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4 Rivers Floating Lodge — a truly unique getaway

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

Tired of technology and all its distractions taking over your life? Looking for a genuine getaway that will leave you feeling rejuvenated? If you can live without wifi (and shouldn’t we all be able to?), then the 4 Rivers Floating Lodge in Koh Kong is the place for you…

Birdview from 4 Rivers Floating Eco-Lodge

Hidden away at the foot of the stunning Cardamom Mountains, 4 Rivers Floating Lodge is a floating paradise like no other. Located on the banks of the Tatai River, this property is made up of only 12 luxury tents erected on a series of docks — with no road access, boats and winding river are your only means of transport.

Without the distractions of technology, you can really focus your attention on the natural beauty of this exotic locale. The resort runs a number of wonderful excursions which allow you to explore the surrounding area and learn more about life on the river. The community here is clearly still very much in touch with nature, a rare find in Cambodia, with many families continuing the traditions of fishing and farming.

A unique eco-system, the Tatai River is filled with freshwater during the rainy season when the water comes from inland and salt water during the dry season when the sea fills its banks. This partially saline combination makes the river the perfect environment for mangrove forests. Very fertile nesting areas for fish, these trees ensure that the local villages eat well year round. For visitors, where there are mangroves, there is the perfect opportunity to kayak through these unbelievable forests.

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One of their most popular trips, and my personal favourite, takes you north, up the winding river into the Cardamoms to the majestic Tatai Falls. Located deep in the heart of some of Cambodia’s most unspoiled rainforest, the area is rich in flora and fauna, devoid of any manmade structures and simply a breathtaking example of nature at its most glorious. Travelling by boat gives you the chance to take in your surroundings as you learn more from you guide about the area’s rich history, on how human activity is changing in the region and more about how unique a place it truly is.

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The boat stops just short of the roaring falls, where you then continue by foot along a rocky jungle pathway leading to an open outcrop of rock on the edge of the falls. You couldn’t really pick a more stunning spot for a picnic. Although only 6 metres high, the falls create a dramatic contrast against the bright green backdrop. As you enjoy a dip in one of the numerous pools that have been carved out by the water, you are surrounded by magnificent views looking back down along the river.

As amazing as the excursions are, returning to your floating paradise if one of the highlights of this overall experience. The resort is run by an exceptional team who not only caters to your needs 24/7 but take a genuine interest in your thoughts on the day, questions about the area and any feedback you have. Once back to your temporary home, you can enjoy the last couple of hours of daylight as you read your book on the deck or take one last dip in the river, as the sun sets and the surrounding jungle gets ready for the night. And just when you think your day is winding down, it is time to take in one of nature’s most blissful sights — the magical twinkling of a firefly show.

Getting there

4 Rivers Floating Lodge is about a 4-hour drive from Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville’s coast. The best time to visit is the end of the rainy season, around early November, when the waterfall is full and the green of the jungle is so bright it seems otherworldly. Avoid the hottest months of March-May, and although we were lucky with the weather visiting in September, it is a risk as a number of the excursions are not possible in heavy rain.

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Community Based Tours — a growing travel trend

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

Since starting Journeys Within, Andrea has prioritized the communities she works in, which lead to Conde Nast calling her a pioneer in philanthropic travel. It seems the rest of the travel industry is finally catching up…

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Last month the Journeys Within team was proud to attend a conference hosted by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The International Conference on Community Development through Tourism, co-sponsored by UNESCO and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, was a meeting of tour operators, hotels and Cambodian ministry officials, among others. All of these stakeholders were brought to the table to discuss how those of us working in the region can help use tourism to support sustainable development and work towards alleviating poverty.

Much of the conference focused on how to promote the positive influences of travel while educating and mitigating against the negatives. When done with thought and care, travel can be an eye opening, informative and enriching experience both for the visitors and the host communities — a belief that is held at the heart of our  company.

One of the overriding ideas of how to accomplish this was through the continued development and support of Community Based Tourism (CBT) — projects that work directly with communities to provide the economic benefits of tourism while protecting cultural, historic or environmental assets.

While a new trend to some, this has been a Journeys Within focus from the beginning. We are always looking to enrich a travel experience and spread the wealth as much as possible. While our guests love to see the Ankorian temples, it is experiences like the community Baci ceremony in Laos or dinners with a local family that they rave about.

By helping to funnel tourist dollars in a positive way, the private sector can help local governments and NGO’s achieve their goals. As Martin Craigs, PATA CEO, puts it is can also help develop cross border empathy — an understanding of the unique and sometimes difficult situations others face.

