VISIT A LOCAL HOMESTAY
Yeak Loam lake community
Yeak Laom lake has been officially managed by the Tampuan community since 1998 when provincial authorities in Ratanakiri granted a 25-year agreement for local management. Since then, members from each of the five villages of Yeak Laom have been responsible for protecting and managing the lake including forest patrols, tourist services, and waste management.
The lake is 800m in diameter and 50m deep with clean and clear water. It is surrounded by a natural forest area, which is home to an array flora and fauna. Small schools of fish are often sighted at the banks of the lake whilst exotic birds, such as kingfishers, can be seen darting across the water during sunset. When you visit the lake today, you can walk and swim at the lake, or choose a cultural tour or homestay to learn more about Tampuan culture and custom whilst supporting the local community.
The lake is very busy and noisy during Cambodian national holidays, so if you want to experience the natural tranquillity of this place avoid visiting during public holidays.
Koh Pdao Island Homestay
Koh Pdao is well known for its fresh water dolphins living in the Mekong River. Travellers can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Mekong River scenery while watching Irrawaddy dolphins swimming next to their boat. In the evenings beautiful sunsets will turn the river into a golden banner.
Village Homestay Cheung Kok- Kampong Cham
Amica is a non profit organisation. Helping the local community to build other realities for other tomorrow. This organisation brings help to the Cambodian community by developing an innovative concept of sustainable rural development. By sustainable rural development, it means creating other sources of income without damaging the population and combines projects in education, health and the environment.
Chi Phat Community
The Chi-Phat commune (Khmer: ជីផាត,pronunciation: cheephat) is located deep within the Cardamom Mountains in the South-West of Cambodia. The commune consists four villages:Chi-Phat, Komlot, Chom-Sla and T'k La'o. Most of the local residents make their living mainly out of agriculture, fishing and tourism. Ecotourism efforts in recent years have made Chipat a popular destination for foreign visitors and local Cambodians alike. After 10 years of running the ecotourism project, the village is becoming more sustainable and is well known globally.
Anlung Pring bird sanctuary
The Anlong Pring bird sanctuary is located in Kampong Trach district, Kampot province. This sanctuary is an official IBA (Important Bird Area), along with over 12,000 IBA’s in 200 countries. Anlong Pring’s IBA is Cambodia’s 2nd Sarus Crane reserve since 6 January 2011. The 1st reserve was established in Takeo province in 2007. The Anlong Pring reserve covers 217 hectares of seasonally inundated grassland. In March 2010, the site held nearly 300 Sarus Cranes, more than 30% of the global population! Still, they can be difficult to spot for visitors. Please note that you can only see the Sarus Crane birds from mid-November until May every year!
Prek Thnout Community Based tourism
Located in the mountains of Bokor National Park less than 1 hour from Kampot town, Prek Thnout offers a great scenery to its visitors. You will find unique unspoiled nature, fresh air, spectacular evergreen forests, clean rivers, exotic wildlife (wild monkeys, birds, peacocks), tasty local food, tranquillity, peace and traditional rural Cambodian village life.
We may be biased, but we reckon that whatever your age, whatever your life experience and whatever the purpose, duration or type of vacation you imagined, sustainable tourism in the Kingdom of Wonder might just change the way you travel forever. With a range of homestays and carefully selected ecotourism sites in beautiful locations throughout Cambodia, there is something for every style and taste.