Alisha's Trip to Cambodia

Our first stop was Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. After a long flight via Singapore, we arrived at the impressive new airport which is a clear sign of the country’s investment in infrastructure to support growing tourism.

During our stay, we enjoyed a guided city tour that included several of Phnom Penh’s best-known sites, followed by an evening street-food tour. My highlights were the Royal Palace, a complex of ornate buildings and manicured gardens, and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in a former high school used as a prison during the Pol Pot regime. It’s a harrowing but essential experience, offering important context for the rest of the trip.

That evening, we explored the city by Cambodian tuk-tuk on a street-food tour, trying everything from popular noodle dishes to deep-fried crickets while watching the city come alive after dark.

We stayed at the Rosewood, which was perfectly located close to the major sights yet slightly removed from the busiest areas. The hotel had a contemporary, luxurious feel, with excellent restaurants and a particularly impressive bar boasting panoramic views of the city.

Siem Reap is home to Cambodia’s most iconic attraction, Angkor Wat and the surrounding temple complex. Our four-night visit coincided with the Water Festival, so the city was buzzing with local visitors, events, and nightly fireworks.

We spent three days with our wonderful guide, Mr. Savy, and were genuinely sad to say goodbye. Angkor Wat was every bit as impressive as expected, and Mr. Savy excelled at bringing the history to life while guiding us around the crowds. Cambodia’s ancient empire was shaped by both Buddhist and Hindu influences, making for fascinating buildings with intricate carvings and impressive design. We also visited several other temples; my favourite was Banteay Srei, the beautiful “Citadel of Women,” while my sister loved the Bayon Temple with its iconic carved faces.

On our final morning, we visited the Kulen Elephant Forest. It was a lovely experience that I’d recommend to any animal lover. I’m always cautious about the ethics of elephant encounters, but this sanctuary exceeded expectations. The elephants were formerly used for tourist rides at Angkor Wat, but after the practice was (thankfully) banned, they were retired to the forest.

We stayed at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap, which was centrally located and made it easy to explore the city independently. The service was warm, and the pool area was a wonderful place to relax during our downtime.

A special mention goes to Lum Orng, a farm-to-table restaurant on the outskirts of Siem Reap. It was my favourite meal of the entire trip, offering a set tasting menu that presented contemporary twists on traditional Cambodian cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients.

We finished our trip at Six Senses Krabey Island, off the coast near Sihanoukville. The resort features 40 villas, each with its own private pool, spread across a lush, hilly island. It was every bit as idyllic as we had hoped, with panoramic ocean views, dense vegetation, and an immediate sense of tranquillity.

Like all Six Senses properties, the spa and wellness centre was extensive, offering an on-site Ayurvedic specialist, a meditation room, and a Khmer steam pod alongside the usual sauna and steam facilities. Complimentary daily meditation sessions were available, as well as yoga, stretching, or aerial yoga each morning.

Service was exceptional, with a dedicated Guest Experience Manager on hand to arrange treatments, dining reservations, and anything else we needed. It was the perfect, restorative way to end the trip.