WILDLIFE

 

info & socialize | 1 hr | free | code #01

Everyday at 19:00 at the Visitors center meet staff, guides and other guests, get information, team up with others for next days' activities.

Come to the bar at 7 o'clock in the evening for an informal orientation. You will hear a short background on how Wildlife Alliance and the people of Chi Phat are spearheading conservation in Cambodia, and get up-to-date information about activities and trail conditions. Come and team up, trekking in a group is often cheaper and always more fun than going alone.

Includes free bar snacks

 

½-1 day | free or $10 if hiring bike | code #02

Gentle walking or cycling at your own pace, learn about Cambodian country life and meet the people. Swim beautiful waterfalls. Have lunch at Butterfly Island

Follow the route on our informative village map, which highlights points of interest. If your guesthouse has free bicycles you can use those or do it by foot if you prefer, you can also hire a bicycle at the visitor center. If you plan to ride on some of the small paths we recommend hiring a good bike! You can have lunch at Butterfly Island (not included, and please let us know so we can be sure to have enough food). Further afield is Bald Mountain Viewpoint, High Waterfall, and Bodhi Tree Rapids.

Includes village map showing routes and points of interest.

 

½-1 day | easy | 5-10 km | code #04

Explore a peaceful and noise-free paddle on the river.

All the waterfalls and rapids are upstream, so you will not find yourself on the brink of a white-water ride. No experience required. Take plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat. You can hire the kayak at any time, and return at any time. You can have lunch at Butterfly Island (not included in the price, and please let us know so we can be sure to have enough food).

Includes life vest and a map showing points of interest.

We have 1-seat and 2-seat kayaks.
1-seat kayaks are $7 for 0-4 hours, and $10 for 4 hours or more.
2-seat kayaks are $10 for 0-4 hours, and $12 for 4 hours or more.

This half-day activity has a special offer: take two half-day trips, and get a $2 discount.

 

½ day | easy | 7:00-13:00 | code #05

Shopping in the market, learn Khmer cooking, cut banana leaves and make baskets, eat your own self-made food.

Use fresh local ingredients to cook your own Khmer food in traditional clay pots or banana leaf baskets over a charcoal stove. We use environmentally-friendly charcoal. Visit the market to buy galangal, turmeric, lemon grass, fish and lobsters fresh from the river. Watch coconut flesh being grated, and make your own coconut milk. Cut your banana leaves from the tree. Learn how to make Khmer coconut milk curry, amok, sticky rice, and other dishes.

Includes all ingredients and materials. Demonstrator.

This half-day activity has a special offer: take two half-day trips, and get a $2 discount.

 

3 hours | easy | 1-2km | 19:00-22:00 | code #06

Enjoy the river at night in a traditional rowing boat, learn from a local fisher, eat your lobsters.

Spend an evening in a traditional (stand-up) rowing boat on the placid Piphot River, catching fresh-water lobsters in the light of your headlamp. Is it easier to spear or net them?

Includes Life vest, headlamp, fishing equipment, boat driver / demonstrator.
The boat driver doesn't speak english. You can pay extra for english speaking guide.

Latest booking time 17:00. This half-day activity has a special offer: take two half-day trips, and get a $2 discount.

 

3-4 hours | easy & romantic | evening | code #07

Enjoy the river at dusk and night, watch egrets flying home to roost, learn to read the stars, learn about fireflies.

Cruise down the river in a motor-sampan, as the sun sets and egrets fly along the river to roost. Ever wanted to know the names of the prominent stars? The stars in Chi Phat village are brilliant at night, skies far from pollution and stray street light. Further down the river, they are clearer still.

If you are lucky, you will also see fireflies on the riverside. On the boat is a display about fireflies.

Food and drinks are not included. But you can order food to take away at different restaurants, or prepare your own picnic. For a romantic evening, buy some wine from the bar!

Latest booking time 15:00
Includes Life vest, boat driver, firefly fact-sheet.
The boat driver doesn't speak english. You can pay extra for english speaking guide.

Groups of two or more: This half-day activity has a special offer: take two half-day trips, and get a $2 discount.

 

3-4 hours | easy & romantic | 1-2km | 17:00-21:00 | code #08

River at dusk and night, egrets flying home to roost, learn to read the stars.

Cruise down the river on a motor-raft, as the sun sets and egrets fly along the river to roost. Ever wanted to know the names of the prominent stars? The stars in Chi Phat village are brilliant at night, unobscured by pollution and stray street light. Further down the river, they are clearer still. Use our star map to discover Sirius, Vega, Betelgeuse...

