
Shinta Mani Wild
Jungle boogie
Chasing waterfalls
Deep in the heart of the Cambodian rainforest, Shinta Mani Wild, a Bensley Collection hotel is so much more than a tented riverside perch. This luxe retreat taps into the country’s burgeoning appetite for adventure basecamps that don’t scrimp on home comforts – and it does so in Bill Bensley’s inimitable escapist style. Strap on your hiking boots to explore jungle trails, butterfly sanctuaries and unspoilt waterways. And the tents? They’re one of a kind, of course: picture-perfect feats of stretched canvas, polished teak and outdoor bath tubs just waiting to welcome weary explorers home.
Planes
Two and a half hours’ drive away, Sihanoukville is the nearest airport, with flights to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, as well as the global hub of Hong Kong. Phnom Penh, a three-hour drive away, has good regional connections to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Stays at Shinta Mani Wild include airport transfers in comfortable Toyota Fortuners.
Automobiles
Leave the car at home: going off-piste in Cambodia is best left to the professionals.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Resist your outdoor bath tub’s siren call and take your adventure butler’s advice: there’s too much to do in this unspoilt wilderness to stay cocooned in your tent. Highlights change with the season, but there’s something for all levels of experience, from expert-guided orchid-spotting hikes to adrenaline-pumping motorcycle patrols with the rangers. Follow the chef on a foraging walk through the forest (mangosteens, moringa and wild vanilla are there for the picking), or try your hand at Tenkara, the Japanese meditative practice of fly-fishing. Trekking, kayaking and mountain biking are on the menu, too, as are slow, languid afternoons spent tubing on the river.
Pootle your way around the backwaters of the estuary on Shinta Mani Wild’s private pontoon boat, decked out with day-beds for bird-watching in perfect horizontal comfort. The Shinta Mani Foundation supports local communities with schooling, small business sponsorships and sustainable farming; ask to tour the villages to get involved.
For the best wildlife-spotting opportunities, tick the three nearby national parks off your list: wild elephants, porcupines and leopard cats have all been spotted in the verdant neighbourhood.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .


































