Best of all worlds in Cambodia

October 18, 2022 - Escape to Six Senses Krabey Island this December in time for a perfect Festive Getaway. Enjoy cultural, wellness, sporting, and signature dining experiences at a beautiful private island getaway, which is also a haven for nature and wildlife.

First opened in March 2019, Six Senses Krabey Island carefully weaves sustainable design and Cambodia’s unique culture and traditions into all elements of the resort. The attention to detail – from the materials used to planning an environment that is also a haven for birds and butterflies – meant it took almost a decade to build. We argue it was worth the wait.

The 40 spacious villas, all with private pools, are dotted within the lush natural landscape of a private island fringed by a boardwalk. This is a barefoot escape without foregoing gorgeous guestroom amenities, guest services, delicious dining options, and a sensational spa, which crowns the island and offers a wide range of holistic rejuvenation therapies. 

The Nature

Six Senses Krabey Island is home to 12 hectares of lush tropical forest and 20 varieties of birds, including the widely celebrated Oriental Pied Hornbill. With 35 of the 46 species of Cambodia’s butterflies already spotted on the island, guests with sharp eyes may just help discover the rest.

Underwater, the Reef Protection Training Course, run in partnership with local dive instructors, preserves the colorful house reef. When night falls, a truly magical event takes place on the beaches of neighboring Koh Ta Kiev. Hundreds of luminescent phytoplankton rise in the warm water to mirror the starry sky above. Back on land, hosts maintain small herb gardens, and on the mainland, we also tend a 40,000 square-foot (3,700 square-meter) organic farm producing much of the resort’s farm-to-table dinners and spa ingredients.

The Nurture

From its central position on the island, Six Senses Spa takes inspiration from the sacred Kbal Spean River near Angkor. The watery theme carries guests through to the treatment rooms with design elements including floating bubbles and calming ripples. It also closely connects with local Cambodian communities and ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions, integrating the secrets of “Kru Khmer” (local wisdom) remedies into its signature treatments, together with locally grown natural Khmer herbs and ingredients.

A popular treatment is the Khmer Kru Thnam, a herbal ball massage used for stimulation, relaxation, or muscle relief. Guests can prepare their own herbal poultice in the Alchemy Bar, guided by a therapist who will explain the healing properties of each of the ingredients. Should you need it, the Sunburn Soother uses aloe vera straight from the garden to calm, hydrate and repair sunburned or sensitive skin!

The Nourishment

Here, food is interactive and integral to your stay. A visit to the organic garden on the mainland includes picking your own picnic lunch. Our Hook, Line and Catch experience starts with your very own catch of the day, prepared how you like it. A Spice Trail trip to the Kampot (famed for its pepper, you have been warned) takes you past paddy fields and houses on stilts before ending up at La Plantation to enjoy an authentic spice-infused lunch.

Closer to home, you can pick up some time-honored tips to take home during a Khmer Cooking Class. Or you can let our culinary team look after you at a choice of two restaurants (the ocean-facing AHA Restaurant and aptly named Tree Restaurant), a bar, and a deli. If you’d like a little privacy, choose our Boardwalk Dining signature experience, with gorgeous food and the Gulf of Thailand as your backdrop for wooing the one you love. If – after a day on the water or touring the temples – you’re finding it hard to struggle from your lounger, our in-villa dining menu is creative and satisfying, featuring dishes from all our restaurants.

The Nests

Villa highlights include sustainable green living roofs, sun decks with infinity plunge pools, rain showers, and sustainable materials and features inspired by the traditional Khmer stilted house and water settlements that make up the country’s 170 floating villages. There is a range of villas, from the Hideaway (perfect for two) to the Ocean (elevated for the views). Groups of friends or families can stay together in the Oceanfront duplex, which sleeps six and extends over two floors to maximize privacy.

Set on the west side of the island, The Beach Retreat sleeps five and, as its name suggests, not only offers a private sundeck for lounging and alfresco dining but also direct access to a private beach cove. The toughest part about this one is leaving it.

“From December to February, the slightly cooler temperatures, low humidity, and long periods of sunshine make it an ideal time to visit,” says General Manager Ateeb Shrestha. “During the dry season, you can enjoy morning yoga on the rooftop pavilion or take a spin around the island jungle gym, visit temples, go on a hike or tour, or simply relax and sunbathe during the day and enjoy our boardwalk dining or movie nights under the stars at night. The Experiences Center offers a wide range of on-island and on-water activities within the resort, plus boat excursions to the surrounding islands. Teens will love the Double-Dip Hangout, which is adjacent to the horizon-edge pool and serves house-made gelatos, and children aged 4 to 12 are kept busy at the kids’ club.”

The resort’s mainland reception is a 10-minute drive from Sihanouk International Airport, and from there, it’s a short 15-minute water transfer to the island on our Six Senses cruiser.