Shinta Mani Wild

Cambodia

THE PERSONALITIES

Eco-luxury seekers. Adventure lovers. Conservationists. Curious creatives. Jungle dreamers.

THE MOMENTS

Zipping into the resort on a 400m jungle canopy zipline. Bathtubs in the wild beside rushing rapids. Morning yoga to the sounds of gibbons. Forest-foraged cocktails by the fire. A private picnic waterfall lunch after tracking wildlife with conservation rangers.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

Visit from November to April for Cambodia’s dry season, when clear skies and lower humidity create perfect conditions for ziplining, trekking, and dining under the stars. May to October brings dramatic monsoon rains that transform the forest into a lush, cinematic green, ideal for wellness seekers who want to immerse themselves in nature, linger in the spa, or cozy up in their tent with the symphony of the rain.

WHY STAY

Shinta Mani Wild is a hotel where design, experience, and intention come together. Tucked deep within the protected wilderness of Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park, the property feels like a hidden world suspended between reality and fantasy. Designed by the visionary Bill Bensley, the 15 luxury tents channel the romance of a 1940s jungle safari with hand-crafted curios, vintage campaign furniture, and flowing spaces that open onto cascading rivers and verdant forest.

But beyond the exquisite aesthetics, what truly sets Shinta Mani Wild apart is its total embrace of freedom and ease. There are no set meal times, no restaurant menus to decode, no bills to sign - everything from artisanal cocktails to riverbank picnics to daily spa treatments is included. Your days are tailored to you by your personal Bensley Adventure Butler, whether you want to ride a zipline into camp, trek to hidden waterfalls, or simply sink into a spa treatment surrounded by jungle birdsong. It’s a rare kind of barefoot luxury - deeply immersive, effortlessly indulgent, and absolutely unrepeatable.

WHY WANDER

To wander at Shinta Mani Wild is to step into a living conservation effort, where every moment spent in the jungle serves a purpose. Located in one of Southeast Asia’s last remaining wild corridors, the resort exists to protect, not just to host. Your stay directly supports the work of Wildlife Alliance, whose rangers patrol the surrounding 350 hectares of rainforest daily to prevent poaching, logging, and land encroachment.

You’re invited to witness this work firsthand, joining rangers on motorbike patrols, setting camera traps to monitor endangered species, or learning how traditional knowledge and modern science are merging to restore this vital landscape. These aren’t curated “eco” experiences; they’re part of real, on-the-ground conservation that impacts ecosystems and livelihoods. You arrive seeking connection, but leave having contributed to something much larger: the future of one of the most biodiverse regions on earth.

INDULGE IN

Dining here is both wildly inventive and grounded in the landscape. Menus are ever-changing and inspired by local, foraged ingredients - jungle ferns, river fish, forest mushrooms. Meals might be served beside a waterfall or delivered to your tent’s private terrace. The in-room maxi bar is a trove of snacks and drinks, and every cocktail is infused with regional herbs and fruits.

GETTING THERE

Reaching Shinta Mani Wild is part of the adventure. Guests are picked up in a private vehicle for a 1.5-hour scenic drive from Phnom Penh International Airport or Sihanoukville. From there, you arrive not through a lobby, but by soaring over the canopy on a zipline. Helicopter transfers are also available, offering a bird’s eye view of the protected jungle below.

WILD INITIATIVES

What truly sets Shinta Mani Wild apart is its deep commitment to conservation. The land it occupies was once slated for logging and mining and now, it’s a sanctuary. In partnership with Wildlife Alliance, the resort funds a full-time ranger station that combats poaching, protects endangered species like pangolins and clouded leopards, and helps preserve the ecological integrity of the Cardamom Mountains. Guests are invited to participate in this mission, learning first-hand how tourism can be a force for good.

Photos by Shinta Mani Wild, Elise Hassey, It's Me Louis Photography

Song Saa Private Island

CAMBODIA

PERSONALITIES

Slow travelers. Ocean lovers. Eco-conscious explorers. Mindful adventurers. Story collectors.

MOMENTS

Bioluminescent waves beneath your feet. Yoga at sunrise. Sea breeze and lemongrass. A silent paddle through mangroves. Stars scattered across the sea.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

From November to April, calm seas and golden skies make this the most idyllic time to visit. The monsoon season (May to October) brings lush greenery, warm rains, and solitude — ideal for travelers seeking stillness and the deep green beauty of Cambodia in bloom.

COST

WHY STAY

Song Saa Private Island is not simply a place to stay — it’s a way of seeing the world differently. Conceived by founders Rory and Melita Hunter, this eco-luxury sanctuary was born from a vision of living lightly and beautifully in one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse regions. Every villa, whether perched over turquoise shallows or hidden within the jungle, is built from reclaimed materials gathered from old fishing boats and local communities — a love letter to Cambodia’s land and sea.

