Zannier Phum Baitang, Near Siem Reap, Cambodia - Explore & Book
"Phum Baitang (pronounced Baitong) is not a hotel: it's a serious commitment - to tranquility and rigorous style. This boutique resort is spread over 8 acres of perfectly level land and tries to recreate a Cambodian farming village as closely as possible, complete with rice paddies, towering sugar palms and clumps of verdant trees. Guests stroll across dykes and raised walkways from stylish villa to vast 50m infinity pool to airy restaurants, to end up without fail at the magnificent Angkor-temple spa, with its Zen-like treatment rooms. Surrounded by precisely nothing, the 45 generously spaced villas need to provide all the comforts of an isolated cottage, and they do: gorgeous untreated wood, natural fabrics, whispering air-conditioning, lovely antiques, and a fully loaded smart TV, plus either a lovely terrace or a plunge pool on your private lawn. And you’re just 15 minutes from Angkor Wat. Highs A rewarding sense of being one of the few, not one of the manyGorgeous design, and views over the rice paddies as far as the eye can seeAttentive, discreet staff dressed in immaculate white linen, and a lovely English general managerSpace for everyone: couples, friends, solos and familiesEnvironmental awareness Lows You’re in the middle of nowhere. Make sure you’re cut out for serenityThe paddy fields get hellish hot, and the young trees don't yet provide shade or privacy. You’ll need those pristine white umbrellasNot cheap but it's a one-off" - Nicolas Buchele
