From Angkor to Krabey: a Journey Through Cambodia

Bangkok & The Siam

A riverside introduction to Bangkok

Bangkok is a thrilling metropolis where skyscrapers loom over golden stupas, and plumes of steam – scented with wok-fried basil and garlic – rise from street food stalls alongside the polished aesthetics of world-class restaurants. On land, monks move between temple courtyards, while the river is threaded with long-tail boats. Across it all, the city’s layered architecture – golden spires, steeply gabled houses and twinkling glass – sits in constant dialogue with the water.

Stay in the Riverside Pool Villa at The Siam

Set away from the busy centre, The Siam is perched on a quiet stretch of the river that you’ll reach by a wooden barge, affording a hypnotic view from the water as the riverside temples and palaces pass by. Designed by renowned architect Bill Bensley, the hotel’s colonnaded walkways, museum-worthy antiques, intimate spa and idyllic courtyards soon make you forget you’re in one of Asia’s busiest cities.
You’ll stay in the Riverside Pool Villa, its chic design ensconced in secluded gardens. The villa offers a distinct sense of tranquility, with a private pool and a secluded terrace overlooking The Siam’s infinity pool and the river just beyond.

Krabey & Six Senses Krabey Island

A private island retreat off Cambodia’s southern coast

From Siem Reap, a short flight south brings a marked change in scenery and a lesser-seen side of Cambodia. Temples and city streets give way to open coastline punctuated by distant islands, and from the mainland, a brief boat crossing leads to one of them: Krabey — a densely forested outcrop in the Gulf of Thailand.

Stay in the Hideaway Pool Villa Suite at Six Senses Krabey Island

There are 40 private villas, each with its own pool, set discreetly into the island’s natural contours, and designed to feel entirely private yet open to the elements. Amenities include a first-rate Six Senses spa, an infinity pool set into a hillside, and creative cuisine that takes its cues from Khmer cooking, alongside curated experiences like monk blessings, Ream National Park excursions and night-time swims where bioluminescent plankton flicker in the shallows.

360’s Travel Designers love the Hideaway Pool Villa Suite, positioned for seclusion and access to the spa. The indoor–outdoor living spaces sweep onto a terrace with a private infinity pool framed by dense foliage and oriented towards the Gulf. Interiors are classic Six Senses, pared back and tactile, all natural woods, soft linens and clean lines, allowing the landscape to remain the focus.

Phnom Penh & Rosewood Phnom Penh

A final chapter on the Mekong

From the rainforest, the journey ends in Phnom Penh, a city of novice monks glued to their mobile phones, Khmer and colonial architecture, alongside glittering royal palaces towering over street vendors pulling rice noodles and grilling pork to serve with crunchy pickles. Indeed, after the sweeping rainforests of the highlands, Cambodia’s capital offers a deliberate and invigorating reintroduction to contemporary life, with scooters threading through busy roads, and river traffic gathering along the Mekong. Explore it, and you’ll find delicious street food, a youthful creative scene and a bustling riverside, in addition to the city’s darker history, seen in the Choeng Ek memorial centre.

You’ll stay in the Mekong Suite at Rosewood Phnom Penh

360’s travel designers suggest a riveting finale in the excellent Rosewood Phnom Penh, offering uninterrupted views across the city from the top floors of one of its tallest buildings, its silhouette inspired by the form of a naga dragon, formed of glass. The Mekong Suite is expansive, with floor-to-ceiling windows, contemporary interiors, a dedicated butler and thoughtful inclusions such as city tours and spa treatments, particularly valuable for a final evening in the city.