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Private candlelit dinner for two set up in front of a softly lit Angkor temple at night
Siem Reap · A local's guide

Luxury Siem Reap:
Hotels &
Premium Experiences

Personally selected by Akim, based here since 2013.

Siem Reap does luxury quietly and well. These are the eleven hotels and private villas we recommend to our own premium guests, all a short drive from the Angkor temples, plus the experiences worth planning around them, from a candlelit dinner inside a temple to a helicopter over Angkor.

I grew up here, inside Angkor Wat's walls, and Adventures Cambodia has been based in Siem Reap since 2013. Every place on this page is somewhere I know personally.

Nobody paid to be listed. A few famous names didn't make the cut, and if a place stops being good, it comes off the page.

Here for the tours? Every Angkor day we run is private, just your party.

See our Premium Private Tours →
Where to stay

Luxury and Premium hotels

Our favourite hotels and private villas, all a short distance from Angkor. In no particular order.

FCC Angkor by Avani

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A former French governor's mansion in the Old French Quarter, later a journalists' haunt, now an 80-room hotel with two pools and the Scribe bar at its centre. Steps from the river, and one of the easiest places in town to lose an evening.

Akim's note

I go for the riverside at dusk. And if you care about wine, the list at Scribe is one of the best in the city.

80 rooms2 Pools2 restaurants2 barsSpaPet friendly1 Michelin Key ↗

FCC sits in the heart of the old French Quarter, the perfect departure point for our After Dark Food Tour. The city at night, from a Jeep or Vespa, is a completely different Siem Reap. See the After Dark Food Tour →

Spacious hotel restaurant with woven rattan chairs, wooden dining tables, and arched ceiling in Siem Reap Poolside lounge area with white umbrellas, sun beds, and tropical plants at a Siem Reap resort Night view of a hotel courtyard with wooden decks, dining areas, tall trees, and guests gathering under umbrellas Spacious hotel suite with dark wood furnishings, coral bedding, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking trees in Siem Reap

Maison Polanka

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Three old Khmer wooden villas in a quiet six-thousand-square-metre garden, furnished from the owners' twenty years of collecting Asian and Cambodian art. There is a pool, a small bar and restaurant, and a spa, and never more than three villas' worth of guests.

Akim's note

You feel like a house guest here, not a hotel guest. The art alone is worth the stay.

3 Villas6 000 sqm estatePoolTropical gardenBar & RestaurantSpa

Guests here tend to want something intimate and unhurried. Our Siem Reap Countryside Private Tour by Vespa or Jeep is a natural fit, the same spirit as the property itself. See the Countryside Tour →

Hotel bedroom in Siem Reap with olive-green walls, wooden bed, golden Buddha statue, and traditional Khmer furnishings Wooden walkway leading through a lush tropical garden to a villa at Maison Polanka resort in Siem Reap Hotel suite in Siem Reap with purple patterned chairs, wooden bed, and garden view through French doors Illuminated resort pool at dusk with thatched pavilion, wooden decking, and palm trees in Siem Reap

Jaya House River Park

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An intimate 36-room hotel by the river park, wrapped in greenery, with two pools, a rooftop bar and a plastic-free policy the rest of the city could copy. Local community projects run through how the whole place operates.

Akim's note

The warmest service in Siem Reap. Their breakfast is my reason to keep coming back.

36 rooms2 PoolsRestaurantRooftop barSpaPlastic free policy

Jaya House is quietly one of the most thoughtful hotels in town. Our After Dark Food Tour matches that sensibility: local, personal, and far from the tourist trail. See the After Dark Food Tour →

Modern hotel lobby with striped armchairs, wooden sculptures, and contemporary furnishings in Siem Reap Modern hotel suite bedroom with wooden canopy bed, sitting area, and garden view in Siem Reap Elegant dining room at Jaya House with white tablecloths, wooden chairs, and a crystal chandelier under coffered ceiling Jaya House River Park black infinity pool surrounded by palms and tropical planting in Siem Reap

Sala Lodges

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Eleven genuine wooden stilt houses, each one different, set around a saltwater pool eight kilometres from Angkor. Sala Lodges was one of the first properties in Cambodia to earn a Michelin Key, and it feels nothing like a chain hotel: weathered wood and open verandas, with the owners' hand in every detail.

