How can I travel Cambodia sustainably?
Choose community-based ecotourism (CBET) homestays, avoid elephant riding, use reef-safe sunscreen, support locally-owned businesses, carry a reusable bottle, and donate to vetted charities instead of street begging.
- Stay at CBET sites like Chi Phat, Chambok, or Kompong Phluk
- Visit ethical sanctuaries — never ride elephants
- Carry reusable bags and bottles to reduce plastic waste
- Eat at local restaurants and buy from village markets
Why Sustainable Travel Matters in Cambodia
Cambodia is home to some of Southeast Asia's most extraordinary ecosystems — the Cardamom Mountains rainforest, the Tonle Sap floodplain, and the Mekong River corridor support globally significant biodiversity, including endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, Asian elephants, and Sarus cranes.
Tourism is one of Cambodia's largest economic sectors, but rapid growth has brought challenges: plastic pollution, habitat pressure, and exploitative practices like orphanage tourism. Traveling responsibly helps protect these ecosystems and ensures tourism income reaches the communities who need it most.
Protect Biodiversity
Cambodia's forests host 1,000+ bird species and endangered mammals
Empower Communities
CBET programs have lifted hundreds of families out of poverty
Reduce Waste
Small changes by travelers collectively prevent tons of plastic pollution
Responsible Tourism Principles
Respect Local Culture
Dress modestly at temples (cover shoulders and knees), ask permission before photographing people, remove shoes before entering homes and pagodas, and learn basic Khmer greetings.
Choose Community-Owned
Prioritize homestays, community guides, and locally-owned restaurants over international chains. Your spending directly supports families and village development.
Be Mindful with Photography
Never photograph children without parental permission. Avoid taking pictures of poverty as spectacle. At temples, follow signage about restricted areas.
Minimize Your Footprint
Take buses between cities instead of domestic flights. Walk or cycle in towns. Offset unavoidable emissions. Choose accommodation with environmental practices.
Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET)
Cambodia is a pioneer of Community-Based Ecotourism — a model where villages manage their own tourism, keep the revenue, and use it to fund conservation and development. CBET sites offer authentic experiences far from the tourist trail: jungle treks with former poachers-turned-guides, boat trips through flooded forests, birdwatching at crane sanctuaries, and silk-weaving workshops.
Chi Phat
Koh Kong · Cardamom Mountains
Jungle trekking and homestays in the Cardamom Mountains
Ang Trapeang Thmor
Banteay Meanchey · Northwest
Sarus crane sanctuary and wetland conservation
O'Russey Kandal
Kampong Cham · Central
Traditional silk weaving village on the Mekong
Banlung Homestays
Ratanakiri · Northeast
Indigenous Kreung and Tampuan community stays
Chambok
Kampong Speu · Central
Waterfall eco-community near Kirirom National Park
Stung Treng Mekong
Stung Treng · Northeast
Dolphin watching and flooded forest kayaking
Kompong Phluk
Siem Reap · Tonle Sap
Stilted village and flooded mangrove forest on Tonle Sap
Beng Mealea Community
Kampong Thom / Siem Reap · Central
Temple-adjacent village tourism near the jungle temple
Koh Phdao
Kratie · Northeast
Mekong island community with dolphin watching and homestays
Preah Rumkel
Stung Treng · Northeast
Mekong flooded forest and dolphin conservation community
Tatai
Koh Kong · Cardamom Mountains
Riverside community in the Cardamom Mountains
Veal Veng
Pursat · Cardamom Mountains
Remote Cardamom Mountains community with pristine wilderness
Koh Pen
Kampong Cham · Central
Mekong river island known for silk weaving and bamboo bridge
Tmatboey
Preah Vihear · Northwest
Giant ibis birdwatching and community conservation
Phnom Kulen
Siem Reap · Central
Sacred mountain community with river carvings and waterfalls
Chong Khneas
Siem Reap · Tonle Sap
Iconic Tonle Sap floating village near Siem Reap
Areng Valley
Koh Kong · Cardamom Mountains
Cardamom Mountains conservation community protecting old-growth forest
Prek Toal
Battambang · Tonle Sap
Tonle Sap bird sanctuary and floating community
Ethical Wildlife Tourism
Cambodia's wildlife is recovering from decades of conflict and poaching, but irresponsible tourism still threatens endangered species. Here's how to enjoy wildlife encounters ethically:
✗ Never Do
- • Ride elephants — causes spinal damage, requires cruel "breaking" process
- • Bathe elephants at commercial venues — often stressful for the animals
- • Visit "tiger temples" or pay-to-hold-wildlife attractions
- • Buy wildlife products — snake wine, tortoiseshell, ivory, or exotic animal meat
- • Feed wild monkeys — creates dependency and aggression
✓ Do Instead
- Elephant Valley Project (Mondulkiri) — observe elephants roaming free in forest habitat
- Irrawaddy Dolphins (Kratie/Stung Treng) — boat-based observation at safe distances
- Ang Trapeang Thmor — Sarus crane sanctuary managed by local community
- Cardamom Mountain treks — camera-trap wildlife with trained guides at Chi Phat
Environmental Tips for Travelers
Water & Plastic
- Bring a reusable bottle — refill stations exist in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Kampot
- Carry a cloth bag for market shopping
- Refuse straws and single-use plastics
- Use solid shampoo/soap bars to avoid plastic bottles
On the Water
- Use reef-safe (non-nano zinc oxide) sunscreen at Koh Rong
- Don't touch or stand on coral reefs while snorkeling
- Don't feed fish or marine life
- Join beach cleanups organized by island communities
Transport
- Take Giant Ibis or Mekong Express buses between cities — comfortable and low-emission
- Walk or cycle in towns — most Cambodian cities are flat and bikeable
- Share tuk-tuks with other travelers when possible
- If flying domestically, consider carbon offsets
Accommodation
- Choose locally-owned guesthouses over international chains
- Reuse towels and decline daily linen changes at hotels
- Turn off AC when you leave the room
- Eco-lodges in Koh Rong, Mondulkiri, and Kampot are great options
Support Local Businesses
Where you spend your money matters more than how much you spend. A $5 meal at a family-run noodle stall contributes more to the local economy than a $20 meal at a foreign-owned restaurant where profits leave the country.
Give Back — Volunteering & Charities
Cambodia welcomes visitors who want to contribute — but not all opportunities are equal. Avoid orphanage volunteering (which fuels exploitation), and instead support established organizations with skilled programs.
Explore More
Discover community tourism sites, volunteering opportunities, and nature experiences.
Sustainable Travel FAQs
Get Cambodia Travel Updates
Visa changes, travel tips, and destination guides delivered to your inbox.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. We respect your privacy.