How this luxury Cambodian resort offers a yoga experience few others can match

Those worries evaporated the moment I stepped out of the car after a scenic 2.5-hour ride from the new Techo International Airport south of the capital, Phnom Penh. A beaming woman introduced herself: “I’m Lana, can I give you a hug?”

Lana Yang, the resort’s wellness manager, had read my pre-visit survey and knew the kind of welcome I needed. As we toured the grounds – taking in the three restored 1950s villas, the pool, organic herb garden, a yoga sala and the waterside restaurants – she detailed the history and principles of this “regenerative” centre.

We walked past new artists’ residences that are part of a new “Art for Kep” initiative, and she pointed out the watersports centre and sailing school, noting that guests often explore the coast on kayaks or paddleboards, and some earn a sailing certificate over two days.

In the world of high-end wellness, it is easy to find practitioners with impressive certifications. It is far rarer to find a guide like Yang, whose expertise is a lived geography.