Published on December 8, 2014
Jungle trails, river adventures, bird spotting – choose your own adventure amidst Cambodia’s tracts of unspoiled wildlands.
1.1. Koh Phdao CBT in Kratie Province
Located in the northeastern Cambodian province of Kratie, Koh Pdao is famous for the freshwater dolphin community living in its part of the Mekong River. Travelers come to Koh Pdao to see the dolphins, but they stay for the community-based experience here that immerses them in the local culture – from experiencing community activities like farming and digging fish and frog ponds; to experiencing the community’s unique food and music. Outdoor-oriented travelers can also go trekking in the jungle or circle the island by boat. Tourism Cambodia official page.
1.2. O’Russey Kandal CBT in Stung Treng Province
The community around O’Russey Kandal in Stung Treng Province welcomes visitors who come to experience the area’s natural wonders. From swimming in the local stream, to trekking in the nearby forest, to biking around the local trails, to picnicking in nature, the community-based tourism project encourages both locals and visitors to nurture the area’s unique environment. Guests stay overnight at a family home within O’Russey Kandal, and live as they do. Tourism Cambodia official page.
1.3. Tmatboey CBT in Preah Vihear Province
The village of Tmatboey lies within the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary in the Northern Plains of Cambodia, home to endangered species like the Giant Ibis and the White-shouldered Ibis. The place is a birdwatcher’s paradise: visitors to Tmatboey are escorted by villagers to ibis habitat sites, located in seasonally flooded grasslands and wetlands delineated by deciduous forests. Tourists are required to stay a minimum of four days onsite, due to the sanctuary’s remoteness. Tourism Cambodia official page.
1.4. Cambodia Bay
Covering four Cambodia provinces– Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kampot and Kep – the Cambodia Bay area combines natural wonders with local cultural and leisure activities. Some of the areas in Cambodia Bay could not be more different -Kep’s laid-back beaches contrast mightily with Sihanoukville’s brassy activity – but all combined, the beaches, waterfalls, scuba diving and French colonial architecture make Cambodia Bay one of the country’s future hotspots, its rise all but inevitable.
