Elite Traveler HRS 2024

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Having been thoughtfully restored to its former glamour, Amansara Cambodia is Siem Reap’s sophisticated boutique hideaway

Amansara was once King Sihanouk’s guesthouse

The light- fl ooded Pool Suites are the most spacious at 1,523 sq ft. Each has a 320-sq-ft private plunge pool, cocooned within the towering white walls of a courtyard garden. The monochromatic interior epitomizes minimalist sophistication with 1960s accents apparent in its dark timber furnishings. Amansara blends this with traditional Cambodian touches. Pink lotus fl owers sourced from a local farm adorn the sideboard, and a sandstone wall relief references the nearby temples of Angkor. In the bathroom you’ll fi nd two traditional Cambodian silk sarongs, the ideal accessory for the short walk through the enormous glass doors to the poolside daybed. By the freestanding bath there’s incense, and in the wardrobe are artisanal woven hats to shade guests from the intense morning-to-night sunshine. By design, there are no TVs in Amansara’s suites. This is in a bid to encourage guests to switch o ff ; however, they are available on request. DINE The restaurant is Amansara’s centerpiece. Housed in an impressive original rotunda with towering ceilings, its views lead onto an outdoor terrace and the lawn.

At breakfast, try local specialties like Nom ben chok , a green coconut curry dish with rice noodles and a tamarind sauce. Lunch follows with Amansara’s all-day menu featuring Cambodian and Western dishes — although, with afternoon tea available and an endless supply of freshly baked treats to tempt you throughout the day (like brownies, apple tart and carrot cake), it’s unlikely you’ll need a midday meal. Night-time dining is given a touch of magic as the pathway to the restaurant is lined with twinkling banana leaf lanterns. A quick detour to the rooftop terrace for locally inspired cocktails and mocktails is a nice prelude before sitting down with a specially curated dinner menu. Amansara’s chef creates a new Cambodian and Western evening menu daily, sourcing produce from the local market each morning. A visit to Amansara isn’t complete without a sunrise breakfast or sunset dinner at the hotel’s Khmer Village House, which is set in a garden within the Angkor Wat Unesco World Heritage Site. EXPLORE Included in each stay is a private sunrise tour of the Angkor Wat temple complex with an expert guide. This enriching experience is made all the better as you arrive in one of Amansara’s remoks (moped-powered rickshaws) and are ushered in through a lesser-known entrance to gain a crowd-free view of the sacred site. After witnessing Angkor Wat in all its splendor, guests can choose from a roster of excursions that aim to introduce them to the Cambodia of today. A favorite is the vintage jeep tour through the countryside with a picnic in tow. By Emma Al-Mousawi Suites from $1,425 per night. Contact amansarares@aman.com, +1 833 654 2626, aman.com

AMANSARA CAMBODIA KRONG SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

Amansara’s ethos is all about making guests feel at home. This starts before you even set foot in the hotel, located in the city of Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia’s awe-inspiring Angkor Wat temple. It begins at the airport as you are handed a lemongrass-infused cold towel and ushered into Amansara’s vintage black Mercedes. As the blink-and you’ll-miss-it electric gate opens and you pull into the driveway of the late King Sihanouk’s guest house — an outstanding example of 1960s New Khmer architecture — the Amansara team are waiting to welcome you with fresh lime juice. Designed by French architect Laurent Mondet, these white curved walls, in their former years, hosted some of King Sihanouk’s most distinguished guests on visits to Cambodia’s cultural capital. This wasn’t to last, and as the country went into unimaginable darkness, the property fell into disrepair. Having been thoughtfully restored to its former glamour, Amansara is Siem Reap’s sophisticated boutique hideaway. Peaceful and quiet, the vintage chic single-story resort is surrounded by mature trees, making it feel discreet despite its central location. STAY When the resort opened in December 2002, it had just 12 suites, all located in the building’s original courtyard structure. In 2006, Amansara added 12 larger Pool Suites, designed to blend seamlessly with the original architecture.

Amansara’s Khmer Village House

Photos Aman