18 Best Hotels in Cambodia

The jewel in the crown of Siem Reap hotels, Amansara offers exceptional service, atmosphere, and accommodations in surroundings of understated luxury. The tastefully renovated former guesthouse of King Norodom Sihanouk has become a resort that exudes an old-fashioned grace, where guests enjoy the quiet and me-time comfort of being at home while being indulgently pampered in a hundred small ways. Noteworthy cultural initiatives such as performances and movie screenings supporting the disadvantaged local community are organized regularly, and the resort offers exclusive tours to the Angkor temples, where guests can even arrange a personal yoga or meditation class. The Spa offers an exemplary (by international standards) range of therapies for mind, body, and soul, administered by expert professionals, and the two lovely pools are a haven of highly catered relaxation. The simple yet sophisticated restaurant menu changes daily.

Set on two small islands located a 40-minute speedboat trip from Sihanoukville, this multi-award-winning resort epitomizes the concept of barefoot luxury. Following its name—which translates to "sweetheart" in Khmer—this exclusive island resort is Cambodia's most romantic and a popular spot for honeymoons, weddings, and anniversaries. The villas are all beautifully decorated with driftwood and recycled fishing boats, and come with private pools. Dining menus change daily and the exquisite meals can be savored in a variety of spots around the islands. With a world-class spa, daily yoga, and many water activities, you can do as much or as little as you please.

A small paradise set amongst the rice fields in a village just outside Battambang, this tranquil resort has lush tropical gardens where you can relax in a hammock among fruit trees and organically grown herbs, flowers, and vegetables, all used by its restaurant to create healthy Cambodian, Asian, and European dishes. Each room has a terrace overlooking either the garden or the lake, and extra-spacious family rooms feature both king-size and twin beds and two bathrooms. The owners have created lots of unique activities for guests over the years, and were the first to run a fantastic street food tour and a village and river tour on bicycles and a local fishing boat. The onsite restaurant is outstanding.

At this luxurious seaside resort you can still experience the laissez-faire glamour of Kep in the 1960s and early 1970s. Once a fashionable weekend escape known as Kep-Sur-Mer that attracted Cambodian royalty and international celebrities, the new complex is once again luring Phnom Penh's elites to Kep. Accommodations are in four villas, three of which were built in the 1970s, and a seamlessly integrated fourth, completed in 2012. You can enjoy leisurely hours at the stunning pool overlooking the sea, yoga classes on the lawn, and meals at the resort's new restaurants including the still charming Sailing Club, where water-sports activities and boat rentals are available. Soothing therapies are available at the indulgent spa.

Twelve Khmer-style villas, all with their own private verandas and charming open-roofed Balinese baths filled with plants and trees, fan around a large blue-tiled pool set amid peaceful gardens at this seafront resort. There's also a private mangrove hiking path just meters from Asian-fusion restaurant Chankiri, which serves a selection of Western and Khmer favorites. It's an ideal resort for families and romantic types who will love the private man-made beach and lengthy jetty, vantage points for impressive sunset views.

The Six Senses might be a splurge, but if you're going to go all out, do it on this private island, where the 40 private-pool villas blend into the jungle. At the top of the island is a wellness center that offers the unique spa treatments and massages synonymous with the brand. There's also yoga, cooking classes, kayaking, and more. The food is a real highlight, with both traditional and creative Khmer cuisine, Southeast specialties, and international dishes on offer, cooked with ingredients from the resort's organic garden. There are two restaurants, along with an ice-cream parlor, as well as in-villa dining. 

The layout of these villas, each with a pool or garden view, offers privacy and relaxation in lovingly maintained verdant grounds, and your stay will help the owners' ongoing support for underprivileged locals. The bright, spacious interiors feature modern furnishings made from local wood in a minimalist style, and fresh, colorful splashes with silk cushions and throws. The bathrooms are large, modern, and serene. But Sojourn is a 15-minute drive from central Siem Reap. Its owners also run Beyond Unique Escapes, a socially responsible agency that devises innovative programs for interacting with, and helping the welcoming local community.

