TREKKING IN CAMBODIA
Trekking in Cambodia – There’s nothing like getting out of the main cities of Phnom Penh and Siem reap and into the national park and doing a bit of jungle trekking. There are plenty of choices from climbing in the cardamom mountains to the expanse of Virachey National Park.
There are locations that offer everything from easy walking tours for the slightly less adventurous to completely undiscovered trails.
We’ve listed some of the sites that have trekking tours, the main ones you’ll find in lonely planet guides but there are other gems of southeast asia in here. You can read about the hiking offered as well as learn about other outdoor activities and adventures. Each project gives detailed travel tips for your Cambodia adventure that include jungle trekking tours and an opportunity to see the wildlife including the rare and the common. Not just the elephants and rare tigers but gibbons, tree bears and the many sites supported by the wildlife alliance.
This is not just the cambodia trekking blog that’s just the same as any other travel blog, yes while we encourage you to see Ratanakiri province and Banlung, there’s always Chi Phat, but Cambodia travel is more than that, trekking in the green jungle, the kulen mountain waterfall, just getting away from it all.
Take a look for yourself and see what trekking in Cambodia really has to offer.
Trapeang Roung Community
The Cardamom Mountains are a biodiversity hot spot for international tourists. Based on the banks of Trapeang Rung river, one of the last remaining wildlife corridors in the region. Trapeang Roung Community ecotourism site allows for easy access to the unspoiled biodiversity of the region with opportunities for you trekking, boat trips to explore the otherwise inaccessible part of the Cardamons, as well as offering many amazing places for a lazy day relaxing in the hammock at the river bank. During the heat of the day, you can just jump in for a refreshing swim.
Koh Preah Island Homestay
Koh Preah is a village situated on a small island in the middle of the Mekong River and is 35km from Stung Treng Town. Koh Preah is an untouched tourist destination. It is rich in natural resources and is an enriching experience to understand Khmer culture and the Cambodia rural way of life; providing insights into local beliefs and cooking skills of the local people.
The trip to Koh Preah by bicycle is an unforgettable travel experience. You will cycle along the local gravel roads following the Mekong River, passing many local families and their rice fields. The stretch of the Mekong to the South of Koh Preah is one of the most beautiful parts of the Mekong River, especially when travelling downstream through the twisting, intertwining channels, painted with small uninhabited islands, undulating sandbanks, rapids and flooded forests.
O’Russey Kandal community
O’Russey Kandal offers a community based ecotourism project in Stung Treng province along National Road No.7. O’Russey Kandal offers a beautiful place for visitors to picnic besides picturesque waterfalls and pools to cool off in.
Virachey Park
Virachey National Park was established in 2004.it was initiated by the Ministry of Environment under the project “Biodiversity and protected Areas Management Project with the fund support from the World bank. Virachey National Park is the largest National Park among seven other National Parks in Cambodia. It offers an incredible insight into the variety of Cambodia’s remaining wilderness and wildlife. The main objectives of CBET were to encourage the local community to participate to protect and conserve its environment and biodiversity for the future. Travelling in the Virachey park is a very unique experience; you are deep into the heart of nature.
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.
Veun Sai Gibbon Ecotours project
This area is rich with animal wildlife with a wide range of species. Veun Sai forest is also providing food, firewood, medicinal plants and fresh water for local communities.
In 2010, a ranger discovered a new species of Gibbon in the area, the Yellow cheeked crested gibbon. Since then conservation effords have been stepped up to protect this animal. Today, Veun Sai is the only place in the world where tourists can regularly spot the elusive Northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon in the wild.
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.
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL IN CAMBODIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA