Chi Phat

The Chi Phat commune is deep within the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains in Koh Kong Province, southwest Cambodia. It is known for having a community based eco-tourism (CBET) project.

Understand
The commune consists four villages:Chi Phat, Komlot, Chom-Sla and T'k La'o. The communal population is estimated around 3,000 inhabitants (2010). The residents makes their living mainly from agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

It is known for its Community-Based Eco-tourism (CBET) project that helps locals benefit from tourism instead of hunting animals in the Cardamom Mountains.

Get in
Chi Phat is located on the Stung Phipot (Phipot River) about 20 km upstream from Andong Teuk village on Hwy 48, the main highway linking Phnom Penh with Thailand, through the provincial capital of Koh Kong.

To get to Chi Phat you will have to travel to Andong Teuk village by bus and from Andoung Teuk to Chi Phat by boat. The journey from Andong Teuk to Chi Phat is a scenic river trip passing mangroves and forested mountains.

Transportation to Andong Teuk village:


 * From Phnom Penh: The bus departs Phnom Penh. Virak Buntham and Sorya are the most reliable.
 * From Sihanoukville: The bus departs from the central bus station at 08:00 for Koh Kong town and arrives in Andong Teuk village around 11:30.
 * From Koh Kong Town: The bus departs from the central bus station at 08:00 to Phnom Penh and arrives in Andong Teuk village at around 10:30.

Remember to ask your bus driver to drop you off at Andong Teuk village!

Get around
Hire a guide from the CBET office. They will arrange trips for trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, and the like, complete with equipment, food, and guides. Because CBET is owned by the community, all proceeds go to the community.

Do

 * Kayaking
 * Mountain Biking
 * Trekking

Sleep
The CBET office will propose local options for home stays, guesthouses, or eco-lodges. All fees are collected by CBET and distributed to the community. The home stay and guesthouses are in a rotation system so that all families get equal opportunity to earn money from tourism.