If you like the idea of a light-filled contemporary villa with your own private pool, this low-rise boutique resort is for you. Set on the riverbank on Fish Island, just across from Kampot's old French Quarter, the location is handy for visiting the salt flats. The one- and two-bedroom villas feature Khmer mid-century modernist-style furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows with tropical garden views. When you tire of your own pool, there's an infinity pool overlooking the river, and a private beach just upriver. Breakfast is served at the stylish riverside restaurant, but for dinner take the hotel's private boat taxi and venture into town.

This resort, between Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, offers guests who value their time and privacy a real sense of retreat from the rest of the world after a busy day of sightseeing. The cottages are laid out among atmospheric, verdant gardens rich with tropical flora, and the pool snakes its way around accommodations so that each guest has a private part of it. The classic Khmer style, with chic modern touches, creates a sense of comfort, enhanced by the service of polite, helpful staff. The resort organizes guided tours and will prepare a picnic hamper for guests exploring Angkor Wat for the day, or an afternoon tea featuring Khmer and international snacks on your return, followed, perhaps, by a restorative spa session.

While not as fancy as some of the other lodgings in the area, this intimate resort offers great value in lush tropical surrounds with sea views. There's a good restaurant and pizzeria, complimentary breakfast of Khmer and French favorites, a gorgeous pool, and a kids' playground.

This little heaven for nature lovers offers a choice of budget, eco-friendly accommodations that are clean, spacious, and in a rustic local style. Rooms are spread among the main house, tribal huts on stilts, firefly yurt, and a tower (for up to four people) with a glorious 360-degree view of the river, the elephant mountain range, and rice fields. The restaurant provides a great selection of light meals, healthy juices and smoothies, local dishes and several vegan/vegetarian options. Arrange a sunset boat trip on the river.

Meaning "the end of the world" in French, Le Bout du Monde is perched on the top of a steep hill near the national park, with beautifully landscaped gardens, far-reaching views, and eco-friendly credentials. The comfortable, attractively furnished, and spacious thatch-roofed bungalows, which have wraparound balconies, are built in traditional Khmer style from local wood and stone and stand on stilts, overlooking magnificent panoramic views of lush landscapes, Bokor Mountain and the Gulf of Siam. The excellent restaurant serves Cambodian and French delicacies including the famous Kep crab and other local seafood prepared with garden-grown ingredients.

This beautiful boutique hotel owned and run by a warm, welcoming Cambodian couple consists of traditional Khmer wooden buildings that overlook lush tropical gardens, including a large pond. The high-ceilinged rooms are all spacious, decorated with Khmer textiles. There's a stunning swimming pool, spa, and an excellent restaurant serving authentic Cambodian food. While the lodgings are about 3 km south of the old center, some of Battambang's star attractions are on your doorstep, including the River Sangker, two heritage house museums, historic pagodas, and a few good street food stalls in the village.

Lining a pristine beach, this chic boutique resort has a swimming pool, a stunning bar, and an assortment of activities that include beach volleyball and snorkeling. Some beachfront bungalows have private pools. Breakfast is generous and staff are welcoming.

Located down a small lane off a quiet road, this immaculate little resort has a lovely pool, excellent service, and clean and comfortable traditional bungalows. As an added treat, the food is very good and they even sell craft beers.

It's just a 20-minute boat and tuk-tuk journey from Kratie to blissful Soriyabori Resort, tucked on the northern end of the tranquil island of Koh Trong. The traditional Khmer wooden bungalows set in lush gardens have colonial-style furniture and are decorated with Cambodian textiles and prints. There's a restaurant serving good Khmer and French food next to a stunning swimming pool surrounded by tropical plants and loungers. The resort staff can arrange all sorts of activities on the island and river. Call when you board the ferry in Kratie, and the resort will send someone to pick you up.

Perched on a hill above Kep, this resort eschews the seaside to instead offer guests lofty ocean views and a nature-filled environment. Rooms are set between the lush foliage, with a series of shaded walkways that connects them with the main restaurant and the two slightly hidden pools.

One of the original riverside resorts in Kampot, Villa Vedici sprawls over its picturesque four hectares, with two swimming pools and a mix of accommodation options, including rooms upstairs in the main house as well as private villas. There's even a whole Khmer house if you're traveling with a few people. You can explore the river and farther afield on their kayaks and paddleboards.