We put mats and a low Khmer-style table on a flat-bed raft. Food and drinks are not included. You can order food to take away at different restaurants, or prepare your own picnic. For a romantic evening, buy some wine from the bar!

Latest booking time 15:00
Includes life vest, boat driver, star map.

Groups of two or more: This half-day activity has a special offer: take two half-day trips, and get a $2 discount.

 

8-9hrs | easy | 26-30km | 7:30-16:30 | code #09

Trekking through the village and forest. Check out a seasonal waterhole, the Silver Meadow and Bald Mountain viewpoint.

An easy day trip to trek or ride through the forest. A climb at the start takes you over Bald Mountain viewpoint. Silver Meadow is an island of grass surrounded by forest. Why are there no trees? The soil in this area may be thin, and not rich in nutrients. Look for the insect-eating pitcher plants in the meadow, a sign of poor soil. You will also visit a seasonal waterhole, that has water most months, but not all. During the daytime you are unlikely to see animals, but your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks. Trekkers will return by the same route, to get back before dark. By mountain bike, you have the option to return on a different route, with a stop at High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree Rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, packed lunch, water.

 

6-8hrs | easy | 19-23km | 7:30-16:00 | code #11

Waterfall swimming. Bat cave.

An easy one-day trek or ride through the countryside. Visit Dragon Fish River waterfall and bat cave, and Holy River waterfall, with swimming. On the way back, waterfall fans can visit High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, packed lunch, water, shared flashlight.

 

7-8hrs | medium-hard | 28-34km | 7:30-16:00 | code #13

Mountain community. Ancient burial jars. Waterfall swimming.

A fairly easy trek or ride. Loom Stream mountain community has banana plantations often visited by elephants. See the 500 year-old burial jars from a little-known civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. Stop at Betel Nut waterfall for lunch and a swim. On the way back, take optional detours to Bald Mountain viewpoint, High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, packed lunch, water.

 

½ day | easy | 12km | 7:30-12:00 | code #15

Walk or ride in the country-side. Fording a stream. Tree nursery. Plant your own tree (optional).

Take a half-day trek or ride to visit the Million Tree Nursery. Learn how Wildlife Alliance is regenerating areas of the Cardamom Mountain Forest that have been disturbed. Discover how 99 species of wild tree seeds are gathered, inspected and germinated. Walk through the misted nursery with young saplings, and see some maturing trees. The price includes a $5 entrance fee that is used entirely to continue the important work. You can also plant your own tree - a further donation of $5 is enough to ensure that your tree is cared for throughout its life, leaving your personal contribution to protecting the forest.

Latest booking time 14:00
Includes guide, water, entrance fee ($5). Includes bike hire for half day only.

Groups of two or more: This half-day activity has a special offer: take two half-day trips, and get a $2 discount.

 

8hrs | medium-hard | 34-38km | 7:30-16:30 | code #17

Seasonal waterhole. Silver Meadow. Mountain community. Ancient burial jars. Waterfall swimming.

A medium-hard one-day bike ride. Silver Meadow is an island of grass surrounded by forest. Look for the insect-eating pitcher plants in the meadow, a sign of poor soil. The seasonal waterhole has water most months, but not all. During the daytime you are unlikely to see animals, but your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks. Loom Stream mountain community has banana plantations often visited by elephants. See the 500 year-old burial jars from a little-known civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. Stop at Betel Nut waterfall for lunch and a swim. On the way back, take optional detours to High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, packed lunch, water.

Trick or Treat: bat cave and burial jars

8hrs | hard | 42-46km | 7:30-17:00 | code #18

Ancient burial jars. Waterfalls with swimming. Bat caves.

Are you a secret vampire? Are you looking for a Halloween experience with graveyards and bats? This is the tour for you! Ride to Dragon Fish River and bat cave, then continue to Holy River water fall and swimming,x followed by a harder ride up to the 500 year-old Sugarcane Stream burial jars left by a little-known civilization, and a larger bat cave. On the way back, waterfall fans can visit High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, water, packed lunch, shared flashlight. Does not include silver bullet!

 

6-7hrs | easy | 22km | 5:00-12:00 | code #19

Ride on a motor-sampan. Transfer to traditional rowing boat. Sunrise on the river. Bird watching.

