Canvas & Orchids Retreat

Peace, Serenity and Beyond! (LONG POST AHEAD) This place is highly recommended! Dont let the road contruction at last part sway you off from coming to this beautiful location, Im telling you it is all worth it, Me and my wife travelled here last September, and i can still remember the feeling of traquility and hospitality offered to us. Once you arrived at their receiving port you will be offered cold towels and drink to freshen up yourself from the long ride. The sight at the port is already breathtaking as the river is sourounded by lucious trees and plants you can even hear the the birds chirping when there are no boats around, You will then take a 15-20 minutes boat ride to arrive at the location. The last minutes of this journey is the most enjoyable as you will see the floating tents resting and floating in the island banks, it was such a sight to see. Once at the dock you will be greeted by Paulo (the head of the team) and he will explained all the neccessary and extra things that you could do during your stay, it was a full briefing and we really enjoyed the knowledge that he shared to us. After the quick briefing you will then be escorted to your luxurius tent! (JUST WOW!) We were surprised and astonished as to how they brought everything a hotel can offer in such a secluded place. ( i wont spoil anything you just have to see it for yourself) The place is quite large as they have their own place where you can play volleyball and a place to play board games and stuff! we stayed at the far end tent so you need to walk to get to the kitchen and bar area. It also amazing that they are growing some of their own vegetables and most of their staff are also the people living in the island! (Talk about sustainability!) We didnt do much on the first day as we just wanted to relax and enjoy the place, the bar was really enjoyable although the place were secluded in the jungle and river, there are ample selection of liquor and wines, you can even request for a cocktail! The selection of their snack is also awesome as they have a combination of western, asian and local dishes you wont really feel limited with the choices they offer not to mention the portion for the price are really generous! During night time as we go out for dinner we were invited by Bona to watch a small presentation regarding the Cardamom mountains and its habitats. It was a short but an amazing presentation as they showed us the footage of their camera traps installed inside the forest just close to the vicinity of the place. ( again i wont spoil what the footages are but it was amazing) Oh I almost forgot before the show start you will have a first hand taste of their local liquor! (not sure if you can buy it from them tho!). Bona also explained to us how engaged Canvas and Orchids are with community projects with village residents, It such a heart warming story especially with the school they have built for the children in the island. I believe Bona was the h

Had a great time at this place set on the river overlooking the Cardamom forest. Rooms were clean and the food was pretty good. There were lots of activities to pass two nights here and even though it was the start of the rains, we managed to do lots. Staff were great as well. Great for people looking for adventure and nature

Great three night stay at this beautiful and peaceful resort. The tents are clean, well equipped and comfortable. We enjoyed the breakfast and reasonably priced evening meals. All the staff were fantastic and made us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived.

This is a piece of paradise. Only accessible by island in the most stunning of setting - absolutely away from everything else. The staff were amazing - the service was first class. Our “tent” was glamping in its finest form. Right on the river - the food was amazing - the whole atmosphere and setting was simply perfect. Our only gripe was that we didn’t have a long enough stay - 2 nights and only the one full day. If relaxation and escape is on the agenda, this wonderful place is a must. We loved it and didn’t want to leave. All the staff waved us off when we left - we felt like part of their family - just loved it and such an amazing experience.

If you’re looking for somewhere that’s relatively unspoilt and relatively off the beaten track, then Canvas & Orchids is a great choice. First - getting here. You can’t get away from the fact that this place is 5-6 hours drive from Kep or Phnom Penh. Highway 48 is a road like no other, and is a very long and tough drive on roads that are being built and rebuilt. Not long after you leave NR4, “western” services stop entirely. Get that last Amazon coffee stop while you can! The boat transfer is enchanting, and the tiring effect of the road journey is quickly swept away by the natural beauty. Wonderfully, there is almost zero litter/ trash. On arrival we were enchanted by the location, and the warm welcome. The river tents are spacious and well appointed - each with its own veranda onto the water, plus chairs and sun loungers. The tents are cooled by air coolers - not AC. We arrived at the height of the seasonal temperature, and the coolers and fans had to work hard to get the tents down to a sensible temperature. There are occasional boats chugging past - but these only add to the experience. The dining options are absolutely fine, with delicious set menus, plus western and local dishes. The team take great pride in their meal service. The staff are super friendly, and cannot do enough to make you comfortable. My wife was slightly poorly (nothing to do with the accommodation) and the staff were genuinely concerned. A nice range of excursions, including fire flies and kayaking. Fair prices for food and drink. My fear is that the completion of Highway 48, which will take a long time, plus other economic pressures will negatively change this area. Visit before this happens.

Wow. What a special place. From the moment you are collected by riverboat and taken down the beautiful river to your floating accommodation, you know you are somewhere special. Peaceful and nature focused. The river was lovely to swim in. Probably the best thing though we’re our hosts, local Cambodians seeking to develop the ecology of the lovely forest.