Akim's note

You wake up under a wooden roof and there's no doubt which country you're in. That's the point of Sala Lodges.

11 Wooden HousesPoolRestaurantBarSpa1 Michelin Key ↗

Guests come here for the real Cambodia. Our countryside morning tour takes that instinct further, on rice-paddy roads we've ridden for years. See the Countryside Morning Tour →

Sala Lodges pool with palm trees, lounge chairs, and stone terrace overlooking a reflective water channel in Siem Reap Wooden stilt house surrounded by tropical vegetation and palm trees in Siem Reap Wooden deck with black lounge seating, umbrella, and wicker chairs overlooking palm trees and traditional Khmer buildings Spacious bedroom with wooden beams, draped mosquito netting, and traditional Khmer furnishings at Sala Lodges in Siem Reap

Raffles d'Angkor

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The grand old hotel of Siem Reap, open since 1932, with Charlie Chaplin and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the guest book. Fifteen acres of gardens, a pool modelled on the royal bathing pools, and the original timber cage lift still running.

Akim's note

The staff go above and beyond, and the pool is pure heaven. I'm a repeat offender here.

119 rooms20 SuitesPool2 restaurants2 barsSpa1 Michelin Key ↗

Raffles is colonial grandeur at its finest. Pair it with our Angkor Grand Circuit by vintage Jeep: open-sided, unhurried, and the most elegant way to see the temples beyond the main circuit. See the Grand Circuit Private Tour →

Doorman in white tunic and gold-trimmed hat opens ornate door at Raffles Siem Reap hotel Four-poster bed with cream draping in a colonial-style hotel suite overlooking palm trees and pool in Siem Reap Upscale restaurant dining room with black chairs, white tablecloths, pendant chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Siem Reap Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor reflected in its tropical pool courtyard in Siem Reap

Shinta Mani Angkor

A Bill Bensley hotel in the French Quarter: 115 rooms, ten private pool villas, the Kroya restaurant, and Bensley's Bar for the evening. Part of every stay funds the Shinta Mani Foundation's community projects in the villages around Siem Reap.

Akim's note

A design lover's dream. Bensley put something worth looking at in every corner, and you notice it within a minute of walking in.

115 rooms10 private pool villasPool2 restaurants2 barsSpa

Shinta Mani guests appreciate design and detail. Our Banteay Srei tour is built for exactly that: the finest stone carving in the Angkor region, reached by Jeep through the countryside. See the Banteay Srei Tour →

Shinta Mani Angkor hotel courtyard at dusk with illuminated pool, palm trees, and white colonial-style buildings in Siem Reap Modern pool villa courtyard with geometric tile patterns, woven bar counter, black staircase, and tropical plants in Siem Reap Modern restaurant interior with hanging green plants, orange cushioned seating, pink floral installation, and black dining tables Spacious hotel suite with canopy bed, white linens, red accent pillows, black pendant lights, and large windows overlooking Siem Reap street

Phum Baitang

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Forty-five stilted villas among real rice paddies on the edge of town, twenty of them with private plunge pools. There's a 50-metre infinity pool, and the cigar and cocktail lounge sits in a century-old farmhouse. Minutes from the temples, yet it barely feels like Siem Reap.

Akim's note

I've watched some of my favourite sunsets from that deck, rice paddies to the horizon. You forget the city is there.

45 Villas20 Villas with poolPool2 restaurants2 barsSpa2 Michelin Keys ↗

Phum Baitang guests are already in the countryside. Our electric mountain bike tours start from exactly this kind of landscape, and take you deeper into it. See the E-bike Tours →

Wooden deck with lounge chairs and umbrellas overlooking a rice field at sunset in Siem Reap Aerial view of a thatched-roof villa with small pool, wooden deck, and tropical gardens in Siem Reap Phum Baitang hotel pool at dusk with illuminated wooden pavilions and palm trees reflected in calm water Spacious hotel suite with neutral linen furnishings, wooden doors, and dark hardwood flooring in Siem Reap

Viroth's Hotel

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A 35-room boutique in the Wat Bo quarter, its white slatted facade planted with vertical gardens and the whole place styled to a sharp 1950s brief. TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice has ranked it the best hotel in the world twice, in 2018 and again in 2020, ahead of grand names many times its size. There's a long pool with a bar beside it and a spa. Ask, and the airport pick-up arrives as a vintage Mercedes.

