For more than a decade, Song Saa Private Island, set across two small isles in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago, has served as an unlikely bellwether for regenerative travel.
Long before “sustainable luxury” became an industry slogan, the resort built its identity around marine conservation, cultural stewardship and community partnership, all woven seamlessly into a barefoot-elegant hospitality experience.
The Pioneers of Regenerative Travel Evolve Again
Now the brand is entering its next chapter. Song Saa has introduced Saraan Sanctuaries, a wellness concept that reframes wellbeing not as a slate of treatments, but as a lived, place-shaped encounter with nature, ritual and ancestral knowledge.
“Saraan is the home of wilder wellbeing,” founder Melita Koulmandas said in announcing the initiative. “It marks a new era for a brand that has always placed people—and place—at its heart.”
A Philosophy Rooted in Place
Unlike the glossy, tech-driven wellness models that have dominated the past decade, Saraan Sanctuaries emphasises a quieter, older language of care which is drawn from Cambodian tradition, local ecological rhythms and the idea that personal health is inseparable from environmental and communal wellbeing.
Song Saa has operated on this premise since its inception: and my travel companion Cathy Wagstaff and I were able to enjoy some of these sunrise and sunset experiences earlier this year. From swimming in a pool overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, to walking the jungle pathways and eating sumptuous meals guided by Khmer culinary philosophy and served by fabulously friendly staff, we had a truly unforgettable time. We also loved meeting the resident scientists who are carrying out research and working on two islands and the marine protected areas. The resort also supports the local village livelihoods, provides healthcare and schooling for the young children and revives Khmer cultural practices. And Cathy were able to visit the local communities to witness this in action.
“True wellbeing cannot exist in isolation,” Melita says. “Harmony between the natural world, cultural connection and inner balance has always been our north star.”
A Wilderness Becomes a Healing Ground
What we didn’t see but is now central to Song Saa’s new evolution is Koh Bong which forms one of the two islands which has long been left intentionally wild. As one of the many guests who has spent time wandering its jungle via a wooden footbridge, I can attest to its extraordinary natural beauty.
When we were there the island did not house structures or formal experiences. But now under Saraan, Koh Bong is to be at the heart of an open-air wellness centre defined by elemental encounters.
“Crossing the footbridge into Koh Bong feels like stepping into a sanctuary within a sanctuary,” adds Melita. “Nature dictates everything—the pace, the sounds, the healing.”
The concept draws its name from saraan, meaning “love” in the Khmer dialect, a nod to the Buddhist principle of metta, or loving-kindness. Treatments and experiences are designed around this ethos: salt-room sound therapy, herbal steam rituals, Shirodhara oil treatments, Vichy showers, Buddhist blessings and nature-led movement practices. Curated journeys include Digital Detox, Sacred Sleep and Couple Connection, each set in jungle sanctuaries, overwater salas or open-air pavilions.
“Our wild wellbeing centre offers the chance to reconnect with Mother Earth, fostering preventive health by aligning mind, body, and spirit with the planet’s vital energy.”
Mana Kannoi, Spa & Wellness Manager,Song Saa Private Island
The Botanist as Guide
One of Song Saa’s most distinctive differences to other luxury destinations is it has a full-time resident botanist called Vichea Sok, who is a wealth of knowledge on the natural fauna and fauna. We also met two young female biologists from the UK and Germany during our stay on the island and they both talked about their work and their passion for Melita’s mission to preserve the island’s coral and marine life.
Guests are invited to explore the island’s wilderness through foraging walks and hands-on workshops. During my stay, Cathy and I were lucky enough to be given this tour by Vichea himself. He was able to point out the indigenous plants including lemongrass, turmeric, wild orchids, which were his teaching tools. Visitors can also learn to blend scrubs, teas and tinctures; explore the culinary role of native botanicals; and tap orchids sustainably for natural dyes used in art-making.
“A resident botanist is a rare and precious gift for travellers,” Melita says of Vichea’s role on the island. “He helps guests rediscover what Cambodian wisdom has always known: that healing begins in rhythm with the land.”
A Turn Toward Elemental Wellness
Globally, wellness is shifting away from the high-performance paradigm that prized metrics, optimisation and biohacking. In its place is a growing desire for meaning: for connection, reciprocity, slowness and restoration grounded in the natural world.
“This is not our response to a trend,” Melita explains. “It’s the continuation of a path we began over a decade ago – an invitation for people to slow down, learn from the land and rediscover their place within it.”
As the industry searches for its next frontier, Song Saa’s new wellness offering feels more like a return to nature and what has long sustained humanity.
“True repair begins in nature,” Melita adds. “Through Saraan Sanctuaries, we’re showing what meaningful, future-focused travel can be.”
About Song Saa Private Island: Song Saa Private Island is a luxury resort nestled in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago, renowned for its dedication to sustainability and community development. For more information about Song Saa Private Island, visit: https://songsaafoundation.org
For more information or to show your support of Song Saa Foundation, visit https://songsaafoundation.org
