Canvas & Orchids Retreat
WebsiteDescription
In the midst of marvelous, untouched nature and only accessible by boat, the luxurious floating tents of Canvas & Orchids Retreat will truly take your breath away. Here, you are invited to experience the ultimate in glamping – glamorous camping – within unique, sustainable floating tents. Imagine waking up surrounded by the gentle sounds of the river, with panoramic views of the pristine Cardamom Mountains.
Highlights
- Luxury Glamping: Opulent floating lodges, blending comfort with nature
- Immersive Nature: Discover the raw beauty of unspoiled Cambodia, nestled within the Cardamom Mountains.
- Authentic Local Encounters: Engage with the local culture and experience genuine Cambodian life.
- Pure Relaxation: Find serenity and rejuvenation in our tranquil retreat, designed for maximum unwinding.
- River Adventures: Enjoy local fishing, kayaking, swimming, and other water sports right from your doorstep.
Green Pearls® Score for Canvas & Orchids Retreat
“A stay at Canvas & Orchids Retreat is special not only because of its focus on sustainability, but also because of its close ties to the local community. Here, you can experience authentic Cambodian life.”
environmental protection
being local - authentic experiences
giving back
cultural commitment
Rooms & Amenities
15 exquisite tented villas offer a blend of luxury and comfort:
- Spacious Tented Villas: Each villa provides approximately 45 m² of sophisticated living space.
- Flexible Sleeping: Choose between comfortable double or twin beds.
- Family-Friendly Options: For added convenience, the family tents feature an additional room for kids.
- Luxurious Comforts: Enjoy well-appointed interiors with amenities like a flat-screen television, DVD player, and mini-bar.
- Private Outdoor Space: Each villa boasts a private, extra-large balcony, perfect for relaxing on a sun lounger and taking in the views.
History & Philosophy
The idea for what would become the Canvas & Orchids Retreat (originally named “4 Rivers Floating Lodge”) sparked from a vision of a unique floating village. After Valentin Pawlik and his wife, Anna, met with the owner of Wildlife Alliance—an NGO dedicated to protecting the Cardamom Mountains—a collaborative project was quickly formed. The goal was to demonstrate that conserving this beautiful area could offer an attractive and authentic experience for foreign visitors, leading to the lodge’s creation in this pristine wilderness.
“Our vision for the perfect getaway at Canvas & Orchids Retreat is simple: to offer top-tier luxury in harmony with Mother Nature. We want to give her the chance to impress you with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colors and images, all within the serenity of truly unspoiled surroundings.” Canvas & Orchids Retreat
Green Initiatives
- Architecture and Resources
- Energy
- Environmental Protection
- Flora and Fauna
- Social and Cultural Commitment
- Water and Waste Management
- The unique design and construction reflect a deep commitment to environmental responsibility.
- Eco-friendly construction materials: villa floors are crafted from a modern wood-plastic composite, utilizing 100% recycled plastic materials. This innovative choice protects local forests and ensures durability against heat, humidity, and the river’s proximity (unlike traditional wood which would require frequent replacement due to expansion and contraction.)
- Furniture is thoughtfully made from the abundant Water Hyacinth plant, chosen for its sustainable availability.
- The roofs are composed of four layers, strategically designed with specific openings to allow cool air in and warm air out, ensuring maximum natural ventilation without the need for artificial cooling.
- The tented villas are designed as non-permanent structures, leaving no lasting imprint on the surrounding pristine nature.
- The entire lodge platform and all its structures were built solely by local manpower using traditional small hand tools, a testament to the hotels dedication to sustainable practices and community engagement.
- Started out using diesel-powered generators for electricity source and then shifted to solar power
- Careful in the choice of solar electricity supplier; refused to work with a supplier suggesting to cut some trees to clear the land on the island to set up the solar panels
- Instead of cutting trees, the solar panels are set up on a floating platform and used 12 hours a day
- A generator partially powered by biodiesel is used for the other hours.
- Used cooking oil is sent to Naga Biofuels, where it is converted into biodiesel and used to power the property
- „We strive to leave no trace on the environment“, says the host. „If the lodges were ever moved, there would be no lasting sign of our presence. We’re committed to finding the most eco-friendly options for all our operations.“
- The owners see themselves as „guardians of this precious ecosystem“. Irregular and endangering incidents are immediately reported to the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Forestry, and Wildlife Alliance. A notable example involved large-scale sand dredging in 2011, which disrupted fish activity and caused riverbank collapses. The Retreat played a significant role in the investigation to assess its impact.
- Boat operations adhere to strict conditions: efficient fuel use, no spillage of oil or petrol, minimized noise, and a limit of two guest boats per day to reduce fuel consumption.
- Staff policy prohibits killing or eating wildlife that is found in the immediate surroundings of the hotel
- When the resort opened in 2009, there were no birds flying in the area, no wild boars, gibbons, monkeys, pythons etc found. Only from 2012 on, these species return to their natural habitat, which might be, according to researchers at Wildlife Alliance, due to the villagers being employed at the resort are no longer setting traps
- Deeply committed to empowering the local community
- Employment and business partnerships with local people wherever possible, actively supporting their growth through training in all aspects of resort operations.
- Food is an integral part of local culture, prepared and cooked with fresh, indigenous ingredients
- Guests are encouraged to spend time with the neighbours, learning about their simple life, discovering local customs, beliefs, and traditional practices, including unique fishing techniques.
- Contribution to community initiatives such as bringing uncontaminated drinking water to local schools and supporting educational programs, including providing school supplies and organizing Khmer New Year parties for students
- Reuse and upcycling of items, like transforming wine bottles into glasses and vases for the rooms.
- Excursions with eco-friendly, fully biodegradable packaging made from recycled materials.
- Partnership with „CleanBodia“, a startup innovating waste reduction in Cambodia, with biodegradable bags made from cassava starch as a sustainable alternative to plastic.
- Unique water pumping and treating system draws water from two wells, filtering it through three reservoirs (stones, sand, and bamboo charcoal) to ensure it’s safe and clean. This supply, along with the rainwater catchment system, provides water for showers, taps, and toilets throughout the resort.