Banteay Chhmar Community Tourism Site

Website: www.ccben.org/BanteayChhmar.html
E-mail: cbtbanteaychhmar@yahoo.com or tathsophal@yahoo.com
Phone: +885 012 237 605
+885 012 435 660

Who they are

Prek Thnout Ecotourism Site was established in 2006 by an NGO called APLC (Agir pour le Cambodge). Banteay Chhmar consists of a XII century Angkorian temple complex. One of its masterpieces is the so called ‘Temple of the cat’ which is to be renovated by the Global Heritage Fund. It also contains both barays (rectangular water reservoirs) from ancient times and from under the Pol Pot regime. Visitors can explore the temples and barays and have a picnic there. Food will be prepared by a local women’s group. Apart from that visitors can also discover the surrounding rural life by ox-cart, bicycle or Koyun, meet with village people and spend a night in a traditional wooden homestay. There is also the opportunity to visit a Mekong Silk centre nearby the ecotourism site, where visitors can see the process of creating silk products and can also purchase local products there.

What they offer

Proposed Itinerary 1:
Day 1:
- 12:00: Welcome in Banteay Chhmar Community-Based Tourism centre (presently APLC office). Enjoy lunch prepared by a local women’s group under a straw hut and take some time to rest in the homestays.
- 14:30: Walking visit to the Banteay Chhmar Temple.
- 16:00: Kuyon ride to visit the killing Baray and to watch a local fishing process. Before heading off you can take in the evening sunset.
- 19:00: After a stop at the homestays, dinner will be served in the Temple confines with traditional wooden torches.

Day 2:
- 07:30: Breakfast in the homestays prepared and delivered by CBT.
- 08:30: Walk to the Banteay Chhmar local market.
- 09:00: Oxcart tour to discover the Banteay Chhmar way of life (rice fields, vegetable gardens along the west moat, and the Silk Centre).
- 12:00: Last meal in CBT before departure to Sisophon.

Services included:
Accommodation for one night.
Meals (Lunch (x2), Diner (x1), Breakfast (x1)
All transportation during the visits in Banteay Chhmar
Local guide (English speaking)
Temple fees (USD $5.00) presently managed by the CBT.

Services Excluded:
Other personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, transport to Banteay Chhmar and return.

Proposed Itinerary 2:
Day 1:
- 12:00: Welcome to Banteay Chhmar Community-Based Tourism area. Enjoy lunch prepared by a local women’s group under a straw hut and take some time to rest in the homestays.
- 14:30: Visit the Banteay Chhmar and Ta Prom Temples.
- 19:00: At Ta Prom mats will be provided with wooden traditional torches and traditional musicians will set the atmosphere for a welcome dinner under the stars.

Day 2:
- 07:30: Breakfast in the homestays prepared and delivered by CBT.
- 8:30: Walk to, and around, the Banteay Chhmar local market place.
- 09:00: Oxcart tour to discover the Banteay Chhmar way of life (visit to the Silk Centre, rice fields, and stop at a local farm). Then continue on to the “killing Baray” by Kuyon.
- 12.00: Picnic on a wooden platform prepared by the CBT with the possibility of taking some time to kick back in one of the comfy hammocks.
- 15.30: On the way back, you can visit a beekeeping and cassava farm.
- 19:00: Arrival at the homestays, enjoy the end of the day with the family and have dinner delivered by the CBT. Watch a rice flattening show and taste the delicious produce afterwards!

Day 3:
- 07:30: Breakfast in the CBT area.
- 09.00: Departure by Kuyon (or your own vehicle) to visit the Banteay Top Temple.
- 12.00: Picinic prepared and delivery by CBT before departure to Sisophon.
Services included:
- Accommodation for two nights.
- Meals (Lunch (x3), Diner (x2), Breakfast (x3)
- All transportation during your visits in Banteay Chhmar
- Local guide (English speaking)
- Temple fees (USD $5.00) presently managed by the CBT.

CBT Products and services include homestays, ox-cart trips, bicycle and Koyun rental, picnic inside the temples or along the baray prepared by a trained women’s group, traditional music performances, a rice show and English-speaking local guides.
Services Excluded:
Other personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, transport to Banteay Chhmar and return.

Location

Banteay Chhmar is located in Banteay Meanchey Province in the Northwest of Cambodia.

To reach Banteay Meanchey Town you can take National Road 5 or 6 from Phnom Penh by bus, minibus or taxi (approximately 5 hours). From Banteay Meanchey Town to Banteay Chhmar it is another 59km by minibus or taxi which takes around 1.5 hours.

View on Google Maps

What you need

- Hat
- Sun glasses
- Sunscreen
- