SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA
Shinta Mani Wild
85.2/100
A stay at Shinta Mani Wild offers a gateway to one of the world’s most captivating jungles. Picture waking up to the vibrant greens of the jungle and the calming sound of white water rushing below. Perched above the banks of the pristine Thmor Rung River, Shinta Mani Wild immerses guests in breathtaking views at every turn—scenes that feel worlds apart from the ordinary.
The Views at This Hotel
HAVDS * → 83.88/100
* Hotel’s Overall View Desirability Score Adjusted for Distance, Visibility, and Perspective
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Shinta Mani Wild stands as an exceptional conservation-focused retreat nestled within Cambodia's Cardamom National Park, earning a perfect guest experience rating of 10. This truly exceptional property, envisioned by Bill Bensley, was purposefully developed to protect the surrounding rainforest ecosystem and its unique wildlife inhabitants. The camp demonstrates environmental stewardship through its high-yield, low-impact design that provides sustainable employment alternatives for local communities previously dependent on environmentally harmful activities. Shinta Mani Wild reinforces its conservation commitment by directing room revenues to organizations that enforce environmental protection laws, creating a model where luxury tourism directly supports rainforest preservation and biodiversity restoration in one of Southeast Asia's most important wilderness areas.
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Total Rooms & Suites (Tents) → 15
Rooms with Views (RWV) → 15, at least +50% of which feature prime views
Balconies/Terraces (in RWV) → 15
Floor-to-Ceiling Windows (in RWV) → 15
Panoramic Bathtubs (in RWV) → 11
Telescopes (in RWV) → 15
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🔭 Every tent at Shinta Mani Wild offers absolute privacy and unique, unrivaled views of Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest. Spanning over two million acres, much of the Cardamom National Park remains untouched, yet its awe-inspiring vistas are ever-present—from the moment guests wake up to evenings spent savoring cocktails at The Landing Zone bar.Guests can also immerse themselves in the same scenery that once inspired Jackie Kennedy during her 1967 visit to Cambodia. Decades later, she became the muse for Bill Bensley’s creation of the homonymous tent, designed as an homage to what it might have been like if Jackie had embarked on a safari with the King. This exclusive, exquisitely detailed tent exudes luxury, but its most enchanting feature is the panoramic view that greets guests from every angle. The sight from the bed itself offers such captivating beauty that rising in the morning feels optional.
For an even more extraordinary experience, the National Geographic Tent (14) is a sanctuary like no other. Overlooking a private waterfall, this tent provides a magical setting where guests can wake to the soothing sounds of cascading water. Whether enjoying a soak in a vintage clawfoot tub or simply absorbing the tranquil surroundings, each moment here is designed to be unforgettable.
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The journey begins on the ground, with a ride through the jungle in a vintage 1960s army Jeep, offering a glimpse of the adventure to come. The thrill peaks as guests zip line over the treetops, arriving at a tranquil camp.
🔭 The Landing Zone Bar
Accessibility → Guest-Only
Availability → Year-Round
Open-Air Terrace → Yes
Perched above Big Raging Sister Falls, The Landing Zone bar transforms cocktail hour into a sensory spectacle. Here, the rumble of cascading water provides the soundtrack as guests sink into antique French seating with handcrafted drinks in hand. The bar team harvests botanicals from the surrounding wilderness to create signature concoctions, complemented by their collection of house-distilled bitters. This elevated vantage point suspends visitors between jungle canopy and powerful waters below, offering a rare perspective where untamed nature and refined mixology intersect. As daylight shifts across the waterfall's mist, each cocktail becomes part of a multisensory experience that changes with the jungle's rhythms.
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🔭 The Cistern (Pool)Accessibility → Guest-Only
Availability → Year-Round
Scenic Pool → Yes
Positioned just above the main waterfall and upriver from the Landing Zone Bar, The Cistern stretches 35 meters through the jungle canopy, offering one of the world's most extraordinary swimming experiences. This remarkable waterfall pool invites guests to immerse themselves in cool waters while surrounded by towering trees and the rushing symphony of cascading water. Visitors can enhance their aquatic retreat with complimentary river-stone foot massages while soaking—a unique offering that blends natural elements with therapeutic touch. The surrounding deck features comfortable sun loungers where guests can spend tranquil afternoons embraced by the forest's sights and sounds. The Cistern transforms an afternoon swim into a multisensory communion with nature, making it a centerpiece of the wilderness experience.
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🔭 The Hedquarters RestaurantAccessibility → Guest-Only
Availability → Year-Round
Open-Air Terrace → Yes
The Headquarters
The Headquarters establishes itself as the culinary heart of Shinta Mani Wild, offering dining experiences that evolve with the rhythm of the jungle. Set against sweeping forest vistas that stretch toward distant, mist-shrouded mountains, this restaurant transforms every meal into an extension of the wilderness adventure. The culinary team crafts ever-changing menus from the freshest seasonal Cambodian ingredients, many foraged by staff from the surrounding forest or harvested from the property's farms.
Whether guests arrive for an energizing breakfast before a sunrise expedition or settle in for a leisurely dinner showcasing unexpected flavor combinations, each dining experience at The Headquarters presents new discoveries. The restaurant's panoramic setting allows diners to witness the dramatic play of light across miles of pristine rainforest canopy while sampling dishes that might include traditional Cambodian fish amok, braised lamb shoulder, or soba noodles with tuna tataki—all prepared to introduce visitors to unfamiliar yet captivating tastes.
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At Shinta Mani Wild, the view isn't merely scenery—it's the narrative thread connecting every experience. The property was intentionally positioned to showcase the Cardamom National Park's most dramatic perspectives, from thundering waterfalls to pristine river valleys and ancient forest canopies that stretch to mist-veiled mountains.
These views inform the entire guest journey. The arrival involves ziplining 400 meters across the jungle at speeds up to 50 kmph, offering an immediate aerial perspective before landing directly at the cocktail bar. This dramatic introduction sets the tone for a stay where perspectives constantly shift between immersive close-ups and breathtaking panoramas.
Dining experiences extend beyond traditional settings, with customized picnics arranged on flat river stones, at waterfall edges, or hidden forest clearings. The Khmer Tonics spa features floating treatment rooms suspended within the canopy, creating the sensation of hovering in mid-air while receiving therapies that incorporate views as key elements of relaxation.
The absence of light pollution transforms nighttime views into equally remarkable experiences. The property's remote location offers exceptional stargazing opportunities, where the Milky Way stretches across some of Southeast Asia's darkest skies, creating a celestial ceiling above the rainforest.
Every carefully placed viewpoint, whether from private tent decks, hiking trails to rare vantage points, or while mountain biking through terrain few outsiders have witnessed, reinforces the property's conservation mission by showcasing precisely what is being protected—a wilderness perspective that transforms visitors into advocates.
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While Shinta Mani Wild has not yet displayed the certification badge from the "Certified Views by The Most Perfect View" initiative on its official website, nor included a link to this certificate, the breathtaking natural panoramas from its luxury tents remain one of the property's most extraordinary features. This wilderness retreat's commitment to conservation and immersive experiences extends to its spectacular setting, with carefully positioned accommodations that frame pristine rainforest vistas and rushing waterways worth experiencing firsthand. As eco-luxury travelers increasingly seek authentic natural environments, Shinta Mani Wild's stunning untamed surroundings continue to captivate visitors who appreciate the profound connection between luxurious hospitality and unspoiled wilderness landscapes.