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CARDAMOM CONSERVATION

CAMBODIA

TRAVEL DOSSIER

A 4 day / 3 night deluxe tented camp experience to Cambodia’s last wilderness frontier of the Cardamom mountains.

/ Summary

Asia Concierge

Cardamom Conservation 4 day / 3 night travel program PRIVATE TOURING

Spanning more than 4.4 million hectares of rainforest in southwestern Cambodia the Cardamom Mountains remains Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest. Inhabited by a swathe of endangered wildlife, the expansive woodland is also home to about 25,000 people, many of whom are ethnic minorities.

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Phnom Penh street scene

Arrive into Phnom Penh and be greeted on arrival by your local Travel Expert who will whisk you off on an exploration of the city.

First visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), a former high school close to the centre of town. In the Pol Pot/Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979) the school was used as a detention centre for political and civil prisoners, the majority of whom perished under cruel interrogation and torture. The Museum stands as a testament to the deceased and the brutal ideology of the Khmer Rouge movement.

After this sobering experience, we then take a stroll through the nearby Russian Market (Psah Tuol Tom Pong), a lively indoor and outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewellery, gems, silk, kramars, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, and cheap designer clothing and accessories (of varying quality) that have found their way there from the Phnom Penh Garment factories. A quick local lunch – perhaps sampling some local street food Noodle Soup for the adventurous, then check into your hotel.

The program can be extended with visits to the Royal Palace and National Museum if time and interest allows.

In the evening we venture out into the exotic tropical night to enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and atmosphere of Phnom Penh on a ride around by tuk tuk, known locally as a ‘remork’.

Led by your informative Travel Expert, start with a cocktail while soaking up the stunning panoramic views of this fast-developing city, before making multiple stops to local markets and small street-side vendors; tasting the very best of Cambodian street food. For the main meal, sample traditional cuisine while listening to songs from the 1960s, Cambodia’s golden era of music, at a vibrant live music restaurant.

After one final secret dessert stop, return to the hotel or continue to one of Phnom Penh’s trendy late-night spots if the mood dictates.

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Cardamom Mountain Ranges

After breakfast we begin our long overland trip to the Botum National Park in Koh Kong province.

Passing through some spectacular scenery around the foothills of the vast Cardamom Mountain range and the National Parks of Kirirom and Bokor, this is the longest sector of our overland coastal adventure at around 6 hours with refreshment stops. After today we travel at a much more leisurely and comfortable pace.

In the afternoon we arrive at the entrance and take a delightful boat journey to the Cardamom Tented Camp. Cardamom Tented Camp is an ecolodge located in the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia. Offering nine luxurious safari-style glamping tents, the lodge aims to minimize the human footprint on the natural world and serve as a role model in promoting sustainable ecotourism practices within both the national park and Cambodia as a whole.

Located on an 18,000-hectare (180 km2) concession, the lodge and its surroundings are home to pristine lowland and coastal habitats linking wildlife corridors to the Cardamom Mountains.

While much of the dense forest remains off limits to tourists – or humans in general – there are plenty of pockets to explore that showcase the area’s biodiversity in all its glory.

Its rugged landscape, which takes in mountains, marshes, plains and gushing rivers, make it the perfect stomping ground for the vast collection of rare and endangered species that call it home. These include elephants, tigers – although spotting one is highly unlikely – sun bears, Siamese crocodiles, gibbons and clouded leopards.

The remainder of the day is spent enjoying the natural surroundings and learning about the conservation efforts of the local rangers.

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Dense forest of the Cardamom

Cardamom Tented Camp

Despite its natural and idyllic surrounds the Cardamom area comes with a bitter recent history and was not so long ago one of the last strongholds for Khmer Rouge soldiers. After the fall of the Pol Pot-led regime in 1979, many of the soldiers fled to the forest, continuing to fight their battle with the few pockets of locals living there.

The mid-1990s brought with it peace, with the final Khmer Rouge fighters giving up their battle in 1994. However, many remained living in the remote jungle for several years. With peace restored, this paved the way for the start of rampant logging and poaching – issues that continue to threaten the future of the forest today.

Despite this, the Cardamoms are opening more to community-based tourism projects of which guests at the camp are able to participate in. During the course of the day Eco-friendly trekking and kayaking excursions are available for those that wish to explore the area.

Guests will have the opportunity to learn about Wildlife Alliance’s operations and join a patrol with Wildlife Alliance Rangers trekking through dense jungle along abandoned poaching and logging trails. You’ll be stunned by the diversity of flora and fauna in the park. Keep your eyes peeled for macaque, gibbon, hornbill and other rare wildlife.

Guests can also kayak down the Preak Tachan River, or take one of the self-guided hikes along our carefully selected trails.

The day is not set in stone as the objective is to rest or be as active as you wish at your own pace. Your Travel Expert will assist in making any arrangements with the Rangers onsite.

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Kayaking in Cardamom National Park

Breakfast and time at leisure until check out. Transfer out accompanied by your Travel Expert to your next destination (Return to Phnom Penh or continue to one of the Cambodia beach resorts off the Southern Coast)

Notes on Cardamom Tented Camp: The eco-camp is equipped with nine comfortable safari-style tents located inside Botum Sakor National Park that minimize the human footprint on nature and promote sustainable tourism. Each of the nine tents provides visitors with a fully-enclosed and mosquito-protected 32.6m² canvas tent. In-tent amenities include Twin, Double or Triple beds; standing fans; bamboo and rattan furniture; bathroom facilities with hot water, rain showers, and locally-sourced soaps and shampoos; and spacious patios with sun chairs.

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CARDAMOM CONSERVATION

CAMBODIA

TRAVEL DOSSIER

Travel Designer Insights

Created as an add on to a Siem Reap program, the one day stopover in Phnom Penh allows the visitor to absorb its bustling culture and turbulent history prior to the remote experience of the Cardamom tented camp. Whilst not at the luxury level of the Shinta Mani or the equivalent of African tented camps, the Cardamon camp is a very comfortable base in which to explore another side of Cambodia the majority of visitors do not get to see. It is heavily logged in parts, which can disappoint, however, the location of the camp is perfectly situated among a rich forest and the added attraction of its waterways.

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