KINGDOM OF WONDER

Cambodia is Angkor Wat - and much, much more. Scott Dunn Private takes Crystal Lee off the beaten path in a whirlwind tour around the Southeast Asian country for glimpses of its magic and mystery.

- Crystal Lee

Sunrise at Angkor Wat is breathtakingly beautiful. In the span of an hour, the sky puts on a dramatic show of colours, from midnight blue peppered with stars to a burst of vibrant pink and fuchsia. From where we stood at the edge of the pond, the still water reflected the stunning scene as the day broke, amplifying its magnificence.

That wasn't even the most impressive sunrise at the temple, Pheakdey, my incredibly knowledgeable guide, tells me. During the equinox, which happens every year in March and September, the sun rises exactly on the peak of the central tower, revealing one of the many astronomical alignments of the vast temple complex.

Just before light flooded Angkor Wat, Pheakdey led me to a quiet, more modern ashram in the vicinity for a private ceremony. It was a lovely surprise to close an unforgettable trip - to be in the presence of a respected monk, in a world-famous site, and receive his blessings for a good year ahead. But this wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, I was travelling as a Scott Dunn Private member, and extraordinary experiences with unparalleled access are part of the package.

GETTING PERSONAL

No trips are the same with Scott Dunn Private. Members of this exclusive club by the award-winning tour operator are assigned relationship managers, who are backed by years of experience in travel planning, vast world-class connections around the world and a wealth of knowledge of destinations to create dream holidays for guests. This means going where few have gone without lifting a finger, whether it's a discreet private visit to the Sistine Chapel, entering a Michelin-starred chef's kitchen during full service, or discovering a hidden cove in the Cyclades.