Song Saa Cambodia
Song Saa
Koh Rong Archipelago, Near Sihanoukville
Cambodia
www.songsaa-privateisland.com/
HOTEL INFORMATION
Group
Song Saa Collective
Hotel General Manager
Mr. Donald Wong
Hotel Positioning
5 star luxury
Development strategy
To develop in areas that have direct positive impact from the resort and foundation.
SONG SAA PRIVATE ISLAND
History & Story
Melita Koulmandas, co-founder of the Song Saa Collective, is the creative force behind the architecture, master planning, and interior design of Song Saa Private Island, which was launched in 2012 in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago. Her accolades for Song Saa Private Island include Conde Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2024, Conde Nast Traveler’s most Soulful Spa of the Year and National Geographic’s Leaders in Sustainable Tourism title.
In 2007, Melita established the Koh Oun Marine Reserve, marking Cambodia’s inaugural protected marine area. She co-founded the Song Saa Foundation in 2013, with a dedicated focus on preserving underwater sanctuaries and providing sustainable livelihoods and education to communities in the Koh Rong Archipelago and beyond. Serving as the foundation’s Chairwoman, Melita also holds the position of CEO at Song Saa Private Island.
Melita Koulmandas leverages design as a catalyst for positive change. Positioned as the forefront of regenerative design and development in Southeast Asia. Melita extends her vision beyond mere sustainability. She spearheads initiatives aimed at restoring, regenerating, and reviving communities, creating aesthetically pleasing products and spaces that pay homage to heritage, embrace modernity, and uphold craftsmanship-all while respecting both people and planet.
Date Renewal
The island was acquired in 2006 and began operations in 2012 after the island was fully rehabilitated and construction was completed.
Main Strengths, Special Touch
The style of the resort draws its inspiration from the Cambodian fishing villages found throughout the Koh Rong Archipelago. All 27 villas have an indoor and outdoor shower and a private infinity pool. Conservation is also a major theme at Song Saa Private Island, and guests can visit the resort’s Life Centre to learn about the local environment and the work being done to protect it. Conservation tours are available for adults and kids, which gives them a chance to see how coral is grown, experience the local mangrove forests or visit some of the projects the resort has started in the local village, where they have established waste management systems and sustainable farming projects.
Location
Koh Rong Archipelago, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Key sites/activities in the area
Mangroves
Remote beaches & waterfalls
Rainforest & Jungles
Children’s Corner
The resort does not implement a minimum age; however, children are at the responsibility of the parents as the property is not child-proofed. There is a small kids’ room but we do not offer a full kids program. Children loving the water and watersports give glorious reviews of being on the island.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
Song Saa’s luxury 27 villas are all built with sustainable materials, and furnished with a refined grace that mirrors the natural environment. Open-plan living spaces and outdoor decks with daybeds allow guests to enjoy the island’s magnificent seascapes and rainforests.Guests enjoy sunrise or sunset views from their Villas all complete with private pools. Each villa is designed with an indoor and outdoor shower looking out over the ocean, deep set bath with large windows, and his and her vanities. Harmony, sustainability, and world-class luxury are the core principles that underpin our Villa design which include energy efficient thatched roofing, sandstone dug up from the Villa foundation, recycled timber from disused fishing boats, furniture made from driftwood collected from local beaches and coves, and floors made from timber salvaged from old factories, warehouses and demolition yards around Cambodia and Thailand.This is complemented by bespoke hand-crafted furniture made by local artisans.
Jungle Villas
Nestled in native scrub along the shoreline, our Jungle Villas offer 9 one bedroom or two 2 bedroom suites of indulgent open-plan living. You have your own private pool and shaded sundeck with a plush canopy daybed crowned with vines. There’s an indulgent outdoor shower, a linen-draped king-size canopy bed, a soft L-shaped sofa to sink into and views that stretch for miles.
Ocean View Villas
Take in luminous views of the sea from your private terrace or even from the comforts of your four-poster bed from one of our 7 Ocean View Villas – you’ve got 230 square metres of oceanfront living all to yourself. Bathe in the warm sunshine, order room service, press play on your favourite island tunes or just sit, breathe and take it all in…
Overwater Villas
Take a peek at Song Saa islands’ natural reef through the glass floor of our 6 one bedroom or 2 two bedroom Overwater Villas. Spend hours gazing out at Koh Rong’s crystalline waters, before cooling off with a dip in the pool. Survey the skies from your sundeck, laze about on your daybed, then plunge into the ocean…
Royal Villa
Enjoy the ultimate overwater experience in this expansive villa, perched in one of the island’s most discreet and stunning locations. Two bedrooms, each with linen-draped canopy king bed, a breezy terrace, a private pool, stocked kitchen and a spacious dining area ensure indulgent island living. Enjoy absolute off-the-grid seclusion.
Restaurants & Bars
VISTA BAR & RESTAURANT
Vista Bar and Restaurant lets you indulge all your senses. The menu champions expertly prepared local ingredients and Khmer flavours, alongside inventive renditions of Western comfort dishes. Our breads are baked onsite, our salads delicately put together and our seafood freshly caught by local fisherman.
Driftwood
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. Our bar staff will also happily line up handpicked wines for a tasting. Complement a muddled mojito or a glass of Riesling with a crispy, thin-crust pizza or bite-sized tapas.
Wellness
Spa Retreats
Song Saa Private Islands offer a selection of spa retreats for those seeking a wholly transformative experience. Refresh with a ‘stillness’ themed retreat, rejuvenate with an invigorating, detoxifying retreat inspired by the ‘blessing’ treatments, or revive with a ‘healing’ retreat.
One on One Training
Our wellness specialists also provide private yoga and personal training sessions suited to your skill level and specific needs.
Corporate & Celebration Events
Bespoke Weddings and Events, Executive Retreats, Family Reunions.
Accommodating 30 – 70 persons depending on sharing options. Non-traditional meeting settings available for up to 35.
Extra Notable Features
Water sports: scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling, paddle boarding, wind surfing, speedboat
Ecological and cultural programmes
Private beach
Private mooring
Beach movies & picnics
Destination Dining
Hotel and restaurant Awards
2016
Hideaway of the Year ~ Andrew Harper’s 2016 Grand Awards 2016, USA
Top 20 in Asia & The Indian Subcontinent ~ Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Award 2016, UK
Top Resort in Asia, Australia, New Zealand ~ 2016 BRIDES Best Honeymoons Award, USA
ASEAN Green Hotel Award ~ 2016-18
Top 10 Most Beautiful Resort Hotels in the World ~ Traveller’s World Awards 2016, Germany
2015-2014
Winner of The Eco Award ~ The Smith Awards 2015
Top 100 Best Hotels in the World ~ Town & Country 2015 Travel 100, USA
Asia’s Leading Private Island Resort ~ The World Travel Awards 2015
Best in Cambodia ~ SpaFinder Wellness Travel Awards 2015
5 Major Awards in the areas of Environment, Heritage & Social Welfare, and Tourism in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia ~ Cambodia Eco Business Award 2015
Top 10 Spas ~ Organic Spa Awards 2015, USA
Number of employees
Approximately 200