Akim's note

This one is almost a neighbour; our office sits in Wat Damnak, a few minutes down the river road. For all the awards, it still feels like a neighbourhood place, not a trophy.

35 roomsWat Bo quarterPoolPoolside barSpaRestaurantVintage-car transfers

The hotel wears a 1950s look. Our classic Vespas match it in spirit, not in age: same unhurried pace, out to the temples and back. See the Vespa Tours →

Viroth's Hotel entrance in Siem Reap with vertical gardens on the white facade and a vintage Rolls-Royce parked by the sign Overhead view of Viroth's Hotel pool at dusk between palm trees and rows of loungers in Siem Reap Viroth's 1950s-style lounge and restaurant with crimson and coral velvet chairs, green ceiling fans and terrazzo floor Guest room at Viroth's Hotel Siem Reap with dark tiled floor, artefact shelves and a private balcony seating area

Amansara

A royal retreat from the 1960s, and still the most discreet address in Siem Reap. Twenty-four suites, twelve with their own pool, two Michelin Keys, and a stay that runs all-inclusive, with guides and meals arranged around your days at the temples.

Akim's note

The most exquisite hotel in town, honestly. I tried the spa once and I still think about it.

24 Suites12 Suites with poolPoolRestaurantBarSpa2 Michelin Keys ↗

Guests often ask us to arrange their Angkor day to match the quality of the hotel. Our Sunrise Private Tour, timed so you arrive before anyone else, is the one we recommend most. See the Angkor Sunrise Private Tour →

Amansara resort courtyard with reflective pool, modernist architecture, and tall trees at sunset in Siem Reap Modern hotel suite with lounging area, white cushioned seating, and reflection pool overlooking interior courtyard at night Man standing beside a black vintage Mercedes sedan in a shaded garden courtyard with tall trees Modern resort courtyard with reflection pool, stone columns, and wooden furniture under a pergola in Siem Reap

Villa Ni Say

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A private seven-bedroom villa twelve minutes' walk from the town centre, inspired by Vann Molyvann's New Khmer Architecture. You book the whole house: a sixteen-metre saltwater pool, an open-plan living room with a stocked bar, dining for fourteen, two staff who come daily, and a private chef on request.

Akim's note

The whole place is yours, and staff still make the beds. House privacy, hotel service. For a big family or a group of friends travelling together, I haven't found better in town.

1 Private Villa7 BedroomsSleeps 1416 m saltwater poolBarPrivate chef on request12 min walk to town

With the villa entirely to yourselves, you set the pace. Build your Angkor day the same way, fully private, fully yours. See Our Private Angkor Tours →

Bedroom with wooden bed, desk, pendant light, and glass doors opening to garden views in Siem Reap villa Modern Siem Reap villa living room with gray sofa, coral cushions, teal accent wall, and open glass doors to garden Swimming pool at Villa Ni Say with loungers, umbrellas, and lush green surroundings in Siem Reap Modern dining room with wooden table, red chairs, and open kitchen with wood paneling in Siem Reap villa

Park Hyatt

White colonnades, a banyan-tree courtyard, and 108 rooms in the middle of the city. Some rooms come with private balconies or plunge pools; a few have bathtubs sunk for two. Everything in town is minutes away on foot.

Akim's note

The city-centre crown jewel. Don't skip The Glasshouse cafe, that's all I'll say.

