Fancy a taste of simple Cambodian living, but don’t want to compromise on luxury comforts? Then you’ll like the newly-opened sophisticated Sala Lodges, which has come up with an ingenious solution with their brand new property of genuine traditional Khmer villas in Siem Reap, where rustic meets refinement.

Character and charm exude from this unique property. Eleven stilted wooden houses were spotted in the rural countryside by the creative minds behind Sala Lodges, then painstakingly dismantled, transported and lovingly rebuilt in Siem Reap crafting a truly authentic reconstruction – not recreation – of their original form.
Each of the eleven villas comes with their own history. Previously used as personal properties, they arrive in Siem Reap from different areas of the country, in different shapes and sizes, and with different layouts.

Two houses sleep 4-5 people, the other nine sleep 2-3. No two houses are the same; individuality is core to their appeal and the property as a whole. Where the kitchen once would’ve been you’ll now find slick modern bathrooms. And any details that were once rough around the edges have been smoothed out to fit with luxury exacting standards (don’t worry  there’s air-con!) and pared-back interior design touches that suit the western palate perfectly.

Though resulting in an artificially designed “village”, it doesn’t feel contrived and assumes the level of quality you’d expect of the higher-end hotel standards.  The contemporary feel of the infinity pool, clean lines of the semi-open air restaurant and bar (with one wall a giant chalk-board teasing with Khmer & Western favourites), and outdoor living space,  are all the antithesis of traditional rural Khmer living yet accent the simple features of the wooden houses.

The landscaped grounds have been given similar care to the rooms. As a newly opened property they have yet to fully flourish, but the thought is all there: rice grows alongside the walkways, and a vegetable patch is ready for the rains.

A five minute tuk-tuk ride from the Old Market, Sala Lodges sits on the fringes of Siem Reap where the city meets the countryside, reflecting well the contrast of old meets new of the property itself.

How to Book:

For a stylish stay at Sala Lodges contact cambodia@aboutasiatravel.com
Low Season(2013) price from $165 based on two persons, including breakfast.
Sala Lodges, No 498, Salakmoroeuk, Siem Reap
www.aboutasiatravel.com

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