Chi Pat is a remote village in the Cardamom Protected Forest, with no running water and electricity is by generator only. But this is not stopping Wildlife Alliance (formerly Wild Aid) from bringing ecologically conscious tourists to the village as part of a new eco-tourism program.

The ecotourism project is in its infancy, but the Wildlife Alliance has been in the area for some time, involved in law enforcement in the Cardamom Mountains, working directly with the park rangers who patrol the region busting poachers and illegal loggers.

So in terms of protecting the forest the rangers are the stick and eco-tourism the carrot. Wildlife Alliance believes that if they want locals to stop logging and hunting they must be given an alternative income, and ecotourism can provide that alternative income as well as being a tool for long-term conservation to reduce pressure on the forest.

So what is there to do? For starters Chi Pat is remote, after a 4 hour road journey from Phnom Penh (Cambodia’s Capital) you reach a river where you have to board a traditional wooden boat and take a 3 hour journey upstream. On arrival in the small village of Chi Pat in the foothills of the Cardamom Mountains you will see a dirt road, a couple of restaurants, lots of cows, dogs and chickens wandering around, and a chorus of ‘Hellos’ from the inquisitive children. In terms of accommodation there are currently 4 guesthouses as well as a few homestay options.

There are various natural and cultural sites in the surrounding forest such as waterfalls, ancient burial jars, bat caves, and wildlife such as elephants, hornbills, flying squirrels etc. To explore there are a series of treks or mountain bike tours you can take, or more leisurely explore the rivers tributaries by boat. The tours vary from day trips to multi-overnight trips camping out in the forest.

The project does not officially begin until early 2009, however if you would like to be one of the areas eco-tourist pioneers contact Asia Adventures who can arrange a tour for you: info@asia-adventures.com

Edited from: The Cambodia Daily Weekend (Aug 30-31-08)