Amansara Resort & Spa, Angkor

Amansara, formerly the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, welcomes 2006 as a 24-suite resort, with the addition of 12 pool suites and a 25m lap pool. A Spa, with private treatment and relaxation rooms, also joined Amansara's facilities in January, 2006. Situated in Siem Reap only 10 minutes from the entrance to Angkor, this private garden compound offers a home base for travellers seeking to explore the culture and history of Cambodia.

Suites: Amansara has 12 suites, similar in design, featuring an open plan setting with finishes in terrazzo and timber. Colours are muted and earthy. Entry is to a combined sleeping and living area that contains a large writing desk and a king-size bed.

Adjacent is a dressing area with hanging cupboards and drawers. The lounge has a large sofa, and informal circular dining table and chairs. Beyond, and leading down a few steps, is the bathroom which opens onto a light-filled courtyard featuring a water garden and cushioned banquette. The bathroom contains twin vanities, makeup mirror, a large soaking tub and a separate shower and toilet. A floor-to-ceiling glass partition separates the toilet from the courtyard, letting in light and patio views. Each suite is air-conditioned, with ceiling fans, telephone (twin lines for Internet access), room safe and a CD music system.

Pool Suites: There are also 12 pool suites, measuring 80 square metres each. Each pool suite has a private six by five-metre swimming pool in its courtyard.

 

FOOD AND DINING

The Dining Room, near the swimming pool, is a focal point of the property and unique in design. It is circular in shape with a soaring seven-metre ceiling and an informal ambience for dining or all day lounging. The menu offers both traditional Asian and western cuisines and features the freshest of seasonal produce. The Dining area also features a range of books, a large map of Cambodia, and a walk-in wine cellar where guests may make their selection.

Guests may also dine and snack poolside, or enjoy their in-room complimentary mini-bar that features several local items.

FACILITIES

Library: The library provides a range of coffee-table books, travel guides, novels, magazines, daily newspapers and complimentary Internet access through an in-house laptop. Also on offer are a range of audio CDs, board games and a comprehensive collection of reference books on the Angkor temples and Khmer civilisation.

Gallery: The gallery provides a variety of hand-woven silks, lacquer-ware, jewellery, local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs, apparel and sundries.

Swimming pool: Most of Amansara’s suites are set around a central, grassed courtyard. At one end of the lawn, adjacent to a shady pergola, is a 17.5m swimming pool with sundeck.

Lap pool: A 25m by 5m lap pool is also available closer to the pool suites.

Spa: Four treatment rooms, each with an attached relaxation area and private steam bath and shower, are available to provide guests with a range of massage and beauty treatments using Cambodian techniques and natural products. All the treatment and relaxation rooms look out onto a reflection pond that is set against a 43.2 metre sandstone relief.

GUEST LECTURES

Angkor was long a seat of Eastern learning. In keeping with this tradition, Amansara works closely with knowledgeable sources in Siem Reap to invite visiting scholars for informal lecture sessions. These sessions allow guests to have a close-up look at Angkor and Cambodia through the eyes of specialists in history, culture, architecture and even puppetry and satellite imagery.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Biking: Siem Reap is a relatively small, flat town. Its size and informality make it ideal for cycling despite the erratic traffic. The resort stocks a range of mountain bicycles.

Massage: Amansara has a team of skilled masseuses providing a range of traditional treatments that may be enjoyed in the privacy of the suites, by the poolside or on the roof terrace. Treatments include, “Scents of Cambodia” utilising blended oils, “Touch of the East” which is an oil-free stretch and acupressure release and the “Amansara foot cooler” that will restore temple-weary feet with a peppermint scrub and massage. A highlight is the “Teap bourn”, which translates as “four healing angels from heaven”. This is a skillful, oil-free, intuitive massage by a blind therapist (two are available at Amansara) with a portion of the fee going to their care and maintenance.

CLIMATE The dry season extends from November till May and temperatures range from 20°C to 32°C. The southwest monsoon prevails from June till October with stronger breezes and higher humidity. Rainfall is usually limited to the afternoons and is sporadic. Temperatures are warmer during this time, varying between 26°C to 38°C.