In Siem Reap, in the northwestern part of Cambodia, amid an unsullied bit of overgrown tropical landscape, we sip Champagne, nibble strawberries and work our way through a well-packed gourmet lunch. We sit on a tablecloth woven from silk that’s been splayed over the ground. We eat, still giddy from watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat, in the shadows of a moldering 2,000-year-old temple. In contrast to the crowds that joined us at the UNESCO-listed monument, we’re just a small group of fellow travelers now, supported by the white-coated staff of Anantara Angkor Resort and Spa.

We could be in another time or on a movie set in the jungle but for the one brightly painted shanty, home to a local family. Their children bounce across the terrain, chasing a puppy while their father meticulously scrubs a wok in the front yard. Suddenly, the kids line up, grin and then, co-opted by our chaperone staff, sing “Happy Birthday” in Khmer to our friend Ruth. Shyly, they present her with a cake and then gallivant away.

That’s the sort of personal attention and immersive experiences you find when staying at Anantara, located just minutes from Angkor Archaeological Park, home to myriad fortress-like temples, outposts built when the Khmer kings ruled from 800 to 1400. As impressive as Machu Picchu, Mexico’s Mayan temples and Egypt’s pyramids, these ancient structures boggle the mind. Add in Cambodia’s recent, tragic past involving the Khmer Rouge, and a visit here deeply touches the soul. With that in mind, Anantara Angkor Resort and Spa recently re-imagined itself as an opulent all-suite hotel, providing the ideal oasis for post-outing repose. Visiting temples means dusty roads, humid heat and eye-popping crowds, so the resort’s 39 capacious suites, cool saltwater pool and airy restaurant invite after a day of Indiana Jones-like exploration.

Intent on customizing your stay, Anantara offers complimentary Experience Butlers and Streetwise Gurus who help plan your itinerary upon arrival. While the most oft-requested activity includes guided temple tours, the butlers organize an array of outings, from tuk tuk, bicycle or quad treks to helicopter flights over the temples. The Jim Thompson one- and two-bedroom suites will wow fans of Asian design, flush with local silk, wood and Southeast Asian and Khmer motifs. Book a Discovery Package, which includes airport transfer, several daily activities such as tours and temple picnics, a daily spa treatment and meals.

Anantara Angkor Resort and Spa

National Road no. 6, Khum Svay Dangkom
Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
tel 855 63 966 788