CHI PHAT, COMMUNITY – BASED ECO-TOURISM –CB (ET) CAMBODIA

Chi Phat

Community-Based Ecotourism or CB (ET) for short is the newest way to see a country and get immersed in its culture. And Chi Phat is among the newest CB (ET) places to go to in Cambodia. Chi Phat is a name of one commune in Thmor Bang District in Koh Kong Province.

Right now, Chi Phat became a Community – Based – Ecotourism, situated on the Piphot River in the foothills of the Cardamon Mountains, 140 km from Phnom Penh. It is reached by road N^o 4 and then by highway 48 (the road to Koh Kong) to Andoung Teuk commune. One gets get off the bus at Andoung Teuk Bridge and then rides a boat to Chi Phat, which takes around 2 hours.

Visitors to Chi Phat can make use of comfortable and safe community accommodation in guesthouses, family homes or camping tents. A community accommodation will provide mosquito nets, clean bathrooms and laundry service. The traditional food is delicious and beverages provided on request.

Chi Phat Activities

Biking Tours – A fleet of Trek 4300 mountain bikes is maintained and one can hire a bike. Eco guides can lead the visitors around and they are experienced mountain bikers who can provide on-tour repairs and bike maintenance. They also have intimate knowledge of the area. One tour takes the visitor to see the bat cave, or the wildlife watering area of Veal Ta Prak and beautiful Ou Teuk Vet waterfall. To get to the waterfall one travelers the village and then Stung Kbal Chhay or Stung Chamkar Turen by boat. Along the way one can visit an archeological site to see the funerary jars and coffins from the past the village biking tour allows the visitor to tour around the village to see people’s life style, fruit farms and waste management in Komlot village.

Hiking and Walking Tours – Hiking and walking tours through the forest gives you a great opportunity to see birds and wildlife, sample forest fruits and experience the beautiful Cardamom’s tropical rainforest. Visit waterfalls like Chhay Khpous and Chhay Kroum waterfall, Ou Kour stream, a fruit farm in Chorm Slar village and Tra Ngorl Mountain to watch the sunrise and sunshine bird. One gets a fantastic experience of village’s culture.

River Cruises – A cruise on the river in a traditional row boat is an excellent experience one should not pass up. The Cardamom offers a rich display of flora and fauna that is not an everyday experience. Silver languor, long-tailed macaque, giant and oriental pied hornbill, kingfishers, drongos – there are just some of the forest denizens one will meet.

Going to Chi Phat provides the tourist the experience of traveling by different means: bus, boat, truck, and good old foot power.