth, diverse experience of Cambodia’s spectacular attractions. Enjoy Phnom Penh and experience the most extravagant hotel in the city before heading on to the otherworldly Temples of Angkor. With spectacular memories made, it’s time for exclusive opulence on a pristine island, before combining adventure and supreme relaxation in a lush tropical jungle.

Sights and sounds of Phnom Penh

The tour begins in Phnom Penh where you’ll enjoy urban pampering at its best in one of Southeast Asia’s finest city hotels, the Rosewood Phnom Penh. Bookended by round-trip airport transfers, you’ll spend nights 1,2 and 12 at the Rosewood. Daily breakfast is served at Brasserie Louis, while a free flow of selected wines, beer, and soft drinks is available from 5:30 to 7pm in the living room. A 60-minute foot or shoulder massage at Sense, A Rosewood Spa, will not only ease out the tensions of a long flight, but also embrace Khmer healing practices to target deeper stress relief, leaving you rejuvenated as the trip unfolds.

Rejuvenation is the name of the day, as the first part of the tour includes a four-hour tuk-tuk tour of Phnom Penh. Here you’ll get the chance to absorb a fascinating city that infuses Buddhist traditions with helter-skelter modernity.

Mystical beauty abounds

Shinta Mani Angkor’s exquisite Pool Villas in Siem Reap, designed by Bill Bensley, promises to make the next leg of the tour memorable for urban luxury, before the beguiling beauty of Angkor Wat takes centre stage. With a pass to the temples included, nights 3-5 combine this historic site with the pure extravagance of Shinta Mani Angkor’s Southeast Asian embrace.

Your one-day temple pass for two includes an English-speaking tour guide, private vehicle and driver. So vast are the Temples of Angkor that it helps to research and plan ahead. The more you understand about the site – not only its ancient history, but its rediscovery in 1860 by French explorer Henri Mouhot – the more the wonders that await will take your breath away. From the sheer enormity of the stones that comprise the temples, to the precise symmetry of the construction and the exquisite detail of the carvings, nothing can quite prepare you for your first glimpse of Angkor Wat.

Mind blown, you’ll return to Shinta Mani Angkor to enjoy a 60-minute spa treatment, complementary mini- bar, and get organised for the trip ahead with the round- the-clock Bensley Butler service. Any laundry that needs doing is taken care of too.

A final highlight of the memorable Siem Reap visit is delicious modern Cambodian cuisine for two at Kroya by Chef Chanrith. Based around tasting menus, Chef Chanrith’s delectable delights include Battambang province pomelo salad, seared king oyster mushroom, crispy mushroom pops and dehydrated coconut, followed by sautéed Koh Kong scallops with string beans, finger chili, minced pork and holy basil.

Or why not try the smoked fluffy egg, Kampot pepper, caramel pork jus, garlic pickles and Laksa leaf, before sampling the exquisite 26 days-butter-aged beef tenderloin ‘Lok lak’ style served with a sous vide egg and Kampot pepper lime sauce. Dreamy desserts include mango and sticky rice log, coconut and chili ice cream, pandan pearl perfumed with beeswax, or Kroya coconut chocolate ball and Nom Tailai cake.

Island escape

In the Gulf of Thailand lies the tropical paradise of Krabey Island. It’s here that you’ll spend nights 6-8, and it’s fair to say that this part is all about relaxation. Leaving behind the vibrant hustle of urban Cambodia you’ll be transferred via car and speedboat to the sumptuous Six Senses Krabey Island.

An idyllic 30-acre private island is the setting for Six Senses Krabey, which comprises just 40 pool villas set in a lush jungle landscape with a rocky coastline – fringed by a boardwalk, it is a glorious fusion of land and sea.

The private pool villas exemplify the resort’s commitment to using sustainable materials while embracing modern technology for total guest convenience and comfort. Living rooms include a day bed that can be adapted to an additional bed, while the master bedroom features a netting canopied bed with Naturalmat mattress and a generous en suite bathtub. Each villa includes a private plunge pool and decking ideal for sunbathing and alfresco poolside dining.

Once settled into your Hideaway Pool Villa Suite, the island is your oyster as you head out by kayak or stand-up paddleboard across the crystal-clear waters. Sauna, steam and fitness centre facilities are on hand for those who want to catch up on their workout, or you can take part in complementary scheduled leisure activities. As evening envelopes the island, there’s a 60-minute massage to enjoy, before a three-course Khmer Senses meal sets the scene for some tranquil reflection poolside. Glass of wine in hand, the sound of the waves beyond completes a scene of totally tropical bliss.

Among the many attractions at Six Sense Krabey is the sumptuous selection of restaurants and bars. There is AHA Restaurant, a relaxed all-day dining venue serving seasonal pan-Asian and Western dishes with an emphasis on tasty, sustainably sourced ingredients, prepared expertly and served simply. For something really special head up to the Tree Restaurant, a secluded intimate dining space set among the trees overlooking the island’s coastline, with a seasonal menu that focuses on Mediterranean cuisine. Then there are two bars: the Double-Dip Hangout serves light meals and drinks alongside a selection of house- made gelatos and sorbets, while the Sunset Bar provides the perfect setting for a classic sunset cocktail, a palate- stimulating aperitif before dinner, or an evening nightcap.

A wild end to the tour

Following private transfers from Six Senses Krabey Island, nights 9 to 11 will be spent in the midst of sublime comfort and adventure deep in Cambodia’s South Cardamom National Rainforest – welcome to the incredible all-inclusive, Bill Bensley-designed luxury tented camp, Shinta Mani Wild.

From your exhilarating arrival – criss-crossing the forest canopy and rapids via a 400m zip line over a river and waterfalls – there is no such thing as a typical day at Shinta Mani Wild.

The camp is as much about giving back to the local community as it is treating its guests to an unforgettable stay. Funded through the Shinta Mani Foundation, conservation is at the heart of the project, and the camp’s ranger station enables the non-profit Wildlife Alliance to carry out vital conservation work in the area, including protecting animals from poaching, removing snares and preventing illegal logging. Guests can join the rangers on their daily patrols, witnessing front line conversation and wildlife protection first hand. This really is a luxury destination with purpose.

You can explore the atmospheric estuary backwaters on luxurious six-metre pontoon-style boats designed by Bill Bensley. Each have a fully-equipped bar and a top deck with daybed and sun loungers, setting a unique stage for sundowner cocktails.

Dropping anchor wherever you please, you can explore the mangroves by kayak or enjoy a truly wild BBQ of freshly caught crab prepared by their on-board Bensley Adventure Butler. From Executive Chef Preeti Bomzon’s exquisite fine dining using locally foraged plants and herbs, to yoga and riverside relaxation, Shinta Mani Wild takes opulence in a pristine wilderness to new levels. All meals and beverages are included as are spa treatments by Khmer Tonics Spa. All in all, it’s a dreamlike end to your trip before heading back for one more night at the Rosewood Phnom Penh.

Further information: The Ultimate Luxury Tour of Cambodia 12-night package can be booked through any of the participating hotels.

To find out more and for reservations, please visit – book@shintamani.com | phnompenh.reservations@rosewoodhotels.com | reservations-krabey@sixsenses.com