Tourism & Destination: Luxury, leisure, and gastronomy with Amber Kampot
- Voyageuse Passion
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
The first 5-star luxury resort in the region, Amber Kampot is ideally located on over 1.5 hectares of beautifully landscaped grounds along the river, with breathtaking views of the Elephant Mountains and the charming town of Kampot.
Charm and class
Located on the waterfront but easily accessible from the provincial capital—just five minutes by tuktuk—the resort combines Cambodian charm with world-class amenities and service, offering a unique luxury experience.
Determined to make Kampot a destination of international renown and class, the CEO of Amber International Holdings called on the architectural firm Bloom to design this hotel. Wishing to immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the river, mountains, rice fields, mangroves, Asian lifestyle, and a certain charm linked to the city's colonial past, the architects designed Amber Kampot with a design that blends abundant nature, waterways, small islands, solid constructions, and dark wood, mixing neutral colors with many different textures and minimal but highly original decoration.
To blend in with such a rich natural environment, a building and an elegant swimming pool overlook the river, all set on a solid platform covered with sandstone and decks and equipped with wooden shutters to filter the intense sunlight and provide a unique and soothing feeling upon arrival at the hotel.
Concept and decoration
The interior spaces of the main building are uncluttered and minimally decorated so as not to detract from the wonderful landscape offered by the surrounding nature. According to the designers, “the architecture of Amber Kampot is intended to be distinctive, generous, and respectful of the environment.” They also wanted to highlight the craftsmanship and unique characteristics of Kampot, the beautiful capital of Cambodia's southern coast.
For the decoration, local photographer and artist Nathalie Lee designed and created an almost artistic yet discreet space that blends in perfectly with the spirit of the place.
With a white sand beach stretching nearly 1,500 square meters awaiting guests upon arrival at the resort, Amber Kampot confirms its ambition to offer a luxurious, authentic, and original experience. The beach is private, cleaned three times a day, and it is very pleasant to feel isolated on such an exotic beach, just a few hundred meters from the city.
Superb villas
Amidst lush vegetation dominated by splendid Nippa palm trees, there are 25 villas covered with local sandstone. These accommodations are clearly designed to offer absolute calm in a green, luxurious, and decidedly serene environment. As for the interior, there is little to say except that you feel privileged as soon as you enter. An indoor garden with a bathtub, a spacious bathroom, splendid bedding, a large flat-screen TV, a cell phone at your disposal, decor in keeping with the main building, discreet and well thought out, and finally a private pool.
Twenty villas with swimming pools and one bedroom measure 77 m², while five others with 180 m² swimming pools have two bedrooms and a living room. All units are completely self-contained with private swimming pools and terraces, indoor kitchens, and outdoor cooking areas, and the restaurant chef is also available to personally prepare meals.
The little touches on arrival are also noteworthy, with a handwritten welcome note placed on the pedestal table, a few local treats, and a member of staff who takes the time to explain how the few appliances available work and provides information on the hotel's schedules and activities.
The hotel offers a wide range of activities, from kayaking at sunrise through the Trapaing Sangke mangrove forest to mountain excursions, trekking, visits to various sites in the region, and, of course, water sports, providing plenty to fill a weekend of relaxation and discovery. The hotel has a beautiful private beach, two boats, and various water sports equipment, so those who don't want to travel too far are advised to take advantage of these nearby activities, which include water skiing, Hobbie-cat, paddleboarding, kayaking, aqua biking, tubing, jet skiing, and, for the less athletic, fishing.
For water skiing, Lundy Taing, the Cambodian manager of the establishment, acts as both instructor and boat driver. He has mastered this sport perfectly, although he admits to having had some difficulties at the beginning. Patient, meticulous, confident, and attentive to safety, Lundy provides ski tours in the bay like a true professional.
The same goes for tubing, a popular activity for children and adults alike. Lundy provides the ride and a short introductory lesson, although the technique and skills required are much less demanding than for water skiing.
In the evening, a boat trip with a platter of specialties and champagne is offered at sunset. A delight for photographers, a special moment of pleasure, but also an opportunity to discover the riverbanks, which alternate between recent constructions, a few beach hotels, local villages, and splendid residences, as well as to accompany the fishermen of Kampot as they set off for the fishing grounds near the mouth of the river and the sea. Numerous boats set off towards the setting sun, offering a unique spectacle that continues with the shellfish gatherers busy on the sandbanks.
Amber Kampot is not only an authentic luxury hotel offering many original activities, it is also a gastronomic destination. This is evidenced by the many distinguished guests who visit the establishment.
“We have many local personalities who come to dine at our Arvi restaurant because our chef is truly excellent,” explains Lundy.
It's true that Amber Kampot's restaurant offers a varied menu, with generous portions of both Khmer and Western dishes, but the resident chef, Dimanche Ry, also makes it a point of honor to add new dishes to the menu every week so that regular customers don't get bored. He also excels at fusion cuisine, and each of his innovations is a real treat for the palate.
It should also be noted that all meals, including breakfast, are à la carte. As for the service, it is worthy of a five-star establishment: fast, discreet, and very courteous.
“To make Kampot a must-visit destination, we focus on excellence, which is also reflected in the quality of our cuisine, which caters to affluent Cambodians and offers contemporary Khmer cuisine, as well as high-quality Western and Asian fusion cuisine,” adds Lundy.
Discover the mangroves
The Trapaing Sangke mangroves are about a 10-minute boat ride from the hotel. This beautiful mangrove forest, once threatened, is now protected thanks to several conservation programs run by associations in partnership with local communities.
Discovering this veritable mangrove forest at the first light of dawn is a sight not to be missed. With Lundy at the helm, kayaks are taken to the edge of the forest and you can paddle slowly for half an hour or so, enjoying a peaceful trip to the sound of birdsong, with the first rays of sunlight filtering through the large roots of the mangrove trees.
With all the amenities you would expect from a five-star resort, including a spa, gourmet restaurant, and poolside bar, Amber Kampot leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to offering a unique and unforgettable luxury experience. In addition to the many activities on offer and exceptional hospitality, the hotel is also a haven of peace and a destination that deserves to be recognized for its true value.
With the kindness and dedication of Lundy, a true hospitality professional who enjoys an excellent reputation in every establishment where he has worked, a stay at this resort will undoubtedly allow you to relax and unwind, enjoy a wide range of sports and other activities, and discover this charming provincial capital and its beautiful surrounding region.
To be continued...
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