If there’s one word to describe Siem Reap, it’d have to be laid-back. Low skylines allow the eye to roam towards the horizon, and the easy-going nature of the locals makes for a great retreat from the hectic city life. It is against this calming backdrop that the Navutu Dreams Resort & Spa is located. Tucked away in a quiet corner of Siem Reap, Navutu Dreams is effectively a retreat within a retreat.
Words: Stuart Danker
Here, there’s no hustle and bustle, no queues for service, and most importantly, no noise. Visitors wished me a good morning as I made my way to my room, while others were stretched out on sunbeds with smiles on their faces. Everybody was in a good mood, and I was about to find out why.
I was booked into the Explorer room, 484 square feet of comfort that would be my home for the coming days. The double bed is the centre piece among the wooden interior, hand-carved by Laotian and Khmer tribespeople. Every room has a veranda with foliage that acts as a curtain for added privacy. The bathroom is equally cosy, with wooden sinks and pebbled flooring, adding to the rustic charm of the accommodation.
Other rooms in the resort include the Grand Tour and the Grand Suite. A favourite with couples and honeymooners, the Grand Tour is a 753-square-feet room with an indoor bathtub overlooking a private garden, and a balcony with splendid views of the horizon. With Siem Reap’s low skylines, couples can relax and watch the sun fade in the distance. And then, there’s the Grand Suite that features a king-sized bed with a separate living room, which can be turned into a second bedroom – perfect for a family holiday.
At Navutu Dreams, guests can focus on themselves, whether this entails slipping into a blissful coma after a decadent massage or joining one of the many wellness activities the resort offers. I chose yoga. The frequency of yoga classes here would put most gyms to shame. As I’m a huge advocate of exercising while travelling, I was stoked to learn that I was just in time for a beginner’s class. Registering was as simple as writing my name on a list, and I was soon seated on a yoga mat in the studio.
I’ve always suffered from tight hamstrings, and recognising this, the instructor told me which poses worked best to remedy it. He patiently guided the rest of the class, tailoring his advice to each person’s build and ability. I left the class feeling relaxed and energised. But, there is a lot more to Navutu Dreams’ health plans. There are detox and burnout programmes, consisting of set daily diets, regular acupuncture treatments and meditation classes too.
At the heart of the resort sits Niam Niam, Navutu Dreams’ main restaurant. Butterflies roam beneath its thatched roof, making dining here a serene experience. In keeping with the focus on wellness, Niam Niam offers a wide range of healthy, vegetarian options. As a vegetarian, mealtimes have always been a chore when travelling. My choices are oftentimes limited to ‘fried rice without the chicken’ or ‘carbonara without the meat’. I was glad that it wasn’t the case this time.
Unable to decide, I picked a dish at random – the Macrobiotic. It consisted of grilled tofu, steamed broccoli, wakame (seaweed), chick-peas and brown rice. It was a sizeable portion and the flavours and textures complemented each other. I washed this down with a juice called Digest – a blend of pineapple, guava and mint. Served without any added water or sugar, it is said to aid digestion. Health benefits aside, it was absolutely delicious. The restaurant also has an impressive non-vegetarian menu with notable dishes including prawn mango salad served with a Jack Daniels sauce, steak sandwiches and deep-fried calamari rings.
After a satisfying dinner, it was time to take a dip in the pool to cool off. For a boutique resort with 28 rooms, it’s remarkable that Navutu Dreams has three swimming pools! Even at maximum capacity, there will never be a shortage of sun beds or swimming space, and that’s a luxury that most resorts overlook.
As I shared the pool with one other person, I reflected on how Navutu Dreams’ size worked to its advantage. Everything seemed more intimate and the staff remembered the name of every guest. I saw the same faces every day and pretty soon, these familiar faces became friends.
Those intending to visit would do well to heed a word of warning – once you check in, you may never want to check out!
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NAVUTU DREAMS RESORT & SPA
Address: Angkor High School Road, Salakamroeuo, Siem Reap.
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