Koh Russey Villas & Resort

Soft sand, turquoise water and a sense of total seclusion: Koh Russey is Cambodia’s island life at its most polished.

This contemporary resort sits on Koh Russey, or Bamboo Island, in the Koh Rong archipelago, just a short boat ride from the mainland. Much of the island has been left as untouched tropical forest, and the sleek, open-plan resort blends into it rather than competing with it.

It’s the kind of place where days slip by between the beach, the pool and the spa, broken up by lazy lunches and sunsets over the sea. After the buzz of Phnom Penh or the temples of Angkor, it’s a wonderfully easy place to slow right down.

The Rooms

Garden and Ocean Pavilions are tucked among the gardens, with sleek interiors, wooden floors and glimpses of the sea. The bathrooms are almost as big as the bedrooms, with double vanities and rain showers. The Garden Pavilions sit on the ground floor with their own patio, while the Ocean Pavilions are upstairs with better sea views.

For more space and privacy, the one- and two-bedroom villas each come with a private pool, deck and garden.

Travelling as a group? The four-bedroom Beach Villa sleeps up to eight and sits apart from the rest of the resort, with sweeping views across the ocean.