Cambodia activity vacation, hike, bike & kayak

Planet

Travel is an opportunity to experience different cultures, meet new people, taste weird and wonderful foods and – for many – to get close to wildlife you may have only seen in books or David Attenborough documentaries. We actively discourage the participation of travelers in any activities that exploit wild, domestic or working animals. Sadly, tourism can be one of the main contributors to animal cruelty.

In 2014, we were the first global operator to ban elephant rides on all our trips, and we don’t permit any activities that allow passengers to pet or walk with wild animals. We believe that wild animals should be viewed – without contact or interaction – doing what they do best: living in the wild. This trip includes an excursion by boat along the Mekong River to view the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in their natural habitat. Irrawaddy dolphins are freshwater dolphins, which spend the dry season in nine deep water pools along the Mekong between Kratie and the Laotian border. The importance of these animals and preserving their natural environment has been a focus for this region of Cambodia since 2010. With highly skilled staff working in this region, the dolphin population has increased and local community members have become familiar with the project and the importance of their work.

In the destinations we visit, we use a "take in, take back out" system in particularly fragile environments, remote areas and national parks. All travel on this itinerary which is completed by private vehicle includes a large tank of drinking water. Travelers are encouraged to bring their own re-usable water bottle so that they can re-fill it from this tank. This reduces the number of single use plastic water bottles disposed of by our travelers.

People

Our philosophy is to act local and that means respecting local traditions like the wearing of a headscarf for all women at appropriate times and ensuring that both men and women are conservatively dressed with arms and legs covered. We also take care to form genuine and mutually beneficial relationships with local people. There are opportunities to visit several temples on this trip. It is respectful to cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples in Cambodia. Our leaders dress in this manner and encourage travelers to do the same in order to show respect for the sites they’re visiting and the local people for whom these sites hold great significance.

Your leader will explain the range of projects we support in Cambodia. While visiting Wat Ty Pram Kbal Koh Trong our travelers are encouraged to contribute to a tree-planting project. During the Khmer Rouge reign, many of the forests on the island of Koh Trong were cut down. Local villagers started the tree-planting project and appreciate any travelers who wish to plant a tree in the grounds of the pagoda alongside them.