What is there to do in the surrounding area?

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We chose southern Cambodia for our retreat after the region captured our hearts during Sophie’s many visits. It’s the perfect place to kick back, relax and immerse yourself in the rural Cambodian countryside. The venue is surrounded by acres of peaceful farmland but there’s plenty to do nearby if you fancy exploring. Here are some of our favourite places:

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• Kep, a sleepy costal town with a pretty beach and old colonial buildings. It’s famous for its large crab market where you can see people wading in and out of the water to empty their crab pots. It is a lovely place to while away an afternoon; sun-bathing, reading and chatting to the locals.

• Kep National Park, which is located just a short drive from the town centre. Head up into the hills and hike in nature. A well-marked trail through lush jungle takes a couple of hours to complete on foot. The park has a diverse array of butterflies, lizards and birds.

• Kampot, a lively town next to a river. The downtown area has two markets and lots of cafes and restaurants. The town is fairly busy and buzzing, but when you go further up the river, there are lots of peaceful and secluded spots.

• Koh Tonsay Island, better known as Rabbit Island. Take a wooden boat from Kep to a rustic palm-tree lined island and bask by the ocean sipping coconuts.

• Phnom Vor Mountain. Visit the last Khmer Rouge holdout in the 1990s and hike to the top for views across the south coast of Cambodia, and help the reforestation programme at the same time.

• Ancient limestone caves. Kampot is filled with magnificent limestone caves to explore. We can arrange rock-climbing, via ferrata and abseiling with experienced guides upon request.

• Pepper farms. The region is famous for its world class pepper, which is known for its floral and sweet flavor. Pepper was first cultivated in the area in the thirteenth century, but the industry boomed in the nineteenth century under French colonial rule when European chefs started to appreciate its delicate flavours. After a fall in production during the years of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s, it is now undergoing a resurgence. You can learn how pepper is grown at the retreat venue or take a more formal tour at one of the bigger pepper farms nearby.