Shinta Mani Wild

Overview

Journey to one of the last great wilderness areas in Southeast Asia with the all inclusive luxurious tented camp, Shinta Mani Wild – A Bensley Collection. Set within 800 acres and counting of upland forest and rushing rivers, Shinta Mani Wild is a haven to rest your head and heart in the center of it all.

The spirit of the wild is the lifeblood of the destination. The clue is in the name, and that adventurous ethos is embodied from the jump in a truly unique arrival to the camp. Guests zipline over 1200 meters of forest canopy, river and waterfalls to the appropriately named Landing Zone Bar, where your personal Bensley Butler and the GM await your arrival with a refreshing cocktail. Its pioneering architect and founder, Bill Bensley, has designed his wilderness resort to be finely tuned with the seasons, observing the subtle changes month by month and offering intimate insights into the Cambodian landscape. In spring, expect deep rainforest hiking and biking tours when the river waters are lower, the by contrast monsoon moments in summer that see wild elephants reappearing and kingfishers diving as the rivers come bursting back to life. Activities are tailor-made so your thirst for thrill can be quenched in the most personal way. The Bensley Adventure Butlers serve to curate a program of passtimes for every guest, though they equally remind you that the best adventures can be in doing nothing at all.

For those moments of complete surrender, the resort’s Khmer Tonics Spa is ready to cradle you in its lush jungle hillside setting looking out onto dramatic boulders. A menu of restorative treatments – all of which are complimentary – are on offer and use only COSMOS-certified cosmetics. Organic and planet-kind by nature, the spa even uses the nearby river stones in its deep tissue treatments.

Start your day swimming under a waterfall with a picnic breakfast waiting at the riverside. Before the midday sun, you can forage for food that will later be cooked up Cambodian-style for supper. Join the Wildlife Alliance Rangers on one of their daily anti-poaching patrols. Hike, bike, zipline, or kayak to your heart’s content. Then wind down with a seasonal shrub cocktail before contentedly collapsing into the embrace of your luxurious tent.

One of the most special aspects to Shinta Mani Wild’s story is its embodiment of responsible tourism. The Shinta Mani Foundation was set up to provide Cambodians opportunities to overcome poverty. Since 2003, its School of Hospitality has graduated close to 300 citizens from under-privileged backgrounds to propel them into a brighter future. 1,755 water wells, 123 homes and nearing 15,000 health check-ups for children.