Take a Walk on the Wild Side in Cambodia

Take a walk on the wild side:
New itinerary gives access to Cambodia’s most important wildlife habitats

A new trip from InsideAsia Tours provides access to some of the most important wildlife locations and protected areas of Cambodia, many of which were off the usual tourist trail but are now ripe for discovery.

The 15-night fully-tailored Wild Cambodia itinerary encompasses an array of immersive wildlife experiences, including exploring remote birding sites, helping to monitor endangered species, and tracking gibbons alongside wildlife experts.

Highlights include:

Explore remote birding sites: 

Specialist birding sites offer the chance to learn more about the native birdlife of Cambodia, with many sites newly opened and home to a multitude of species. One such is Dak Dam, a new bird-watching site on the eastern Sen Monorom plateau, with opportunities to see Black Eagles, Pale-capped Pigeon and Black-throated Sunbirds. Travelling by private vehicle with an expert guide, the itinerary also features a visit to Bengal Florican Grasslands Conservation Area, home to the greatest number of Bengal Florican in Cambodia; the critically-endangered species flourishes within the lush, seasonally-flooded grasslands.

Search for elusive gibbons:

Trek through the rainforests of Keo Siem Wildlife Sanctuary in the east of the country and track the many animal species indigenous to this stunning location, including the Black-shanked Douc Langurs. The forests are home to the largest population of these primates in the world, thought to be in excess of 40,000; Gibbons and Elephants are amongst other endangered species present. Walking alongside an expert guide, take part in a pre-dawn Gibbon trek and assist the Wildlife Conservation Society team in analysing camera trap footage, learning more about their work.

Spend time with elephants:

Head to the Elephant Valley Project – 30 minutes from Sen Monorom, the capital of Mondulkiri Province in the east, which is an ecotourism initiative established by the Elephant Livelihood Initiative Environment (ELIE). The project gives sanctuary to elephants retired from the logging trade and farm work, to live out their days in a protected forest. ELIE ensures that their welfare is of the utmost priority, never promoting elephant rides or swim-with experiences. Time that guests spend with an elephant family is through shadowing, getting to learn about these magnificent animals from a respectful distance, whilst also learning about the important work the charity does in protecting elephants in the wild.

From hotels and eco lodges to safari-style tents, the trip features an eclectic mix of different accommodation options, many of which provide an added element in terms of experiencing the natural environment. These include spending the night in a Monkey Pod – an open-sided treehouse reachable by a log staircase – in the Northern Plains’ Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Prey Veng Ecolodge in the Kulen Prontemp Wildlife Sanctuary, situated on the edge of a reservoir and with energy provided by solar power. The itinerary also features the Jahoo Gibbon Safari Camp within the Keo Siem Wildlife Sanctuary, where guests stay overnight in safari-style tents on sheltered bamboo platforms, with solar-powered hot water on tap.

Alongside the wealth of wild experiences included, the Wild Cambodia trip also provides ample opportunities to discover Cambodia’s impressive temples, including those of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire; the unique Banteay Srei, constructed from pink sandstone; and the iconic Angkor Wat, where visitors can experience a magnificent sun rise.

The 15-night fully-tailored itinerary is priced from £3,300 pp (two sharing) and includes domestic flights and airport transfers, 15-nights’ B&B accommodation, ten lunches, six dinners, and guided transfers and excursions. International flights extra.

The best time of year for wildlife encounters is from December to April, with November and May the shoulder seasons for wildlife but still a good time to travel.

For more information, call InsideAsia Tours on 0117 370 9758 or visit www.insideasiatours.com.