In 2006, few people had ever heard of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, two small islands adrift in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago. The reefs were damaged, the beaches scarred by waste, and the surrounding waters fished almost beyond recovery. It was not a place most travellers stopped.
Then Melita Koulmandas, founder of Song Saa Private Island, arrived by boat. She was not searching for an island to buy. She was travelling through Cambodia when she noticed the twin jungle-covered islets connected by a shallow turquoise channel. Despite the visible scars of overfishing and neglect, the islands radiated a quiet beauty. Where others saw abandonment, Melita saw potential and she made a decision that would change the course of Cambodia’s coastal tourism.
She bought them!
The Meaning Behind the Name Song Saa
The islands were locally known as Song Saa, meaning “The Sweethearts” in Khmer, a name that felt instantly right. It reflected both the paired geography of the islands and the emotional connection Melita felt toward them. From the beginning, the dream was not to build a typical luxury resort, but to create a private sanctuary for romance, shaped by sustainability and community care.
“It was never about luxury first,” Melita later shared in interviews.
Before any villas were drawn on a map, attention turned to the sea. The reefs around Song Saa had been severely depleted, and local fishing communities had little alternative income. Working alongside these communities, Melita helped establish Cambodia’s first marine reserve in the Koh Rong archipelago, protecting fragile coral zones and giving marine life space to recover.
This was followed by the launch of the Song Saa Foundation, laying the groundwork for long-term projects in waste management, healthcare access, education and sustainable livelihoods. These early initiatives ensured that the island’s future would be tied not only to tourism, but to the wellbeing of the people who had lived in these waters for generations.
As Melita has often explained, the island could not thrive unless the environment and surrounding communities did too.
From Forgotten Islands to Global Icon
After years of groundwork, Song Saa Private Island opened in 2012. The resort was deliberately small. With just 24 villas, some perched over the water, others nestled into the jungle or opened directly onto the sand, it felt more like a retreat than a destination hotel. Reclaimed timber, natural stone and low-impact architecture allowed the island to remain the main character.
Days unfold without urgency. Guests drift between snorkelling straight from the jetty, kayaking through mangroves or simply watching the tide shift beneath a private deck. Floating breakfasts arrive in villa pools, while evenings settle into long shoreline dinners and quiet stargazing. Nothing here demands attention, yet everything feels considered.
Beyond the villas, the work continues. The Song Saa Foundation remains deeply active in marine conservation, coral monitoring, medical outreach and educational support across neighbouring islands. Tourism here is not a closed loop, it radiates outward, benefiting communities well beyond the resort.
Over time, Song Saa has become recognised globally as a pioneer of regenerative tourism, proving that a destination can be both luxurious and responsible, intimate yet impactful.
Cruise & Beach Package: River Meets Ocean
For travellers wishing to experience this philosophy as part of a wider Cambodian Mekong cruise, Song Saa is also featured in Heritage Line’s Cruise & Beach package, linking the cultural depth of the Mekong with the stillness of a private island. Two very different shades of Cambodia, connected by one remarkable story.
Discover our Cruise & Beach package in detail here.
