My most recent journeys have been within the Kingdom of Wonder, Cambodia. In October / November 2018 I spent five weeks in Siem Reap volunteering at Genevieve's Fair Trade Village (GFTV). This country and its people touched my heart like no other and I have continued my volunteer activities with GFTV online from Australia. In March/April 2019 I returned to Cambodia with my partner, Mark. We stayed one week in Siem Reap and then did a one week cruise down the Mekong River to Ho Chi Minh on a luxury boat. The cruise operator was Heritage Line, a Swiss-Vietnam consortium that actively supports local communities along the Mekong River.
I am returning to Cambodia in February 2020. This time my sister-in-law, Linda is joining me and we will spend 10 days travelling around Cambodia before arriving in Siem Reap. Linda and I both want to be responsible travellers and spend the majority of our tourism dollars with the local businesses or social enterprises that support the local people and communities. I have spent many hours researching online to find locally owned businesses and social enterprises in the destinations we will be visiting in Cambodia. I am using this website to document my findings and share them with like-minded people who are looking for responsible travel options.
Learn About Cambodia
-
Ministry of Tourism Cambodia - Information About Cambodia, its 25 provinces and Travel Guides
-
Ministry of Tourism: Visit Cambodia.org - Before you arrive in the Kingdom of Cambodia - FAQs & answers.
-
Wikipedia: Cambodia - History, Geography, Politics, Economy, Society, Culture, Science and Technology
More info...
-
30 Cambodian Foods every visitor needs to try (CNN, 2019)
-
Destinations in Cambodia beautiful photos by Bo Kornum
Finding Responsible Tourism Organisations
When looking for accommodation being responsible simply means choosing small scale hotels, lodges and guesthouses that are 100% locally-owned and operated or that operate sustainably, or larger organisations that support local communities in some form (e.g. educating employees children, donations, etc.). You will find a range of locally-owned and/or environmentally sustainable accommodation places listed for each of the destinations that I have researched.
Travelling around Cambodia by road is a great way to see the countryside and it is more environmentally friendly than flying. Transportation options include: Tuk tuk (Remork moto), Cyclo, Bus, Taxi and Train (very limited).
​
For travel between the cities and provinces, the most economical mode of transport is by bus or mini-van. There are many bus companies, private taxis and mini-van operators in Cambodia. However, it is difficult to determine who owns the large bus companies, and how safe the locally owned transport operators are. Road safety is an issue in Cambodia and a friend living in Siem Reap advised me to avoid mini-vans and taxis on long trips, as they pack in too many people and drive too fast. He advised a public bus is a safer option and recommended Giant IBIS bus. However, they do not operate to all the destinations we want to visit so I also looked at recommendations from other tourists and ex-pats to help me decide whom to use. ​
For short journeys, if you are travelling with a small group of people, a private taxi may be a good option as you can share the cost.
​
If you want to book your transport in advance, the easiest way to do it is online:
-
Giant IBIS Bus (Schedule) - They have a reputation for being the safest, most reliable & most comfortable. There are no details about the owners, but they donate a portion of their profits to conservation projects (About | CSR)
​
For journeys within the city, you can take a tuk-tuk or air-conditioned taxi. There are lots of them and it is easy to find reviews about them.
Destination pages on this site
The Destinations Menu below will take you to pages on this website for places that I have visited​ or that I will be visiting on my next trip in February 2020. There are many more interesting destinations in Cambodia that I would like to visit, but I won't have time to on this trip. The places/organisations listed in this section are a "reminder to self" for planning my future journey's in Cambodia.
Banteay Meanchey Province - North West
-
Banteay Chhmar Temple Complex – 4th largest temple from the Angkorian period, late 12th-early 13th century (ref: Crooked-compass blog).
Kampong Thom Province - Centre
-
Ancient Ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk - 7th century archeological site with temples scattered throughout the jungle and entirely covered in tree roots "a spectacular site" (ref: Crooked-compass blog).
Koh Krong Province - West Coast
-
Koh Krong Conservation Corridor - Chi Phat - community-based eco-tourism project & Four Rivers Floating Lodge - glamping in African-safari style tents on floating platforms & money given back to conserving a section of the forest. More info... Wanderlust.
Kratie Province - North East
-
Cambodian Rural Development Tours (CRDT) - An NGO based in north-east Cambodia. Operates a series of homestays along the Mekong River, where guests can live like a local.
-
Irrawaddy dolphins - 10klms north of Kratie. Best time to visit between Mar & Aug. More info. Wanderlust & Crooked Compass.
Preah Vihear - Northern Province (borders Thailand)
-
Prasat Preah Vihear - UNESCO World Heritage site. This site has also been at the centre of recent conflict with Thailand, adding to its intrigue.
​
Sihanoukville Province - West Coast
-
Koh Ta Kiev - One of the islands just off the coast from Sihanoukville. An alternative to Koh Rong (the party island) for those seeking some solace and simple life. More info... Culture Trip & Move To Cambodia
​
