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

The retreat organised a driver for us from Phnom Penh, who picked us up from out hotel there. He was very courteous and helpful - we took lunch with us and had a short stop for it but otherwise the journey took a full 5 1/2 hrs. We received a very warm welcome at the Retreat and all the staff were very friendly, warm, courteous and helpful. Our tent was beautifully furnished, kept cool by a fan and air cooling machine and we were not troubled by mosquitoes - spray was enough! We were also provided with an aromatherapy candle at night which would have helped deter mosquitoes. It was beautifully quiet at night and the beds were very comfortable.All details had been considered in our tent and the decor was lovely! The food was delicious and there was plenty of choice. Swimming in the river was blissful- the support of salty seawater plus a nice still river with not too strong a flow ! All we could hear was the birds and an occasional boat arriving! We took a couple of the river trips, which were well organised and fun- the staff also have a good sense of humour! It was inspiring to hear the stories of the staff, the local community and school nd the forest and animal conservation. We were shown fascinating pictures of wildlife photographed from hidden cameras at night…I felt very privileged to have been able to visit this place and moved almost to tears when it was time to leave . Thank you .

A wonderful retreat where you feel immersed in nature. We enjoyed boat trips to see sunset, waterfalls and the mangroves and a local village. Also an early morning hike in the forest.. The staff are very helpful and give a very warm welcome. Particularly recommend the waterfall trip and taking 3 days at this lovely spot.

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 was a little piece of paradise. Set on the banks of the Tatai river the individual tented lodges gave you privacy by the waterside and an ability to swim straight from your deck. The staff, without exception were excellent, friendly and very helpful. The food delicious and lots to choose from. We also loved the ethos of the place with their focus on sustainability and community

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.