For Community Based Tourism projects to work we must consider:

  • if communities are being empowered — tours must include input and respect the boundaries of the communities they visit.
  • if there is fair and transparent benefit sharing — does the money you pay for the tour go to the families involved?
  • if there is an integration of partners and stakeholders
  • if economic links are strengthened — is the community being included in the economic process.
  • if the overall well being of the communities is improved
  • if there is a meaningful and interactive host visit — tours should be designed to make guests feel welcome
  • if local culture and traditions are respected
  • if the project is financial sustainable

The fact is that most authentic and positive experiences revolve around people. After 10 year working on one-of-a-kind tours, we know this to be true. We love peppering itineraries with tours like the Reach Dak Baray, the Kulen Mountain Forest Discovery Trail or one of our own JWOC experiences because the people involved are truly passionate about showing off their communities and preserving their heritage.

While many of our guests want to volunteer or give back, they aren’t sure how due to the short nature of their stays. One of the most effective ways to help a community can be by supporting established projects that meet all of the above criteria — projects we are happy to help guests access.

These hands-on kinds of activities are always guest favourites and at the conference we learned that they are the next trend in responsible travel, something we readily welcome.

Interested in learning more about Community Based Tours or taking one yourself? We are happy to add them to any Southeast Asian itinerary!

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Ta Prohm to lose iconic trees

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Nicknamed the Tomb Raider temple, the Ankorian temple Ta Prohm is set to lose four of its iconic trees. Despite being famous for the trees that overrun this ruin, the government has found that it is no longer safe to let nature take its course…

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The Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) has found that three of the  cotton-silk trees that intertwine with the temple’s ruins are already dead and rotting from the inside out. In addition, one of the larger trees that blankets on of the temple’s walls is no longer able to be propped up by its roots or the supportive ropes and wooden scaffolding.

“We’ve tried for many years to prop it up … but when the wind is strong, it is very dangerous,” APSARA spokesperson Kerya Chau Sun said to the Phnom Penh Post.

“We have to be very careful because if we cut the tree out, the wall will collapse; but if we rebuild the wall, the tree will die. It’s a difficult balance,” Chau Sun said.

The forestry department will be charged with removing the trees from the 12th century ruin. The temple will remain open to visitor as the trees are removed in pieces.

Earlier this week,a Buddhist ceremony was held for the trees. Many temples in Angkor are popular because of how the trees grow to become part of the temples. Chau Sun told the Post that these trees “are considered part of the cultural landscape and are only removed if they are damaged or diseased, potentially hazardous, spoil the landscape or threaten the monument’s structural integrity.”

“In this case, we have to cut before it becomes too dangerous and someone gets hurt,” she told the Post.

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Cycling tour in Siem Reap gets green

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Narla and Kanika did a cycling tour around Siem Reap over the weekend and loved it. Organized Siem Reap Cycling Adventure, this green adventure was a great way to get out of the city and into nature — added bonus, it ended with a community tree  planting. Here Narla talks about going green…

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Named one of Conde Nast’s Top Ten Cities in Asia,  Siem Reap and the surrounding are combines culture and nature in a unique way. The city is fun and full of amenities but we also love the green landscape here — from the ancient trees in Angkor Park to rice paddies of the nearby countryside. We love to keep this this way and help much as much possible make it more green.

There are many people from the younger generation who are now living in the city of Siem Reap. Many of them are students and workers from the countryside that come to Siem Reap to work in different sector such as NOGs, Hotels, Restaurants and more.

One of my favourite activities is cycling through the temples and the nearby villages — every weekend young residents (as well as tour groups) cycle into nature to get some fresh air after 5 or 6 days working in the city.

Kanika and the team

Last weekend, a big group of cyclist (about 400 people) gathered together for an event call “Cycling for Green Environment” with the purpose of planting tree at the local school — Ta Pang Primary and Secondary School.

Organized by Siem Reap Cycling Adventure this event was a great reminder of how lovely it can be to leave the  city and get back to nature.

The event is start at 7am so that we could cycle together to the school in a village about 20 km away. When we got there, the school director gave a speech to all of us to tell us how important the trees are and how they inspire the kids in this school to learn and get more engaged with nature. We have planted about 400 Koki and Teak Wood trees on the big school campus before heading back on our bikes.

It was also a great way to send a message to future generations that we all love nature and that we will do our best to protect it!

This tour reminded me how much more there is to Siem Reap than ancient ruins. Much of what makes this town, my new home, special is growing just outside the city limits, a message I look forward to sharing with our guests!… Read more »