A resort housed in the former guesthouse estate of King Norodom Sihanouk, Amansara is a tranquil sanctuary only minutes away from the famed Angkor ruins of Siem Reap, Cambodia.
With 1960’s French style architecture and remaining true to the former guesthouse’s style and character, Amansara features a minimalistic take with its clean lines and subtle Khmer touches.
A total of 24 suites are found around the central lawns of the property, with 12 of these suites having private plunge pools. Choose from 3 options to suit your taste and needs: the Pool Suite, Courtyard Suite, and Contemporary Suite.
Each of these suites has open-plan interiors, with a bedroom and living area in one space, with the en-suite bathroom, including an island bathtub, being a few steps down. Floor to ceiling glass doors lead up to either a large private courtyard or a private 6 x 5-meter plunge pool with a small garden and cushioned banquette enclosed by greenery, giving you a secluded outdoor area with no one in sight.
Each accommodation comes with complimentary transfers to and from the Siem Reap International Airport or from any part of Siem Reap, aboard a vintage 1960’s vehicle. Daily excursions to the Angkor ruins are also included, with an English-speaking guide whose insider knowledge will take you to areas of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with very few tourists.
Other inclusions with your stay include daily breakfasts, as well as a choice between lunch or dinner; transportation for Siem Reap excursions; all-day non-alcoholic beverages; freshly baked cakes and cookies to your heart’s content; daily seasonal fruits and a selection of cheese; and free laundry.
Accommodation and amenities at Amansara are all meant to provide guests with a sense of privacy, and thus, suites are spread apart, and communal areas such as the central pool, the hidden 25-meter lap pool, the spa, and the dining areas are all in large spaces spread apart, creating areas where guests feel and enjoy their privacy.
The resort’s restaurant used to be the King’s screening room, and its circular shape provides beautiful views of the estate. Guests and non-residents can also dine al fresco in pergola-shaped tables by the poolside, where a daily changing menu offers both traditional Khmer and Western dishes. Khmer cuisine is very simplistic, with a focus on using local ingredients sourced from the market and local suppliers, but still being scrumptiously filled with flavor.
When you’ve checked off the Angkor ruins from your to-do list, there are plenty of adventures to enjoy. The Siem Reap countryside, with its vast rice fields dotted with sugar palms, fruit trees, and wooden Khmer houses on stilts, is a beautiful place to explore on mountain bikes. Or, you can take the Amansara lake boat and enjoy brunch or lunch floating on the nearby Lake of Tonle.
Once you get back to Amansara, take advantage of the resort’s spa, with four treatment rooms featuring its own steam room and bath. Therapies, wraps, and treatments using local oils are meant to refresh and rejuvenate, making the spa the perfect way to end your day, or the ideal final checklist on your itinerary before you head back home or move on to your next destination.
The “Sara” in Amansara is a derivative of “apsara,” which means a beautiful woman whose charms were meant to distract and seduce warriors from battles. With Amansara’s enviable location, its estate being a former royal guesthouse, amenities and accommodation fit for nobility, and 5-star services that provide you with all that you need and more, Amansara indeed distracts and seduces you from modern life’s chaotic hustle and bustle, bringing you to a place of utter tranquility and genuine indulgence.
