Amansara, the former guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, is located in the town of Siem Reap, just 10 minutes by car from the entrance to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel is set in a garden compound and has the ambience of a private home. The villa compound was designed by French architect, Laurent Mondet in 1962 to accommodate visitors unable to stay at the royal residence nearby. Famous guests have included French President Charles de Gaulle, Jacqueline Kennedy, former Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito and actor Peter O’Toole.
The hotel has 24 open-plan contemporary suites including 12 Pool Suites featuring private plunge pools (6x5m). The suites are located around an irregular-shaped swimming pool and an expansive lawn.
The circular Dining Room offers excellent traditional Khmer and Western cuisine. The dining area also includes a walk-in wine and cheese cellar. The Roof Terrace offers a seasonal alternative spot for lunch or early evening drinks. There is also the option of dining at Amansara’s Khmer Village House, located in a Khmer village and facing a local road along a small lake. Guests have the place exclusively to themselves while Amansara’s chef prepares a delicious dinner in a traditional kitchen.
There is a well-stocked library where guest speakers give interesting presentations and performances, arranged by the resort’s management. There is also a boutique and gallery displaying local artwork and a spa with four treatment rooms. The hotel has two swimming pools, namely the main 17.5-metre, curved swimming pool with sundeck and loungers; and somewhat removed from the rest of the resort’s facilities is a lap pool.
15 minutes by car from Siem Reap Airport (REP), Siem Reap is 1hr flight time from Bangkok (BKK).
