
Our tale begins in 2006 with a boat trip to a degenerated island in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago and a sack containing the $15,000 needed to buy it.


Song Saa Collective has developed a unique model that employs business as an agent of change. Through our core values of collaboration, commitment and creativity we cultivate places where planet, people and profit flourish.
Learn about our impact
Our tale begins in 2006 with a boat trip to a degenerated island in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago and a sack containing the $15,000 needed to buy it.

Our first project, Song Saa Private Island, pioneered conservation-based luxury tourism in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago.
Since opening our doors in 2012, we have collaborated with the Cambodian government, financial investors, donor partners and broader stakeholders to establish the country’s first marine protected area, a sustainable waste management programme and a 24-villa private island resort.
The vision encompasses replanting a rainforest, restoring Boeung Chhouk lake, and creating an ecotourism destination and cultural centre where like-minded travellers can connect deeply with Cambodia’s heritage.

Our tale begins in 2006 exploring remote islands off Cambodia’s coast, on an old fishing boat, sleeping beneath the stars. After stopping alongside a reef in rapid decline, its shores covered in rubbish — an extraordinary journey began.

Moved by the island’s fragile beauty and the urgency of its decline, our founder Melita Koulmandas began working alongside local communities to restore its once coral-rich waters.

Since then, we’ve collaborated with local communities on numerous projects including the founding of Cambodia’s first marine-protected area and the first waste management initiative in the Koh Rong archipelago.

The resort opened in 2013, not only to sustain the ongoing work of the Song Saa Foundation, but also to invite like-minded wanderers to become part of the island’s journey – as well as that of the wider Koh Rong ecosystem.


Her design projects incorporate sustainably sourced materials, celebrate heritage and honor craftsmanship – driving positive societal change while delivering strong financial returns.
Her multidisciplinary work spans interiors, fine art, fashion, lifestyle, landscapes and organic installations. She has received numerous accolades, including Condé Nast Traveler’s ‘World’s Most Beautiful Resort Hotel’ and National Geographic’s ‘Leader in Sustainable Tourism’.
Born in London and raised in Sydney, Melita moved to Cambodia in 2005 where she now lives with her children and their dog, Jackson.
Entrepreneur, activist and thought leader Melita Koulmandas champions responsible business as a force for social impact and ecological regeneration.


We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work and live. Song Saa is proud to operate within the Kingdom of Cambodia, a nation of rich cultural heritage and diversity, home to Khmer communities as well as many ethnic minority and indigenous groups.
We honour their enduring relationship with the land and sea, their beliefs, and their cultural traditions — including the spirit guardians who continue to watch over Cambodia’s islands, mountains, forests, and coastal waters.
We remain committed to ethical engagement, mutual respect, and supporting the rights and knowledge of the communities who continue to shape Cambodia’s future.