Cambodian island getaway takes top global travel awards!

19 October 2012

Less than a year from opening, Cambodia’s first private island resort has taken out three major international travel awards and brought the country’s undiscovered coastline to the attention of the world. Song Saa Private Island in the pristine Koh Rong Archipelago has set new standards for luxury and sustainability in a country better known for its temples and ancient ruins. The exclusive island getaway, which opened in March 2012, has this month taken out the HICAP ‘Sustainability’ award, the TTG Travel Award for ‘Best New Beach Resort’, and the coveted Travel & Leisure USA Global Vision Award for Sustainability. “Song Saa Private Island has been a labour of love for us from the moment we set eyes on these magnificent islands,” said co-founder and chairman Rory Hunter. “We were determined to showcase this largely undiscovered and pristinepart of Cambodia to the world in a respectful way that brought benefits to local people and the environment. “We are deeply honoured to receive these awards and hope that they will help bring these beautiful islands to the attention of discerning travellers around the globe.” Song Saa Private Island was created by Australian couple Rory and Melita Hunter, who have called Cambodia home for the past eight years. The couple has created an oasis that seamlessly blends interior spaces with the panoramic natural beauty of the islands, and clearly expresses their love for the people, beaches and forests of their adopted home. The island resort is inspired by the Cambodian fishing villages found throughout the Koh Rong Archipelago, with their pitched and thatched roofs, and operates on the ethos of ‘luxury that treads lightly’. “We wanted to emulate the natural colours and the textural layers of Cambodia’s fishing villages in such a way that guests felt they were uncovering new layers of interest the more time they spent at the resort,” said co-founder and designer Melita Hunter. Guests can snorkel on the island’s private reefs (Cambodia’s first marine protected area), wander in the rainforests or enjoy a world-class fusion of traditional Khmer and Western cuisine in the resort’s over-water restaurant and bar, which boasts 360-degree views of the ocean. The resort is made up of 27 luxury jungle, over-water or ocean-view villas, each featuring unique pieces of art, bespoke furniture made by local artisans from driftwood collected on the islands’ beaches, private pools and every comfort you would expect of a high-end resort.