An early start takes you down the Piphot river and up the Stung Prat tributary in a motorized sampan. Enjoy a packed breakfast as the sun rises over the forested hills. The river is often misty in the cool morning. After two hours, transfer to a traditional rowing boat for silent bird watching. Take a break at Island Lodge forest shelter, with river swimming, then return by the same route, with packed lunch on the boat.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes motor and rowing boats, with drivers. Packed breakfast and lunch, water, life vest, binoculars.

 

1½-2 days | medium-hard | 34-38km | 7:30-12:00 | code #20

Seasonal waterhole (daytime). Silver Meadow. Night in the forest. Mountain community. Ancient burial jars. Waterfall swimming.

Trek or ride from Chi Phat, via Bald Mountain viewpoint, to Silver Meadow. Look for the insect-eating pitcher plants in the meadow, a sign of poor soil. During the daytime you are unlikely to see animals at the waterhole, but your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks.
Continue to Betel Nut waterfall for lunch and a swim. Spend the night sleeping in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net, in a simple forest shelter. On the way back, visit Loom Stream mountain community, with banana plantations often visited by elephants, and 500 year-old burial jars from a little-known civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. Take optional detours to High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids. If you are biking, you may get back early, and can keep your bikes for a village tour.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. 4 meals (day 1: Lunch + Dinner; day 2: Breakfast, Lunch). It doesn't include day 2 lunch for mountain-bikers.

 

1½-2 days | medium-hard | 34-38km | 7:30-14:00 | code #24

Seasonal waterhole (dusk and dawn). Silver Meadow. Night in the forest. Mountain community. Ancient burial jars. Waterfall swimming.

Trek or ride from Chi Phat, via Bald Mountain viewpoint, to Silver Meadow. Look for the insect-eating pitcher plants in the meadow, a sign of poor soil. Wait for nightfall to visit the waterhole (which may be dry in some months). Even if you see no animals, your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks.
Spend the night at Little Haven, sleeping in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net, in a simple forest shelter. In the morning, continue to Betel Nut waterfall for lunch and a swim. On the way back, visit Loom Stream mountain community, with banana plantations often visited by elephants, and 500 year-old burial jars from a little-known civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. Take optional detours to High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids. If you are biking, you may get back early, and can keep your bikes for a village tour.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes Guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. 4 meals (day 1: Lunch + Dinner; day 2: Breakfast, Lunch).

 

2 days | hard | 42-48km | 7:30-16:30 | code #26

Waterfalls with swimming. Bat caves. Ancient burial jars. A night in the forest.

Are you a secret vampire? Are you looking for a Halloween experience with graveyards and bats? This is the tour for you! Trek to Dragon Fish River and bat cave, then continue to Holy River water fall and swimming, followed by a harder climb up to the 500 year-old Sugarcane Stream burial jars left by a little-known civilization, and a larger bat cave. You can visit here in the afternoon, or the following morning.
Spend the night at Sugarcane Stream, sleeping in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net, in a simple forest shelter. After breakfast, visit the jars. Return to Chi Phat, with the option to stop at High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids and Bald Mountain viewpoint.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes Guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. 4 meals (day 1: Lunch + Dinner; day 2: Breakfast, Lunch).

 

1½ days | medium | 22km river + 30-36km land | 5:00-12:00 | code #27

Motor-sampan and traditional rowing boat. Sunrise bird watching. Trekking to Silver Meadow. Seasonal waterhole (dusk and dawn). Night in the forest.

An early start takes you down the Piphot river and up the Stung Prat tributary in a motorized sampan. Enjoy a packed breakfast as the sun rises over the forested hills. The river is often misty in the cool morning. After two hours, transfer to a traditional rowing boat for silent bird watching. Alight at Island Lodge forest shelter, and trek for lunch at Little Haven River.
Trek through the forest to Silver Meadow, and spend the night at Little Haven shelter, sleeping in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net, in a simple forest shelter. Wait for nightfall to visit the waterhole (which may be dry in some months). Even if you see no animals, your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks. You can visit the waterhole again at dawn, before returning early to Chi Phat for lunch and rest after two days of pre-dawn starts.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes boats and drivers, guide and cook. Water, life vest, binoculars. Backpack, hammock with net. 4 meals (day 1: packed Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; day 2: Breakfast).

 

2½ days | medium | 70-76km | 7:30-12:00 | code #28

Waterfall swimming. Bat caves. Two ancient burial jar sites. Two nights in the forest. Mountain community.

