Song Saa Private Island

Cambodia couldn’t quite challenge other countries in Southeast Asia as a complete holiday destination until it boasted a truly luxurious boutique beach resort—and Song Saa Private Island may be exactly that.

We were very excited to learn about a project set to transform two tiny islands into a haven of exclusive, authentic luxury. Soon enough, we found ourselves boarding the Song Saa speedboat, ready to transport us from Sihanoukville to the resort. Half an hour later we were greeted by its smiling staff, serving us chilled welcome drinks and handing around cool face towels—with the Cambodian friendly attitude.

Luxury meets responsibility

Song Saa Private Island was born from a desire to create the first eco-chic luxury resort in Cambodia. Behind the project are Australian couple Rory and Melita Hunter, who honeymooned in these remote parts—and fell in love with the picturesque islands of the Koh Rong Archipelago.

Captivated by its beauty, Rory and Melita took the greatest care in making as little impact on the environment as possible when building the resort—for example hiring scientists from abroad to advise on the best conservation methods.

The Australians also recognized that their responsibility extends to local communities, thus the Song Saa resort has been involved in various development programs in the area.

Eco-logic

The waters around islands are declared a marine reserve and conservation is an important theme at the resort. The Life Centre provides information about the local environment and the efforts to preserve it and organizes conservation tours—through the range of activities and excursions extend well beyond the eco experiences.

Proximity to nature goes well with Song Saa’s focus on relaxation and slowdown. The spa and gym are built in the dark, tranquil part of the larger island, along the water edge. Nearby, the footbridge leads to the smaller island: a haven of dense rainforest, available for walks and birdwatching.

The twin isles of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong are locally called The Sweethearts—or Song Saa. This name fits the hotel’s low-impact design and the tailored private experience.

Rustic Chic

The resort’s design draws some inspiration from local architecture. Built from sustainable materials, they have a rough-hewn aesthetic, with recycled driftwood used to make furniture and tree trunks to support the stone slabs of washbasins.

The twenty-seven villas are comfortably spacious, with an open-plan bedroom organized around a four-poster muslin-draped bed. Bathroom with rain-shower and sunken bath, outdoor shower and a private infinity pool with an outdoor daybed right by complete the picture of a perfect holiday villa.

Of course, some villas are more equal than others. The exceptional two-bedroom Royal Villa is the largest, and offers the best privacy—and its own jetty for arrivals and departures.

The cuisine spectacular

The cuisine is absolutely sublime. Each serving different, each day unique—the kitchen creates mouth-watering sensations from local produce in his “Deconstructed Cambodian” cuisine.

We loved the casual meals at the beachside Driftwood Bar, but the focal point of the hotel is the overwater complex containing Vista Restaurant, bar and lounge. Here the menu may include things like Bowl of Birds (Tamarind and Honey Roasted Quails), banana blossom salad or frogs’ legs.

in our opinion

Song Saa Private Island offers the level of style and quality matching many top boutique resorts in nearby Thailand or Vietnam. It's the sort of place A-listers traveling incognito will pick for a honeymoon.

*This review contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

What we love

• Sophisticated but laid back chic design and villas done up in a rustic style
• The overwater Vista Bar offering panoramic, 180-degree sea views: perfect for a trendy sundowner
• Superb dinners served in a choreographed fashion in a different place every day—and the laidback but innovative meals at the beachside Driftwood Bar. Once we were served chocolate pizza here, which was as an odd combination as it was delicious
• Tranquil and diverse surroundings for maximum relaxation. It’s a sensory feast of white beaches, deep green rainforest, and sparkling azure ocean
• The all-inclusive policy means only premium drinks are not included, but everything else is: laundry, minibars, international phone calls, and speedboat transfers, use of kayaks, sailing boats, snorkel gear as well as the 24-hour overwater gym and a 15-minute foot massage
• Villa amenities: the coffee machine, free minibar (well stocked with wine and plenty of beer), Aesop bathroom condiments, the Bose sound system
• A commendable commitment to the environment and the local communities: the owners Rory and Melita have set up a marine reserve around the islands and are involved in various projects in nearby villages
• Song Saa islands are so close to the equator the resort has its own time zone: the clocks are moved forward an hour, to enjoy sunlight longer

What you should know

• The hotel is not for guests looking for crazy nights out. There isn't much to explore around the resort (the island is so small it can be explored in 15 minutes). Everything else is a boat trip away
• The interior design feels tad inconsistent here and there. Some design elements seem out of place, like the cheap canvas prints on the walls or some lesser quality craftsmanship. We loved the use of driftwood and hand-made ceramics, especially those custom-made for Song Saa, but some other elements lack authenticity
• Water villas are quite close to the local village, it makes them feel exposed and the local fishing boats can be a bit loud
• The rooms are non-smoking and you may be charged a very high (USD$500) “cleaning fee” if you smoke in the room