Villa Calao - Tropical luxury eco-friendly house

The house is located on Kep market side of the city not far from the Wat Samati, on a large plot of green land. It is nestled up the hill and the garden has its upper boundary with the Kep National Park; it has magnificent views of the island Koh Tonsai and its next small sisters. The singularity of this property is the quietness of the place; there are no neighbours next, only the forest animals and luxuriant tropical vegetation. Yet city market and center is a 5-10 min bike ride. Our house has been built with an eco-friendly sense, as much as that was possible. We purchased traditional Cambodian wooden houses that we either have dismantled, moved from former location and built again on our land, or have recycled in full into our concrete home. We are solar powered, have own well and soiled water is drained into our sceptic tanks. We pretty much are autonomous in full! The property itself consists of five buildings: A wooden house for our Khmer staying family, a garage with bikes available for a cycling fun run. There is a central building with kitchen, dining and living room; it’s designed loft style with everything under a single traditional wooden structure and apparent tile roof. This house is completely opened to the outside, it’s only closed by wooden louvered shutter doors that will be opened in mornings and closed at nights by our dear Mr. Rith for you. The dining table is a Khmer long traditional wooden piece of wood and easily can seat ten guests, up to twelve if kids are put at the end of the table. The room has a toilet on the entrance corner. The main bedroom building is composed of a master bedroom with king-sized bed, open bathroom with both shower and bathtub. Next to the master bedroom is an adjacent kids’ bedroom with two single beds; there is a communicating door between the adults and the kids’ bedroom. All beds are equipped with canopy nets although the entire house does have nets on windows and doors as well. The “friends and family building” as we like to call it has two separate bedrooms. Both these bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with shower, a double queen-sized bed and a single bed that can either be used as a room settee or for a kid sleeping in parents’ room. Again, all beds are equipped with canopy nets and windows nets. Our bedrooms buildings have views to the islands and our very green and lush garden. They have private terrace and large roofed outside areas. Each room front space has a seating place for enjoying quiet time away from common areas. The salted infinity pool is fourteen by six meters, 1.2 to 1.4 metre deep. It has a baby pool on one edge next to a large wooden sundeck with deckchairs, small table and parasol. The swimming pool is central to all buildings, so you may cook or enjoy drinks with friends in the main building whilst easily keeping an eye to the kids having fun in the pool. Babies crawling in the main building area shall not fall in the pool as it is elevated about a metre high; few steps must be ascended to access the pool. Speaking of kids, we have games for the pool, lego duplos and a gigantic train to be build; we also hold a few cards games and board games. All those are available to your kids to play. There are quite a few outside seating areas scattered around the garden; traditional rattan hand-made hammock with nice cushions so the nap is very relaxing! Two foldable wooden tables seating six to a maximum of eight diners are installed under a tree for an outside meal. A grill is available for your BBQs. We recently roughly flattened and covered with grass a sizeable area of our land next to the small waterlily pond and put up a net to play volleyball or badminton; there is a water hyacinth living room furniture next to it, up the garage flat roof, for non-players and referees to enjoy drinks or rest while the sportive ones are playing! Guests may access the entire property except the wooden staff house located at the very entrance of the land. We live in Cambodia but are not always in Kep; however we surely are available for any questions our guests may have! Our staff do not speak English but are hard workers dedicated to their job. Ms. Vanh will ensure housekeeping in your bedrooms and main building every day; she also will wash the dishes if you are cooking home. Mr. Rith opens and shuts main building at night, puts away all outside mattresses and cushions and maintains the swimming pool. Kep is a very relaxing town next to the sea. The main attractions are the National Park where one easily can trek and the island in front of the coast. People love Kep because you still get that rural, simple sense and rythme of life. The house is close to city center; it takes a 5 minutes car/moto/tuk tuk ride to reach Kep market where buses stop. Maps I have drawn for guests are available; they show main attractions, shopping places in Kep and how to get to the house; I also have made a small booklet with road directions to be followed from Phnom Penh to the house, so in case you are driving by yourself you won't get lost! Count around 3 to 4 hours to drive from Phnom Penh to Kep depending on traffic. Ms. Vanh may prepare a simple yet delicious breakfast against an extra fee, consisting of viennoiseries, bread butter jam and honey, a large fruit plate and fresh fruit juices. Tuk tuk or car with chauffeur could be rented on a daily or half day basis, with tuk tuk of course available on a fare basis. You would have to negotiate the fee with the drivers depending on where or what you’d like to do. Finally, we know taxis riding back and forth Phnom Penh Kep. All those extras can be arranged but need to be planned in advance.