Ride to Dragon Fish River and bat cave, then continue to Holy River water fall and swimming, followed by a harder ride up to the 500 year-old Sugarcane Stream burial jars left by a little-known civilization, and a larger bat cave. You can visit here in the afternoon, or the following morning. Sleep at Sugarcane Stream, in a comfortable hammock, with net, in a simple forest shelter. Bike over the O'Peam Pika and O'Peam Krovanh (Cardamom tree) rivers to Betel Nut waterfall and forest shelter. After breakfast, ride to Loom Stream mountain community, with banana plantations often visited by elephants, and more burial jars. Then return to Chi Phat, with optional detours to High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids, Bald Mountain viewpoint, or keep your bikes for a village tour.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. 6 meals (day 1: L, D; day 2: B, L, D; d3: B).

 

2½ days | medium | 22km river + 39km land | 7:30-12:00 | code #29

Mountain community. Ancient burial jars. Silver Meadow. Waterhole (dusk and dawn). Two nights in the forest. Traditional rowing boat. Sunrise bird watching.

This tour has everything!
Loom Stream mountain community has banana plantations visited by elephants, and 500 year-old burial jars from a lost civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. Continue to Betel Nut waterfall for lunch and a swim, then return via Silver Meadow to Little Haven forest shelter. Wait for nightfall to visit the waterhole (which may be dry in some months). Even if you see no animals, your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks. Sleep in a comfortable hammock, with net. On day two, visit the waterhole again at dawn, then trek through the forest to Island Lodge forest shelter for another night. In the morning, start early to ride a traditional rowing boat to watch birds as the sun rises over the hillsides, then return by motor-sampan to Chi Phat for lunch.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes boats and drivers, guide and cook. Water, life vest, binoculars. Backpack, hammock with net. 6 meals (day 1: L, D; day 2: B, L, D; day 3: B).

 

2½ days | medium | 22km river + 39 land | 5:00-12:00 | code #30

Traditional rowing boat. Sunrise bird watching. Silver Meadow. Waterhole (dusk and dawn). Two nights in the forest. Mountain community. Ancient burial jars.

This is the same as in "Mountain community, nighttime waterhole and sunrise bird watching" but in the reverse direction. The main difference is that, with this tour, you have an early start from Chi Phat, and a long trip on a motor sampan before reaching the bird watching area. On returning, the walk is mostly downhill, and you have the options to spend time at High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes boats and drivers, guide and cook. Water, life vest, binoculars. Backpack, hammock with net. Meals (day 1: packed BF, L, D; day 2: B, L, D; day 3: B).

 

3-5 days | medium-hard | distance varies | 7:00 until 12:00-17:00 | code #31

Trekking off the beaten path. Deep in the jungle. Play an active part in forest protection.

Chi Phat ecotourism community supports teams of rangers that patrol the forest.

The teams look for, and report, illegal activities such as fires, logging and hunting. They often remove snares (traps). Rangers have no external funding. By joining them, you are directly contributing to forest protection.
Do not expect it to be easy! Few of them speak English, but all are former poachers, so they know the forest better than most. They may take you well off the track, often cutting their way through the jungle. You will walk like a ranger, sleep like a ranger, and eat like a ranger. Buy your supplies with them in the market on the morning you leave. Our Field Guide for Volunteer Community Rangers gives more information.

 

Includes backpack, hammock, mosquito net, water, tarpaulin, field guide.

Depending on the patrol area, there may be extra costs for motos or boats to the forest.

 

4 days | medium-hard | 60-64km | 7:30 -15:00 | code #32

Silver and Golden Meadows. Waterhole (dusk and dawn). Three nights in the far forest. Remote waterhole (daytime). Waterfall swimming. Mountain community. Ancient burial jars.

Travel deep into the forest, where the largest trees remain. Visit Silver Meadow, and the waterhole at dusk and dawn (see #24). Sleep at Little Haven shelter in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net. Continue trekking to Golden Meadow and Rocky Pool forest camp for the night.
On day three, visit Minnow Pool waterhole, with a good chance of seeing wildlife signs. Continue via Crape Myrtle waterfall and Betel Nut waterfall, to sleep at the forest camp. Return to Chi Phat through Loom Stream mountain community, with banana plantations visited by elephants, and 500 year-old burial jars from a lost civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. There are optional detours to High Waterfall or Bodhi Tree rapids.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. Meals (all except day 1 breakfast and day 4 dinner).

