If you are in search of some inspiration for the perfect Cambodia luxury holiday itinerary then look no further… because I have tried, tested and got the t-shirt champagne in my face. That’s a long story actually, and maybe best saved for another day.
Anyway, for me to travel in luxury also means to travel slowly. Why? Because if you are spending hundreds of pounds per night on the most luxurious hotels that come with private pools, butlers and invitingly soft robes, then you definitely want the time to be able to enjoy and appreciate your surroundings. You don’t want to be up at 8am and back after sunset every day imagining what your private plunge pool looks like in daylight now do you?
Just the other day I created what I thought might just be the perfect luxury holiday itinerary for Cambodia for an elderly couple who like to travel in style. As I finalised the booking it pained me to not be going along with them… this is definitely the hardest part of my job as a travel consultant!
Cambodia is an amazing place to travel at the moment, it has not developed as fast as some of its neighbours have and Siem Reap is home to some of the best luxury boutique hotels in South-east Asia. So if you’re after a little bit of culture and coast, and you’re used to the nice things in life, this itinerary might work well for you too (I have presumed you will have a private driver since it is luxury dah-ling).
DAY 1 – Land in Siem Reap, home to the wonderful temples of Angkor. Your private driver will meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel, the Heritage Suites, which is a fabulous boutique resort where you will have your own bungalow. Tonight you can rest at leisure.
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Heritage Suites – A beautifully designed boutique hotel on the edge of Siem Reap, near the temples of Angkor. The spacious suites and bungalows, set in tropical gardens promise luxurious privacy in an intimate setting. Click for full details |
DAY 2 – This morning, visit some of the splendid temples, accompanied by your private driver and guide. A good place to start is the Angkor Thom complex, which includes Phimeanakas, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. After a lazy lunch visit Bayon Temple with its mysterious towers and beautiful bas-reliefs, before heading back to the luxury at Heritage Suites and enjoy an afternoon cocktail or two.
The mighty impressive Angkor Wat
DAY 3 – This morning, before sunrise, depart your hotel for Angkor Wat, the largest and most breathtaking monument at Angkor. Built as the funerary temple for Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor never fails to reward the first time or repea
t visitor with its grand scale, surreal bas reliefs and unbelievable attention to detail. Here you will spend the morning exploring one of humankind’s most magnificent creations before returning to the hotel for a late breakfast. This afternoon be sure to have a look around Ta Prohm Temple, which has been left to the elements and like all the temples looked when they were hidden in the jungle for hundreds of years before being discovered in the 1860s. For those who want to see more of the local area, head to Tolne Sap Lake which has a number of floating villages, and enjoy a local boat ride through flooded forests.
DAY 4 – Take this morning to enjoy at your own leisure before flying to Sihanoukville, in South Cambodia, this afternoon It is just a short one hour flight. from here you will be driven to Knai Bang Chatt, which is about two hours away and is one of our favourite luxury hotel in Asia. Here, modernist villas from the 1960s have been restored to their former glory after they fell into wreck and ruin during the Khmer Rouge years. It has a splendid location on the ocean with wonderful sunset views.
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Knai Bang Chatt – Three beautifully converted modernist villas from Cambodia’s 1960s heyday located on the southern shores with wonderful ocean views. Click for full details |
DAY 5 – Take today at your own leisure – trust us this is not a place you want to rush. Why not book a private yoga or meditation session or a relaxing massage today.
The infinity pool at Knai Bang Chatt – just Imagine waking up to this… gorgeous.
DAY 6 – If you are keen to see more of Cambodia and can drag yourself away from your newfound home, then have your driver take you through the countryside to Kampot town this morning. You can make a stop at Phn
om Kampong Trach cave at the base of a rocky mountain, as well as pepper plantations and salt fields on the way. In the town of Kampot pause for a local coffee on the river front and admire the old colonial buildings and old French villas. Afterwards, take a local boat along Stung Kampong Bay to see local people’s daily lives along the river at sunset. Return to your beautiful surroundings at Knai Bang Chatt.
DAY 7 – This morning travel to Sihanoukville on the south coast (about two hours in a private car) to catch a speedboat to the all-inclusive private island of Song Saa. I’ve spoken about this incredible destination a few times on the blog, it may have a heftier price tag than anywhere else in Cambodia but it is all-inclusive – and you will have gourmet chefs, champagne mojitos and the best pizzas this side of Italy at your finger tips at all hours . We even had all the ingredients and spirits laid out in our villa to make our own mojitos (with hand-written instructions!). There’s nothing they don’t think of here.
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Song Saa private island – Stunning villas and top notch service is the name of the game on this exclusive all-inclusive private island off Cambodia’s south coast. All villas have a private deck and plunge pool at this idyllic resort. Click for full details |
DAYS 8, 9 & 10: Relax on this beautiful island where the sand is incredibly white, the water is crystal clear and the food divine. It conjures up images of every travel cliche possible. I. Wish. I. Could. Live. Here.
DAY 11: All good things must come to an end… today is the day to bid farewell to the beauty of Cambodia. After catching the speedboat back to Sihanoukville your driver will drive you to Phnom Penh (about four hours) where you can catch your international flight home.
But how much does this all cost?
In the high season a package like this will set you back £2,800 per person – this includes all accommodation (jungle villa at Song Saa), transport in a private vehicle, internal flights, an English speaking guide and all entry costs are covered. It does not include international flights, which start at about £500 between Cambodia and the UK.
So all that is left now is for you to smash open that Piggy Bank and see Cambodia in style.
PS For more details about booking a holiday in Cambodia with me like the one above please contact me via my contact page (in the ‘about’ menu) or take a look at my travel agency site Fleewinter – which sells luxury holidays to Cambodia. (We also have some great off the beaten track tours too!)
