Chi Phat Community

Chi Phat is mainland South East Asia’s largest remaining tract of rainforest situated directly in the heart of the Cardamom Mountains which is situated in Koh Kong province in southwest of Cambodia on the banks of the Phipot River and comprises four small villages (Chi Phat, Chaom Sla, Kam Lort, and Teuk Laork) an area that has been severely affected by warfare, commercial logging, and hunting. Economic development was stalled for decades due to conflict, abuse of resources and communities by big traders, and the areas’ economic isolation.

The Chi Phat Ecotourism Site was established in 2007 by the environmental NGO called Wildlife Alliance. The Chi Phat Commune is made up of 2,500 people (around 550 families). The people are followers of Buddhism, but do not consider themselves to be very religious by nature. Each family cell is independently organized, with little or no social network to rely on. In the past, the people of Chi Phat experienced great suffering at the hands of the Khmer rouge regime, and are still struggling today to support their families.

Chip Phat offers a number of activities for those looking to travel off the beaten path. The site is located within  the Cardamom Mountains and provides for views of diverse landscapes and wildlife, in addition to exploring small villages and ancient burial sites containing cultural artifacts. After arriving Chi Phat by boat, the various tours activities such as trekking, biking, motorcycling, bird watching tours are ready to gear up, the home stays from a single night to the multi overnight trips are available to accommodate guests as their local family members and friends.

Depending on the length of stay and the trail chosen, the traveler can: view wildlife, bat caves and ancient sites containing burial jars, relax at the numerous waterfalls and rivers, watch birds and nature by motorboat or paddle around in a tradition rowboat for mangrove forest view.  The time spent at Chi Phat , however short or long , is coupled by the warm and hospitable atmosphere that the traveler will experience while staying at campsites arranged by local tour guides and/or guesthouse and home stays owned and operated by villages in the community. “Covering 6% of Cambodia, the Cardamom Mountains are home to endangered and threatened species like Asian elephants, Indochinese tigers, Malayan Sun Bears, Gibbons, and Siamese crocodiles as well as the Irrawaddy and humpback dolphins in coastal areas. The Cardamoms are part of the Indo-Burma hotspot, an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot, hosting more than half of Cambodia’s 2,300 bird species”.

The Chi Phat Community, together with several NGOs & Responsible Tour Operators are developing ecotourism activities and facilities, which will provide a sustainable alternative livelihoods, help protect biodiversities and enhance their local natural resources.

Naturally, your positive impact of tourism at  Chi Phat should be maximized economic profit to local people due to villagers are employed like: tour guide, cook, staff, locally owned home stay, other supplier chains and community fund which shall be distributed to build a village infrastructure, education, elder support and healthcare services etc.