The Cambodian paradise - Song Saa Private Island

Crystal-clear sea, tropical weather and one resort on a private island. Welcome to Cambodia you didn’t know existed!

Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

I’ve heard about Song Saa private island for the first time shortly after my move from Yangon to Phnom Penh in April last year. I quickly placed it on my bucket list. A few weeks later I set up a meeting with their Director of Sales & Marketing for an afternoon drink during which she invited me for an inspection trip.

Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

At the end of June, which technically marks the beginning of the rainy season, I jumped on the bus heading to Sihanoukville - the most popular sea resort town in Cambodia. I’ve changed my mode of transportation for a private speedboat going to Koh Kuen - a local name of the island occupied by Song Saa is.

Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

Myself and a few other guests were greeted by a very likeable General Manager of the resort. While the staff was taking care of our luggage she escorted us to our accommodation providing a short and interesting briefing about the island and the resort. From the outside my lodging on stilts resembled a traditional village house. Inside it turned out to be a huge luxury villa with a 26 square meters private swimming pool.

Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

The resort consists of only 24 villas built from recycled and repurposed timber. Each villa has a view for the jungle (these are the cheapest if we consider that the word “cheap” is a relative concept) or the sea. Some of them, like the one I was staying in are overwater villas accessible via wooden footbridges. The most expensive one is so called Royal Villa which features two bedrooms, 33 square meters swimming pool and a private chef…

Living room. Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

Bathtub. Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

Shower. Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

Talking about food - there are two restaurants on the island - Vista Bar & Restaurant and Driftwood. Vista as the name suggests offers a spectacular view for the sea and Koh Rong archipelago. It specialises in Khmer cuisine, serves western food, fresh salads, seafood sourced directly from the local fishermen and bread made on site.

Photo: Song Saa Collective

Driftwood is more a bar than a restaurant. The resort describes the venue in the following way:

Order a bottle. Sip while watching the sunset. Order another bottle. Repeat the next day… Open from early morning to late night, Driftwood Bar on the beach is the ideal spot for a refreshing glass of Brut, a chilled post-swim beer or one of our signature sundowner cocktails. Complement a muddled mojito or a glass of Riesling with a crispy, thin-crust pizza or bite-sized tapas.

Pizza in Driftwood is the best pizza we had east and west from Italy. Full stop. Order it once and you will come back for more...

Photo: @Veron.iica. Used with permission.

If two restaurants are not enough, you celebrate some special occasion or you’d simply like to have a bit more privacy, the resort offers “destination dining” as well. Choose a place on the island - on the beach, along the infinity swimming pool or in one of the secret enclaves in the resort and the staff will prepare you a table under a blue cloudless sky or the carpet of stars.

Photo: Song Saa Collective

Shortly before our arrival, I’ve heard that Song Saa is the kind of place which shouldn’t really be visited alone. What’s the joy in all this hedonism if you have no one to share it with? Thankfully I haven’t made a mistake here and took my partner, @veron.iica with me. Three days on the island passed in no-time and we spent it mostly in our villa (I blame a well-stocked unlimited mini bar full of nice wines for that), private swimming pool and the restaurants. For active people who can’t just do nothing, Song Saa offers the whole range of activities such as scuba-diving, speedboat rental or a private picnic on Koh Rong island to name just a few.

Photo: Song Saa Collective

Coming to an end I think it’s worth to mention that Song Saa is more than a resort and a private island. It’s a collective of enterprises aspiring to change the world. Song Saa Collective comprises of tourism & hospitality, social activism, real estate development, renewable energy and a non-profit foundation operating under the same name.

Perhaps all of these plus lack of any real competition on the same or similar level causes that a stay on Song Saa is not a cheap event. Two nights in the jungle villa with a breakfast for two next week would cost you more than $3,000. The package I had (overwater villa, all-inclusive) at the same time would set you back more than $7,000.

Was it worth it? Definitely yes! Would I pay it from my own money? No.

Thankfully I work in tourism and I did’t have to! ;-)