Here, days unfold with a natural ease. You wake to the hush of waves beneath your villa, move slowly through moments of meditation, or set out across the reef with conservationists who have made this marine park their life’s work. It’s a place where luxury doesn’t mean excess, but awareness — a reminder that beauty, when rooted in purpose, becomes even more profound.

At night, the island glows. Bioluminescent plankton shimmer beneath the jetty, stars scatter across the sky, and the air carries the scent of frangipani and sea salt. Song Saa feels less like a hotel and more like a return — to the self, to the natural world, and to a sense of balance that modern life often forgets.

WHY WANDER

Song Saa lies within the Koh Rong Archipelago, a pocket of wild serenity in the Gulf of Thailand. Once a cluster of untouched fishing isles, these waters are now protected as Cambodia’s first marine reserve — a living testament to how mindful travel can preserve paradise. Guests can snorkel through coral gardens, kayak through mangrove forests, or join guided eco-expeditions that reveal the fragile ecosystems beneath the surface.

Beyond the water, Song Saa Foundation invites travelers into the heart of community-led conservation. Visit nearby villages to learn about reef restoration, plastic recycling initiatives, and education programs that empower local families. Here, exploration is both outward and inward — a chance to witness regeneration in motion, and to understand the impact of one’s presence.

Whether you choose to wander barefoot along the low-tide sandbar or meditate at dawn with the sound of waves as your metronome, the island’s rhythm becomes your own — slow, grounding, elemental.

INDULGE IN

Dining at Song Saa is a sensory translation of its philosophy: natural, nourishing, and deeply local. The overwater restaurant and lounge serve coastal Cambodian cuisine inspired by the seasons — seafood caught by village fishermen, vegetables grown in the island’s gardens, and fruit ripened under the equatorial sun. Evenings often begin with cocktails crafted from island herbs and end with candlelit meals under a wide, wild sky.

The Song Saa Spa Sanctuary follows the Buddhist principle of Metta — loving-kindness. Treatments draw from ancient Khmer wisdom and the island’s natural elements, offering open-air therapies with ocean views, forest rituals infused with local oils, and meditative sound baths designed to restore body and spirit.

GETTING THERE

Fly to Sihanoukville International Airport, followed by a 45-minute private speedboat journey to Song Saa. Charter flights and helicopter transfers can be arranged from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap for a seamless arrival.

GET INVOLVED

“The Song Saa Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2013 to protect the habitats of the Koh Rong Archipelago and improve the welfare of its communities. The Foundation continues the conservation work we began in 2006, when we first came to Koh Ouen, and at present, we are proud to have launched a broad range of conservation and humanitarian initiatives that go well beyond the borders of the archipelago. From establishing the kingdom’s first marine reserve, we have grown to become a preeminent coastal marine NGO, helping improve the lives of local people and promoting the protection of the environment wherever our work takes us.”

*Images property of Song Saa Private Island, Elise Hassey

Canvas & Orchids Retreat

CAMBODIA

PERSONALITIES

Explorers looking for a remote jungle paradise. River Glampers. 

MOMENTS

A scenic river journey to the lodge. Realizing you are a dot on the horizon. Floating tents - the feeling of a gentle movement at night. Diving straight into the river from your personal deck at sunrise.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

November to March.

COST

WHY STAY

Canvas & Orchids Retreat is a remarkable eco-tourism destination in the heart of the Cambodian jungle, offering a unique and immersive experience. Located near the historic town of Koh Kong and surrounded by lush rainforests and Cardamom mountains, this extraordinary lodge floats on the serene Tatai River.

Guests stay in spacious, comfortable tent-style accommodations, featuring modern amenities and private decks that provide stunning river views. Four Rivers prides itself on its commitment to environmental sustainability, ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding pristine nature. Whether you're relaxing in your floating tent, dining on delicious local cuisine, or embarking on adventures in the jungle, Four Rivers Floating Lodge offers a unique and eco-friendly escape for those seeking a deeper connection with nature.

WHY WANDER

Tatai River is the perfect starting point of your exploration of the Cardamoms and Southeast Asia’s largest coastal mangrove. Enjoy nature's spa with a hydro massage from Tatai Waterfalls.Try fishing for your dinner with the help of the locals. Kayak through the mangroves. Do the Ta Kiev Mountain Trek, taking you through rice fields and waterfalls. At night, wander to see thousands of fireflies.

INDULGE IN

Western and southeast Asian food. Try beef with lemon grass, pumpkin soup as well as the B 52 cocktail.

GETTING THERE

Take a bus or a private car from Phnom Penh to Ta Tai village. The trip will take about 4-5 hours. From there your guides will take you on a 30 minutes scenic boat ride to the Lodge.

*Images property of Canvas & Orchids Retreat