Six Senses Krabey Island is a jewel of a luxurious tropical island retreat on the Cambodian coast. The 12-hectare private island resort boasts 40 detached, state-of-the-art and stunningly beautiful pool villas. The resort’s location is truly unique, combining lush and tropical jungle with a beachside setting. Sustainability is at the centre of the guest experience, with a distinctive Six Senses Spa, a remarkable, extremely fresh and delicious food and beverage offer, and bespoke nature and culture experiences.

Location & Resort

Six Senses Krabey Island is located on a 12-hectare private tropical island five kilometres from Ream National Park in southern Cambodia. The resort’s mainland jetty is located a 10 minutes’ drive from Sihanouk International Airport. From there, guests board a pleasure boat for a short 10-minute crossing to Krabey island.

The stunning location is secluded enough to experience complete privacy and true island living, yet not cut off from a land rich in culture and history. The resort blends perfectly into the lush surroundings with its canopy of trees, gently swaying palms and the sound of the sea lapping against pristine sandbanks. The island is small and a 20-minute kayak tour around it is a great way to get a feel for its size and beauty.

Six Senses Krabey Island is one of the best nature integrated resorts we’ve seen so far. Everywhere on the island, you feel like you are in the middle of the jungle, with huge, twisted trees towering over you, jungle creepers hanging from the branches and a shady canopy to keep you cool. There are birds everywhere, swinging from tree to tree and filling the air with birdsong of many different kinds. Guests might see oriental hornbills fluttering between the lush treetops, squirls on the hunt for fresh nuts, and even monkeys high up in the trees. This place is uniquely peaceful in a country whose vibrant and noisy nature doesn’t leave much room for tranquillity. At Six Senses Krabey Island, nature and relaxation are king.

The seamless integration of the villas and resort buildings into the surrounding nature make Six Senses Krabey Island truly unique. A clear influence of Khmer architecture and design can be felt throughout the property. The resort’s lobby and lounge, for example, was inspired by a traditional fisherman’s home and houses the main lobby, lounge and gallery, the all-day dining restaurant AHA and an ice cream parlour. The design of this main area and the villas is refined and elegant, with a slightly Japanese-inspired atmosphere. A lot of light wood has been used, accentuated by the colours orange, brown and beige. Extremely qualitative natural materials emphasise and incorporate the resort’s stunning surroundings.

The Six Senses brand is known for creating immersive and eco-friendly experiences. Their property on Krabey Island is no exception. Sustainability is at the centre of the resort’s core values, focusing on preserving the indigenous flora and fauna for generations to come. Honouring Cambodia’s unique culture and traditions, the resort employs local hosts and supports the local community wherever possible. On the mainland, the resort has a 3,700 square metre organic farm where the majority of ingredients for the farm-to-table dinners and spa are produced. Guests can participate in sustainability initiatives such as eliminating plastic in the Earth Lab, take part in butterfly conservation activities or learn more about marine life in Marine Biology 101. Culinary options at Six Senses Krabey Island can also highlight local and organic ingredients.

Villas

Six Senses Krabey Island features 40 private pool villas that demonstrate the resort’s commitment to sustainability, while utilising the latest modern technology. Highlights include sustainable green roofs, in-villa technology (such as blinds, lights and temperature) controlled from the in-villa iPad, sundecks with infinity plunge pools, and spacious rain showers in the huge, luxurious yet natural bathrooms.

The villas incorporate elements of the traditional Khmer stilt houses and water settlements that make up the country’s 170 floating villages. Sustainable décor was chosen for the wall panelling, while hanging pendant lights, wall lamps and pulley hooks are a nod to tradition. The legs of the furniture were inspired by the shape of the Romdoul flower, the kingdom’s national flower, which is native to the island of Krabey. Light brown, beige and light blue colours create a relaxed, calming atmosphere.

The following villa types are available:

• Hideaway Pool Villa Suite (14): Nestled in the lush jungle, the 120 m2 pool villas bring nature indoors through large glass windows. They feature an en-suite bathroom and a spacious living area that extends to the pool deck, as well as floor-to-ceiling glass windows to maximise natural daylight.

• Ocean Pool Villa (2): Elevated one-bedroom private pool villas, 77 m2 in size, with sundeck and breath-taking views of the ocean and nearby islands. These villas are located in higher areas of the island, offer ocean views and are surrounded by the island’s tropical landscape.
• Ocean Pool Villa Suite (16): Spacious 120 m2 living is enhanced by picturesque views of the ocean, nearby islands and coastline from the living area and pool deck. From the room and the private pool deck guests enjoy a marvellous view of the Cambodian islands.

• Oceanfront Pool Villa Suite with Sea View (5): A 120 m2 oceanfront accommodation with spacious living room and a private pool deck. The villas feature a bedroom with en-suite bathroom and floor-to-ceiling windows offering breath-taking frontal ocean views.
• Oceanfront Two Bedroom Pool Villa with Sea View (2): This Cambodian villa is ideal for large families and couples travelling together. This two-bedroom duplex villa is 200 m2 in size and features a large lifestyle pool deck. The spacious sea view duplex villa is spread over two floors, with the bedrooms on separate levels.
• The beachfront retreat (1): This two-villa Cambodian beachfront oasis of 190 m2 with great entertaining areas is the perfect idyllic private island getaway for families and friends. Relax on the sundeck, swing in the hammocks on the beach, laze on the sunbeds, swim in the infinity pool and ocean and enjoy intimate meals in the private dining room with spectacular sunsets.

