Canvas & Orchids Retreat

If you’re looking for somewhere that’s relatively unspoilt and relatively off the beaten track, then Canvas & Orchids is a great choice. First - getting here. You can’t get away from the fact that this place is 5-6 hours drive from Kep or Phnom Penh. Highway 48 is a road like no other, and is a very long and tough drive on roads that are being built and rebuilt. Not long after you leave NR4, “western” services stop entirely. Get that last Amazon coffee stop while you can! The boat transfer is enchanting, and the tiring effect of the road journey is quickly swept away by the natural beauty. Wonderfully, there is almost zero litter/ trash. On arrival we were enchanted by the location, and the warm welcome. The river tents are spacious and well appointed - each with its own veranda onto the water, plus chairs and sun loungers. The tents are cooled by air coolers - not AC. We arrived at the height of the seasonal temperature, and the coolers and fans had to work hard to get the tents down to a sensible temperature. There are occasional boats chugging past - but these only add to the experience. The dining options are absolutely fine, with delicious set menus, plus western and local dishes. The team take great pride in their meal service. The staff are super friendly, and cannot do enough to make you comfortable. My wife was slightly poorly (nothing to do with the accommodation) and the staff were genuinely concerned. A nice range of excursions, including fire flies and kayaking. Fair prices for food and drink. My fear is that the completion of Highway 48, which will take a long time, plus other economic pressures will negatively change this area. Visit before this happens.

Wow. What a special place. From the moment you are collected by riverboat and taken down the beautiful river to your floating accommodation, you know you are somewhere special. Peaceful and nature focused. The river was lovely to swim in. Probably the best thing though we’re our hosts, local Cambodians seeking to develop the ecology of the lovely forest.

Arriving by long boat to the Safari style tented accommodation floating off a tranquil bank set close to a local village was magical following the long 5 hour dusty road journey from Battenbang. The hotel staff were welcoming and the set menu breakfast and dinner were excellent. There were a number of activities which could be booked and we were fortunate that the waterfall boat trip tour which operates on alternate days fitted into our 2 night stay.Swimming off the end of our private terrace morning and evening was great.The accommodation and bathroom were clean with great decor the accommodation was hot at night as the small electric fan cooler turned itself off and the calling fan was not really cooling however it did not spoil our stay. Great eco set up.

Very much loved Canvas & Orchid Retreat at Tatai River, my family and I came here many times, but it’s been growing more and more beautiful from time to time, no doubt with the luxurious floating tents, simply unique and sustainable. The island ground is clean with nice gardens and coconut trees, good fields for kids’ activities, tranquil river with superb scenery, best for kayaking esp. at sunset… Super friendly staff, delicious food, exceptional service, and the unique style of the accommodation itself made our stay unforgettable as ever. Highly appreciated the initiatives/inventive of the founders Anna and Valentin who made this place modern but very Eco-friendly, they largely involved in the environment protections in the regions and the surrounding communities as well as given the huge number of environmental knowledge and valuable professional skills to their staff… Highly recommend this place for those nature lovers and those seeking a quiet spot for holiday breaks.

This magical place is so worth the 4.5 hour drive from Pnom Penh: the welcome so warm, the tented accommodation beautifully appointed, the food fabulous. I'm not one for early mornings usually but sunrise from the deck outside my tent was really special and I loved being able to dive straight from my deck into the river. My visit to the neighbouring village and watching the fireflies in the evening were fabulous experiences. Above all I appreciated the peace and quiet and lack of plastic! This resort thoroughly deserves its eco credentials and is definitely in my top 10 locations ever!

We booked here for 3 nights and stayed one. It’s a long drive of 6 hours from the capital, much of the time on dusty broken roads. Many things are fantastic for example the staff, location, shower cabinet and eye for detail. However this is a TENT (think Eurocamp) and therefore impossible to keep cool in the day, and with 3 fans around our bed at night the temperature hovered @ 30 degrees centigrade. The bed was rock hard too. Restaurant food was 5/10. It was these 3 things which made us leave and forfeit 2 nights paid accommodation. Over 50s be warned!

An idyllic and exclusive setting, with just 13 tents, of which 8 are on the river. Get one of those if you can. Swim in the warm river from steps on the deck in front of the tent. Sit on the deck and listen to the dawn chorus as the sun comes up over the jungle. Kayak round the island and visit the waterfall. Stay 3 nights and relax! The staff, almost all from the local village and always smiling, are friendly and helpful. Providing local employment and the preservation of wildlife are part of their ethos. The food was very good. The tents were very comfortable. No aircon, but plenty of fans. If you want sophistication and services that come with a 5* hotel, this is not for you! Be prepared for a 5 hour drive from Phnom Penh, of which four are on a semi made- up road, which won’t be finished any time soon.

What an amazing slice of paradise. Wonderful tents that have steps into the clear warm water of the river. Peaceful and relaxing few days. We did sunset cruise, trip to waterfalls and morning trek plus fire flies. Kayaks that you can help yourself to. Food was delicious. The staff really made this place to with their kindness and enthusiasm. Memories to last a lifetime.

The most beautiful location and very well appointed tents - make sure you book a floating tent rather than those which are set one row back - so that you can just drift into the glass-like river straight from your terrace. Kayaking around the island was also a glorious experience which we did several times during our three night stay. One slight note of caution to those who, like us, booked directly and not through a tour operator and hence have no idea of the room rate: the high room rate of £210 a night which we paid should not bring with it the 5* expectations this price tag might lead you to anticipate. I am totally happy I stayed at this resort as its beauty and serenity are superlative but the food service and some of the housekeeping standards are not tip top. As I say, no regrets whatsoever staying here and our three night stay was the perfect length considering a long and bumpy trip from Battambang. The tent standard is very good, we slept very well and weren’t too hot, and the shower charming and efficient. Very reasonable $25 massage for 90 minutes and having a flask of hot water and cookies brought to your terrace ready for your sunrise morning coffee is incredibly charming too. They really care about the environment here and therefore I feel a bit mean saying it’s not 5* service but the very slick website and high room rate may attract a very few guests who might need to readjust their expectations slightly. This review is for you. But as I say, no regrets staying here it’s incredibly beautiful.