VC29B Cardmom Mountains Adventure ( 4 days / 3 nights )

Phnom Penh - CHAMBOK Community-based Ecotourism – CHIPHAT Community-based Ecotourism - Phnom Penh

Day 1   Phnom Penh – Chambok Community-based Ecotourism

This morning you will leave Phnom Penh for Chambok, a community-based ecotourism site located at the border of Kirirom National Park in Kampong Speu Province. This is an ideal place for nature and adventure lovers who seek to explore off the beaten track corners of Cambodia. Highlights of your trip include a trek through the dense forest to a beautiful 40-metre high waterfall, a bat cave and some local villages. The landscape along the way is spectacular with opportunities to see wild animals and birds. During harvest time, you may see farmers busy at work in their fields and may even join them for some hands-on experience in ploughing and harvesting. In the evening, dinner will be served at the Community Information Centre to offer an authentic local taste.

Overnight at homestay in Chambok. [Lunch, Dinner]

Day 2   Chambok – Chiphat Community-based Ecotourism

After breakfast, we drive to Chiphat Community-based Ecotourism for further nature exploration.  Arrive Andoung Teuk, a riverside community in Koh Kong. From there, you may continue to Chi Phat by boat (year round) or by car (dry season between September and May). Should you prefer a boat trip, embark a local wooden boat for approximately 2 hours upstream along Chi Phat River (previously known as Piphot River) where the beautiful scenery of lush forests and traditional villages lay quietly in the background. Should a trip by road be preferred, drive directly through a huge sugarcane field for approximately half an hour before arriving at the pier opposite Chi Phat Dock for a ferry across the river. Upon arrival in the small secluded Chi Phat Village, you will receive a warm welcome at the CBET office with a short presentation about the activities of the project. Then settle into the appropriate accommodation, either in a guesthouse or a home stay (please be kindly informed that both options are equipped with basic facilities and mosquito nets). Afterwards, take a guided walk to Chhay Chrey Rapids (approximately 2km away) where you may swim and relax. This offers you an opportunity to observe the daily life of the friendly and curious villagers along the way. CBET motor taxi will facilitate the travel between the rapids and the Reforestation Project Nursery (approximately 3km away). Here you may learn more about the project before heading for a sunset over on Phnom Trangol (Bald Mountain).

Overnight at homestay in Chi Phat CBET [Lunch, Dinner]

Day 3   Chi Phat – Phnom Peang Boran (Jar Site) – Chi Phat

Jar trail is a very scenic trail named after an important archaeological burial site of clay jars and wooden coffins. The trail leads you through the jungle and across fresh water streams in a low mountainous area where elephants frequently pass by. After having breakfast prepared by the CBET cooking group at the CBET office, you may embark on your adventurous mountain biking trip with your local guide through the forest accompanied by wild bird songs to the O’Ampov campsite. You will explore O’ Spott (Dragon Fish River) and hike through a banana field down to a hidden bat cave under a four metre high waterfall. Then continue around 2.8km to reach a nearby Teuk Vet Waterfall (Curve River) where you may take a dip in the pool and enjoy a packed lunch at the O’ Ampov campsite. Cycle on to the next attraction, and then hike up the mountain and cliff to the 300-500 year old ancient jars and wooden coffins (popularly believed to hold the remains of early Khmer people). This place was first discovered by a villager who was searching for sandal wood in 1984.

Overnight at homestay in Chi Phat CBET [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner] 

Day 4   Departure

Drive back to Phnom Penh. [Breakfast]