We stayed in one of the stunning Oceanfront Pool Villa Suites with Sea View. The spacious, cosy and elegant villa blended perfectly into the lush surroundings. The outdoor pool and sundeck offered sublime views on the ocean just in front and during sunset the atmosphere became truly magical.

At night, the villa, perfectly embedded in the dense jungle, became magical:

Waking up with a cup of coffee in the pool, surrounded by the jungle and the sounds of nature, while watching the local fishermen working on the catch of the day, was an experience we will never forget.

Gastronomy

Six Senses Krabey Island offers great seasonal food from the organic garden and surrounding waters. The resort is a wonderful place – both in terms of setting and quality – to sample Cambodian cuisine, which is modelled on familiar Southeast Asian staples but uses more herbs and is often less spicy. The various F&B venues serve both traditional Khmer cuisine and modern interpretations of seasonal Cambodian dishes. Seafood is a specialty and comes highly recommended (make sure to try to crab in Kampot pepper sauce). The daily catch of fresh fish is communicated to the guests via the in-villa iPad during the day, so they know what is available and what can be ordered/prepared for dinner.

Using local and international cooking techniques, Executive chef Liliana Ojeda creates fresh and exotic dishes where wellness forms the basis for all her recipes. In collaboration with the in-house mixologist, she offers innovative and original food & drink pairings. With a choice of two restaurants, a bar and an ice cream parlour/deli, and much of the produce grown on site or sourced locally, the team endeavour to create not just meals but memories at Six Senses Krabey Island.

• AHA Restaurant: AHA Restaurant is a relaxed dining space overlooking the pool and the sea and open all day, every day. For breakfast and dinner, AHA Restaurant offers the best of local and imported produce and pan-Asian dishes such as organic coconut poached chicken salad. The seasonal menus are prepared with local organic produce harvested at its best, based on the abundant seafood sourced directly from local fishermen and their communities.

• Tree Restaurant: The stylish Tree Restaurant specialises in modern Khmer and Southeast Asian cuisine, with seafood being a speciality. Produce is sourced from local and international suppliers committed to sustainable farming and fishing, including organic ingredients from the organic garden. Must-try dishes include “Char grilled slipper lobster with sunflower seed risotto, prawn bisque, cooking bream and sprout” or the “Stir-fried spicy seafood with black pepper, banana stem, mixed garden herb salad and steamed battambang rice”.

• Double-Dip Hangout: A modern lounge & bar that offers everything from a light lunch to ice cream in the afternoon to a delicious cheese platter with a glass of champagne at sunset.

• Sunset Bar: Perched above the Gulf of Siam, the Sunset Bar offers breath-taking views of the coastline. This elegant split-level, open-walled bar is the perfect place for a classic sunset cocktail or an evening nightcap. Hammocks and loungers are ideal for spending the late afternoon with a favourite book, and at night guests can stargaze from the observatory on the bar’s rooftop.

• Destination dining: for special occasions, the Six Senses team can set up unique destination dining experiences. We tried the private sunset dinner at Sea Breeze Walk, a highly romantic (and delicious) experience.

Hotel Assets

Six Senses Krabey Island offers a fantastic spa and wellness area as well as customised activities for active guests and those who long for relaxation and recreation.

• The extensive Six Senses Spa centre is located at the highest point of the island. The impressive spa is the largest in Cambodia and the largest among all Six Senses properties. Inspired by the sacred Kbal Spean River, guests can relax in the sauna, herbal steam tent and whirlpool or unwind with a traditional Khmer foot massage. Delve deeper into wellbeing with a choice of healing Cambodian spa treatments or multi-day wellness programmes. With its central location on the island, the spa is inspired by the theme of water. The design incorporates traditional wooden turning patterns that look like floating bubbles and hang in the reception and changing area. The water effect continues from the public areas through to the treatment rooms. Here, calming waves inspire the ceilings, while the stone walls feature vertical stripes that reflect light.

• Water sports activities include snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, surf skiing and island hopping boat trips.

• Earth Lab & Organic Garden is the resort’s 3,700 square metre organic garden and experience centre.
• Cooking classes are on offer to learn the art of preparing Khmer dishes
• Cinema Paradiso is Six Senses outdoor cinema, with a big screen under the stars.
• Stargazing is possible in the celestial observatory
• Lovers of sea, sun and water will enjoy the private sandy beach, boardwalk and main outdoor pool.

• For sports enthusiasts, there is a gym, an outdoor fitness trail and indoor and outdoor yoga studios.
• Jungle hikes, castaway picnics, pagoda blessing, island tours and others are available as well.
  

  
• The resort also offers “The Nest” kids’ club for children aged between four and 12.

Why go?

Six Senses Krabey Island is an environmentally conscious, luxurious enclave in the Gulf of Thailand in southern Cambodia. Scattered around the island are 40 villas with private pools equipped with every imaginable comfort. The resort boasts an enormous, world-class spa offering traditional Khmer treatments, as well as high-quality and sustainable cuisine centred on the finest Asian dishes.