Update on my previous articles about ecotourism sites in Koh Kong province Koh Kong the ecotourism destinations and Why Areng valley a special site, I would like to bring you to another site in the same province called Chi Phat. Chi Phat was featured in Lonely Planet 2010 as thetop ten sustainable tourism destination to visit list!
Chi PhatProfile: it used to be the illegal logging hub where all luxurious wood were cut and commercialized. Wildlife were poached, hunted and eaten. The Organization called Wildlife Alliance turned this site into ecotourism site in 2007. The turn helps many local people to earn incomes through tourism activities. They stopped hunting but becomes a local guide, cooks, boat operator, homestay owners, and management committee.
Activities can be done at site:
Destinations for mountain biking, hiking, trekking, bird watching, sunrise and sunset cruising, kayaking and camping
Few waterfalls in the commune, the nearby are Chhay Khpos and Chhay Chrey, the further one at O’Mlu is called O’Mlu waterfall
Burial jar site and old coffins of about 500 years on the cliff
Camping sites inside the forest
A rowboat along the stream like 3D at Vong Kroch to Stung Proit
Best time to visit is Nov - May (May, there are fresh durian in this area, including other fruits)
Should book in advanced for accommodation, food and other arrangements (activities can book on site)
Very famous among European and American tourists for trekking and camping in the southern cardamom mountain, locals only go to waterfalls
Either accessible by road trip or boat. Boat trip takes about 2hours along the stream but is beautiful. Road trip takes about 30mns.
They just added some more activities, and you can find Cocktail in this small village.
The village is rather small, worth a tour by bike.
Recognition and awards:
According to Wildlife Alliance the organization who has been supporting this local Community Based Ecotourism initiative, Chi Phat has been recognized globally:
The New York Times: Travel Section featured the region (April 2011).
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2010 annual publication and in the Wall Street Journal: The Koh Kong Conservation Corridor as one of the Top Ten Regions in the world.
Lonely Planet: **Chi Phat the best community-based ecotourism destination in Cambodia (**guesthouses, restaurants, and outdoor activities run by locals).
Wall Street Journal-Asia:“poverty was the root cause of wildlife and forest loss in the Cardamoms … ecotourism offered the possibility both of alleviating poverty and leading villagers to see value in the nature surrounding them.”
Other awards: from Dubai, Vietnam and the ministry of tourism Cambodia
When we just started, there is no phone reception - when we want to communicate home, we have to drive up the hill about 3kms away from village to talk on the phone.
Now, there is phone coverage for many lines and even high speed WIFI
No electricity, used Solar panels for many years - now with electricity
No road to Chi Phat, we had to take cargo boat which is so noisy and spent 2.5hours on the stream
Later, the road was built - through the sugarcane plantation (private farm)
The office used the long bamboo to attach the antenna for the walkie talkie
Chi Phat is a name of the former novice monk who came to live here first
The new visitor center is made from Bamboo, designed by a German architect - the organization bought a piece of land from local to give it to the community.
Now, people can say “hello” to you, many young people and kids can speak English - don’t be surprised!
Local Guides in Chi Phat can communicate in English
There are 200 rooms of home-stays and guesthouses that run by local people.
Last by not least - Chi Phat survived the two significant threats: 1) Australian titanium mining company, 2) the sand dredging company.
@MAHBUB_HYDER thank you my friend. I have worked there for almost 5 years. After I left for NZ and returned back, I stop working there but I still lead groups of tour to visit this place. I can call it home. I have so much memory there! Thank you for the interest
@TusharSuradkar hi my friend, thank you very much for such a lovely comment. That’s one of the friend who joined along my tour. It was a very early in the morning, so she was either sleepy or loved to relax that way. I remember it was in December so it was so foggy and so cold. I really love it there!
@TusharSuradkar about the waterfall, you can see full like this in either October and November and then again in May when the rain starts a bit. However, from June with heavy rain, it becomes the stream, not the waterfall anymore. Also, there are many other waterfalls that are similar to this all over Cambodia. Some, I haven’t even been there yet.
@Sophia_Cambodia Wow, lots of fun activities at the beautiful Chi Phat. I can spend a week there! It looks like this place is perfect for me. Thank you for sharing this post with us.
@DebadattaMeher thank you my friend, I am glad you love them. There are so many interesting things to do over there. I am just lucky to be there - I was actually part of the project.
@Ant_Bad_Yogi you are welcome my dear. Yes, for me too. Actually, I was part of the team from Wildlife Alliance that made this project happened. I have been there between 2007-2013 before my study in New Zealand. I wrote my thesis about this project to complete my master degree. Even I don’t work there anymore, I still go back many times annually to support the community.
This place is full of fun activities, you have again wonderfully described the list of activities with detailed recommendation. Thanks for sharing this amazing place @Sophia_Cambodia
@fasi6083 I am so happy you love my post here. You have encouraged through your likes and comments. That keeps me contributing more and more. I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour here. It is a great place to spend the weekend, good for families and young adults… I love to go there in December, more especially I love good food there
Hi @Sophia_Cambodia may I please know little bit about the project you had involved earlier and the nature of duty you carried there?Have you Completed your Master degree in which Subject?
I always look forward to read your wonderful posts, especially the posts related to your amazing travel memories @Sophia_Cambodia Please keep on posting such beautiful posts.
@fasi6083 such a motivational comment. Thank you for always there for me. I know such article at least gives you knowledge of what never told before. At least you know that Cambodia is small yet beautiful and rich in nature. After the pandemic, when people can travel freely again, just remember we have beautiful beaches, temples, mountains and other kind of nature. You are welcome anytime
!! Love it !! Chi Pat is really good place for enjoying holidays!!
