Cambodia guided tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
On this tour we travel by road instead of flying, avoiding unnecessary internal flights and reducing our carbon footprint.

Whilst in the mountainous region we stay at a local eco-lodge which uses solar power as their main source of energy. They have an integrated system which runs the entire camp, and in recent reporting, have only had to run the main powered generator on a weekly basis, thus reducing their carbon footprint.

They also have waste management plans in place with recycling as much as possible, and any food waste goes to their composting set up used for their garden. Finally, all food is locally sourced, and try to use as much sustainably produced product as possible, such as Ibis rice which is produced as part of a very successful project in Northern Cambodia to protect the national bird the critically endangered Giant Ibis.

Our local team are travel life certified throughout all operations in South and South East Asia clearly demonstrating the commitment to sustainability.


ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Our local team in South Asia including Cambodia are taking environmental responsibility very seriously. There is a growing availability of properties now in South East Asia actively seeking to reduce waste by offering water to guests in glass bottles or by offering filtered tap water to their guests. Our local team supports TAP Travelers Against Plastic – a United States based non-profit organization. TAP aims to educate travellers on the importance of using reusable water containers instead of buying and using plastic bottles. It is better for the traveller, the people they visit and for the planet.

Our local team also support Plant A Tree Today (PATT). PATT is a UK registered charity and a foundation operating throughout the Southeast Asia region. PATT initiates, develops and manages large-scale reforestation projects countering deforestation and climate change.

We include a stay at Cardamom Tented Camp, an ecolodge that aims to minimize the human footprint in this part of the world. It is a three-way initiative between Minor Group, YAANA Ventures and Wildlife Alliance to ensure the land and its biodiversity does not fall into the hands of loggers, poachers and sand dredging operations. The activities they offer, i.e. hiking and kayaking, are all eco-friendly, and our visit also allows guests to learn about the important conservation work undertaken in this stunning area.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
Our tours in Cambodia operate solely with local guides providing a vital source of revenue for local people. Many experiences on tour also provide revenue for local people such as meals in local homes which is a great way to learn about the local culture through the medium of food.

Our local team also operates an independent charity arm founded as far back as 2007, set up in order to help conservation efforts and disadvantaged communities in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia in a responsible way. There are ongoing People and Planet projects in each individual country managed by local ambassadors collaborating with international partners, NGOs and local project coordinators and all donations go to beneficiary project.

All accommodation used on this tour are smaller, boutique hotels rather than international chain hotels. We also stay overnight on a rural farm and in an eco-lodge, where all monies are directed back into the local economy.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
We spend a full day and night at Smiling Gecko Farmhouse, which is a ‘vacation with a purpose’. They have their own charity and part of the Smiling Gecko Campus, launched by the NGO in Cambodia in 2014 to help combat poverty in rural Cambodia. It includes a bilingual school and various workshops where disadvantaged children and adults are taught/trained. A percentage of the fees goes directly to the charity, and our visit here contributes and supports the development of children and adults alike, with the overall goal of reducing poverty.

Our very small groups and limited departures in Cambodia means that our impact – both cultural and environmental – on the areas that we visit is small and truly sustainable. All of the guides we use are local, and most have been working with our local team in a full-time role for a number of years, rather than just as seasonal jobs.

Finally, our local team have their own ‘Communities’ policy in all destinations, which includes not just the local people, but also their own staff. They comply with all national and international laws, ensuring their staff are paid a fair wage to support themselves and their families, and offer equal opportunities to all staff and do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, disability or political beliefs.

All their policies and commitments to sustainability and responsible travel are readily available on their website.