 

3½ days | medium-hard | 70-74km | 7:30 -12:00 | code #33

Waterfalls with swimming. Bat caves. Ancient burial jars (two sites). Three nights in the forest. Mountain community.

Visit Dragon Fish River and bat cave, Holy River water fall and swimming, and the 500 year-old Sugarcane Stream burial jars left by a little-known civilization, and a larger bat cave. Sleep at Sugarcane Stream forest shelter, in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net. Continue via O'Peam Pika and O'Peam Krovanh (Cardamom tree) rivers, and sleep at Cardamom River forest camp.
On day 3, see O'Kroich (Wild Orange) and O'Da (Flagstone) rivers before arriving at Betel Nut waterfall and forest shelter. Return to Chi Phat through Loom Stream mountain community, with banana plantations visited by elephants, and 500 year-old burial jars from a lost civilization whose descendants may still live in the area. There are optional detours to High Waterfall, Bodhi Tree rapids or Bald Mountain viewpoint.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. Meals (all except day 1 breakfast and day 4 lunch and dinner).

 

6½ days | hard | 70km | 7:30 -12:00 | code #34

Waterfalls with swimming. Bat cave. Ancient burial jars (two sites). Six nights in the forest. Waterfall swimming. Waterholes (daytime and nighttime).

Visit Dragon Fish River and bat cave, Holy River water fall and swimming, and the 500 year-old Sugarcane Stream burial jars left by a little-known civilization, and a larger bat cave. Sleep at Sugarcane Stream forest shelter, in a comfortable hammock, with mosquito net. Continue via O'Peam Pika and O'Peam Krovanh (Cardamom tree) rivers, and sleep at Cardamom River forest camp.
On day 3, see O'Kroich (Wild Orange) and O'Da (Flagstone) rivers before arriving at Betel Nut waterfall and forest shelter. On day 4, head deeper into the jungle via Crape Myrtle waterfall, and sleep at Banded Rock forest shelter. Day 5, visit Minnow Pool waterhole, with a good chance of seeing wildlife signs, and sleep at Rocky Pool forest shelter.
Day 6, begin your return to Chi Phat via Golden Meadow and Silver Meadow. Wait for nightfall to visit the waterhole (which may be dry in some months). Even if you see no animals, your guides will help you spot and identify any tracks. Sleep at Little Haven forest shelter. Day 7, an early return to Chi Phat via Bald Mountain viewpoint.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes guide, jungle cook. Backpack, hammock with mosquito net, water. Meals (all except day 1 breakfast and day 7 lunch and dinner).

 

2 hrs | easy | 20km | 7:00 -09:00 | code #35

River trip back to the real world

If you did not get a chance to take any of our river trips during your stay, you can still enjoy the beautiful Piphot river as you leave. This is the most relaxing and comfortable option for reaching Andoung Teuk, where you join up with national public transport services.

You can of course take the river trip on your way to Chi Phat as well.

Latest booking time 16:00
Includes life vest.

 

$10 per person

 

½ day or more | medium-hard | free | code #36

Gardening! Get up close to tropical plants growing in a semi-natural environment.

The gardens at Butterfly Island Lodge need tender loving care, and we need help to give this! If you are a gardener (expert or not), and miss getting dirt under your fingernails, here is an opportunity to work with tropical plants in a semi-natural setting. We can provide tools, and a helpful handyman. You can visit Butterfly Island with the manager to see what needs to be done, and what interests you.

Includes tools, water, assistant.

 

½ day | medium | 2-3km | 7:00 -12:00 | free | code #37

Learn to drive a mechanical cow, join in with one of the few waste management systems in rural Cambodia.

Do you want to know how to drive a mechanical cow (Khmer for rice tiller)? Do you want to get deep down and dirty and learn why Chi Phat is relatively clean (compared to other Cambodian villages)? Join our waste collection team on any Sunday. You will join Mr Untac (our bike repair man, and named after the post-war United Nations peacekeeping force), everybody's favorite Uncle Kim, and Grandfather Heng (the main customer for rice wine distillers in the village).

 

2 days | easy | 2-3km | 8:00 -13:00 | code #38

Get up close with the bears and other rescued animals living at WRS during their soft release, where they stay in safe forested enclosures to acclimatize to their new jungle habitat before release.

Stay overnight in our locally built eco-chalets, enjoy the peace and quite of the remote location and wake up to the sounds of wild animals such a pileated gibbons.

The price includes a donation to ensure this vital work continues, with 100% of tour profits going directly back to caring for the animals!

For more detial of this tour, please visit..