108 roomsCity centre2 Pools2 restaurantsBarSpa1 Michelin Key ↗

If you have one full day at Angkor, our Small Circuit Private Tour gives you the three essential temples, Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, entirely to yourselves. See the Small Circuit Private Tour →

Hotel bar lounge with dark wood shelving, pink accents, fresh flowers, and ambient lighting in Siem Reap Overhead view of a resort pool with tropical palms, loungers, and stone platforms in Siem Reap Modern hotel suite courtyard in Siem Reap with outdoor shower, palm plants, and wooden bed visible through glass doors Park Hyatt Siem Reap white art-deco facade at dusk, framed by sugar palms against a blue sky
Beyond the temples

Premium things to do in Siem Reap

One-off experiences around town, from a private Phare show to Angkor from the air. Our past guests' favourites.

Hot air balloon drifting between silhouetted sugar palm trees at sunrise over the Angkor countryside

Golf

Siem Reap has two courses open right now: the Sofitel's Phokeethra Country Club, and the Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club. Book a late-afternoon tee time; the last hour of light, with the birds coming out, is the best part of the round. The Nick Faldo-designed Angkor Golf Resort closed for renovation in June 2026, so don't plan around it until it reopens.

Aerial view of a golf course in Siem Reap with palm trees, sand bunkers, and manicured green fairways

Helicopter

From the air you finally see what Angkor is: a city, not a set of temples. Short scenic flights run over the park and the countryside, and no two of our guests have come back unimpressed.

Red sightseeing helicopter flying low over the forest and river toward Angkor Wat in the distance Aerial view of Angkor archaeological park with temple ruins, forested landscape, and waterways in Siem Reap

Hot Balloon

A slow sunrise drift over sugar palms and rice paddies, with temples showing through the trees below. Quiet the whole way up. Worth the early alarm.

Hot air balloon drifting between silhouetted sugar palm trees at sunrise over the Angkor countryside Aerial view of a temple complex surrounded by dense jungle and waterways near Siem Reap

Theam's Gallery

The home of Theam, one of Cambodia's best-known living artists, opened as a gallery. His paintings and lacquer work fill the rooms, and the house itself is half the visit.

Red-painted corridor with arched doorways and ornate wooden windows framing garden views at Theam Gallery in Siem Reap Interior of Theam's Gallery in Siem Reap showing paintings, sculptures and lacquerware on display

Eric Stocker

Eric Stocker trained in lacquer in France, then followed the craft to its Southeast Asian home. Invited by the EU to lead the revival of Cambodian lacquer, he built a training school inside Artisan d'Angkor, and he still collaborates with houses like Louis Vuitton. His Siem Reap workshop can be visited.

Golden lacquer wall mural with bamboo stalks, hanging flowers, and lily pad motifs in warm earth tones Gold and stone Buddha statue in seated meditation pose with ornate details

Temple Dinner

A private candlelit dinner set at a temple, for two or for a party, with or without a show. It's the most exclusive evening Siem Reap offers, and we arrange it end to end.

Banquet tables set up for an event in front of ancient temple ruins surrounded by forest in Siem Reap Pre-Angkorian temple illuminated in red at night with candlelit courtyard in Siem Reap

Ambre Fashion

Romyda Keth's Siem Reap boutique: high-end clothing for women, men and children that blends Cambodian heritage with French tailoring. Vivid colour, real craftsmanship, nothing mass-made.

Designer boutique interior with turquoise armchairs, clothing racks, and ornate mirror in Siem Reap Evening wear dresses with ruffled necklines displayed on mannequins in a designer boutique showroom

Eric Raisina Haute Couture

Eric Raisina's atelier brings Parisian haute couture training to Khmer silk and texture. It's more a small fashion house than a shop; you can feel the workshop in it.

Designer's studio workspace with fabric samples, sketches, and garments displayed on mannequins and work tables Model wearing yellow Eric Raisina haute couture dress on stage with red map backdrop

Christian Develter

The gallery of Belgian artist Christian Develter, best known for the Chin Series: large pop-art portraits of tattooed Chin women. Fashion and art in one room, and unlike anything else in town.

Phare Circus (Private Show)

Phare's performers tell Cambodian stories through acrobatics and live music. For a private show, they'll stage it under the Big Top for your group alone, or bring the performance to a venue you choose.

Looking for premium private tours? See our dedicated Premium Private Tours in Siem Reap.

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