Set on two tiny jungle-clad islands surrounded by crystal clear blue waters in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago, Song Saa Private Island is a secluded paradise.
A pioneer for ethical, sustainable tourism since opening in 2012, Song Saa is a beautiful private island, and one of Cambodia’s best luxury hotels. Connected by a winding wooden footbridge, the islands were bought by Australian couple Mel and Rory Hunter in 2005, and opened as Song Saa in 2012.
This resort has led the way in Cambodian hospitality ever since, effortlessly blending a five-star experience with a strong commitment to the local surroundings – both the natural habitat and its people.
The Vibe
Arriving via the hotel’s speedboat (around 45 minutes from the mainland) you would scarcely know there was anything on the island at all, such is the light impact of its buildings. Once on dry land, shoes are kicked off and you are free to explore via soft sandy footpaths that wind around the island. Open-air buildings are all constructed in traditional style with reclaimed timber and upcycled materials. It’s undeniably gorgeous but completely harmonious with the surroundings, resulting in the delightfully low key, unflashy sort of luxury that’s at the heart of the Song Saa ethos.
The Rooms
There are 24 suites split into three categories: Jungle Villas which are slightly higher up and in the centre of the island surrounded by trees and foliage; Ocean View Villas, which are located right next to the sea and have a small private beach; and Overwater Villas – Maldives-style villas on stilts built directly over the ocean with steps down into the water. All are super swish, and all come with a plunge pool, outdoor terrace, day beds, huge four-poster bed, many showers (both inside and outside) and a bathtub sunken into the floor.
We stayed in an Ocean Villa and loved lounging out by the water’s edge or having lunch set on our outdoor dining area while wooden fishing boats passed on the horizon. Each is very private too and, even though we visited during the peak of high season, we only encountered other guests at breakfast: there’s a peaceful magic to the place that makes you feel as if you have the whole island to yourself.
The Food + Drink
Despite the intimate size of Song Saa Private Island there are a great number of dining options. The main restaurant, Vista, is on a big stilted open-air structure built over the water at the end of a long wooden footbridge. This is where breakfast is served each morning, featuring local Cambodian specialities such as Kuy Teav (a traditional rice noodle soup), fresh local fruits and classic eggs, omelettes, juices and pastries. There’s also a brilliant bar here, with double-swing seats and long sofas that jut right out over the sea – the perfect spot for a sunset drink. Vista is also the smartest dinner setting with a refined menu of dishes such as Khmer-style prawn laksa and braised pork yellow curry.
The more casual Driftwood restaurant sits beachside, with tables plonked directly into the sand. Open for lunch and dinner, there’s fresh Cambodian salads, pad Thai, and a big selection of wood-fired pizzas topped with local ingredients such as fresh squid or homemade hams.
Song Saa also offers destination dining, whereby tables will be set up in a different area of the island each night. On our final night we had a table literally in the infinity pool, with our feet submerged in the water while we enjoyed soft shell crab tempura and red snapper fillet. Finally, given how brilliant the villas are, a couple of meals taken on the outdoor terrace of the room is a must.
The Little Extras
Not only has this private island resort created a protected reserve around the island to support the coral reef and marine life, but they have a charitable foundation that works on a range of conservation and community projects, offering everything from education to medical care in the nearby village of Prek Svay on Koh Rong.
Nightly turndown treats – usually homemade traditional sweets – are accompanied by a small note explaining their history rolled into a tiny scroll. Little message-in-a-bottle-type scrolls are left on your door each afternoon too, with dining details for the evening and activities for the next day. And look out for hidden corners across the island, from four-poster sun beds positioned in private corners of the beach, to the open-air gym and the hilltop jungle Spa sanctuary.
Wellness
Wellness is a big part of the Song Saa experience, whether you check in for one of the multi-day structured packages like the Digital Detox or the Sacred Sleep journey, or opt for a relaxing massage. There’s a vast array of unique treatments available: sound healing, salt rooms, hydrotherapy, spiritual blessings, meditation and more – it’s seriously impressive given the remote location. We also loved how much the offering focusses on traditional Khmer practices, like the Khmer leaf compress which uses leaves like tamarind, lemongrass and basil, all foraged from the jungle by their in-house botanist and turned into nourishing oils and treatments. Another lovely thing about the spa is the variety of settings you can choose for a treatment, from listening to the waves lap around the overwater sala, to being amongst the trees in the jungle-clad outdoor treehouse.
The To-Do List
There are daily free activities included for each guest, such as sunrise yoga on the pool deck at 8am and regular excursions to Prek Svay village over on Koh Rong island, where you can see first-hand the brilliant work that the Song Saa Foundation does with the local community – you can even volunteer to join a trip to deliver medical and essential supplies to Prek Svay and other small communities around the archipelago.
The beautiful coral reef and marine reserve surrounding the island can be explored by a gentle snorkel or by guided scuba diving tours, where you can spot rays, sea horses and turtles. If you prefer to stay above water, there’s also the option to kayak through mangrove forests or simply relax on deserted beaches on a day-long boat excursion. Closer to home, you can explore Song Saa’s own nature reserve located on another island connected to the resort by wooden footbridge: wake up early to join a guided discovery tour of the various native bird species or explore on your own at any time of day. A nice extra touch are the provided litter pickers and bin bags at the reserve’s entrance, so that guests can help keep the place free of litter as they explore.
All image credit: Song Saa Private Island
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?