Chi Phat: a village-run base in the Cardamoms
Chi Phat in the Cardamom Mountains: what the village ecotourism project offers, the boat or motorbike from Andoung Teuk, costs, seasons and who it suits.
Cardamom rainforest protected by Wildlife Alliance rangers, from the air
Researched from published sources
In short
Chi Phat is a village in the Cardamom Mountains where residents run treks, bike rides, kayaking and homestays through a community visitor centre. You reach it from Andoung Teuk on National Road 48 by a two-hour boat (US$15 per person with three or more passengers) or a 45-minute motorbike taxi (US$8), as published by the project.
Chi Phat sits on a river at the edge of the Cardamom forest. Its ecotourism project is run by the people who live there: guides, cooks, boat drivers and host families are villagers, and visitors book through a community visitor centre rather than with outside companies. Wildlife Alliance is linked to the project and invites support for it.
What you do there
Most visitors stay two or three nights and pick from treks, mountain-bike routes and kayaking, each graded light, medium or hard. Short walks and rides fill a morning; the harder treks go deeper into the forest. Evenings are spent in the village, which is quiet and unhurried.
Wildlife is present but shy. You are more likely to remember the river, the forest and the people than a particular animal, and a visit is best framed that way.
The journey in
The project publishes clear directions. Buses on the Phnom Penh to Koh Kong road stop at Andoung Teuk, at a bridge on National Road 48; a 2019-era timetable on the project’s site shows a 07:45 departure from Phnom Penh arriving around 12:30. Boats to Chi Phat leave after that bus arrives and take about two hours along the river. The alternative is a motorbike taxi on the 17 km asphalt road, about 45 minutes, which includes a short river ferry crossing. A private car can also drive to the ferry point.
Because the timetable may be out of date, confirm bus times and boat departures before you go. The step-by-step version, including leaving Chi Phat, is in getting to Chi Phat.
Is it for you?
Chi Phat suits travelers who enjoy simple accommodation, want their money to go to a village enterprise, and are happy to be flexible about timings. It is less suited to travelers who need air conditioning, private bathrooms every night or tightly scheduled days. For a comfortable stay in the same forest, look at the Cardamom Mountains overview and the tented camp.
Seasons at a glance
What the providers publish
These are the facts each provider states on its own website, with the date we read them. Naming a provider here describes it; it is not an endorsement or a partnership.
Questions travelers ask
How do I get to Chi Phat?
Take a bus or car to Andoung Teuk on National Road 48, about 195 km from Phnom Penh. From there, the project’s boat takes about two hours (US$15 per person with at least three passengers, US$40 for one) or a motorbike taxi takes about 45 minutes on an asphalt road (US$8). Pay booked transport at the visitor centre, not the driver. These are the project’s published figures and may have changed.
Is Chi Phat comfortable?
It is simple. Homestays put you in a family house; guesthouses and bungalows offer a little more privacy. The project itself says services in the village are limited and publishes a packing list. If you want more comfort, consider Cardamom Tented Camp instead.
Can I visit Chi Phat without a motorbike?
Yes. The boat from Andoung Teuk is the classic way in, and a private car can take you along the asphalt road to the village ferry. Treks and kayaking need no vehicle at all.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 11 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
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