Location: Cardamom Mountains | Rating: 3 star | Rooms: 9 | Pool: no
If you want to experience the unexplored side of Cambodia, Cardamom Tented Camp is for you. Hidden away in Botum Sokor National Park, a biodiversity hotspot, the camp combines wilderness and wildlife with comfort in the form of boutique-style tents, each of which has a luxurious bed, ensuite bathroom with rain shower and its own sun deck.
The camp is dedicated to conserving the park’s flora and fauna, which means you can take part in some really unique experiences (included in the stay), like going on patrol with forest rangers, setting up camera traps or monitoring wildlife by tracking animal footprints and trails. There’s also the chance for some adventure - exploring river systems by kayak, self-guided hiking and even learning rainforest survival skills – all the while looking out for macaques, gibbons, hornbills and other rarer wildlife found in the Cardamom Mountains. And definitely not a souvenir stall in sight!
Why we work with them
Sadly wild animals and their habitats are under threat across Southeast Asia and Cambodia is no exception, suffering from rampant deforestation and illegal hunting. Against this background, a few organisations and tourism businesses like Cardamom Tented Camp are trying to defend, preserve and restore what’s left. It has been at the forefront of combatting the illegal wildlife trade and boosted habitat conservation within their 180 square kilometre wildlife concession.
Alongside its partners, Wildlife Alliance and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, the camp runs guest experiences that are geared towards assisting conservation and involving and benefitting local communities, it trains local staff and it supplies vital income and resources to 12 forest rangers that protect Botum Sakor park.
With a strong focus on operating with minimal environmental footprint and its tagline ‘Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing’, the camp really embodies our belief in tourism that creates a direct positive impact.