Koh Trong is a sleepy, little-known backwater island in the Mekong River, only a short distance from Kratie town. The Rajabori Villas are on Koh Trong and therefore provide a rural alternative for travellers wishing to spend a few days exploring the region. And they are of a significantly higher standard than anything available in town.

Having caught the ferry across the Mekong, you are collected either by ox & cart or moped and transferred through a sleepy riverside village. Once you arrive at the Rajabori Villas site, you find ten traditional wooden houses set in gardens. The overt aim was to recreate an old traditional Cambodian village and the villas and public spaces have been furnished and decorated in typical Khmer style, with what the (French) owners have collected over the years in all provinces of the country. Each has a large terrace, whilst inside rich woods combine with a very pleasant traditional décor and simple amenities.

For their electricity, the villas use a mixed system made of a generator that operates a portion of the night and solar panels that provide the service during the day and late night. There is only one fan per room, above the bed, so as not to overload the system. Water is heated by the sun and, therefore, needs a few minutes to reach the tap. There is a large swimming pool, although – for the more adventurous – swimming in the Mekong is a possibility throughout the year. There is even a substantial beach between December and May.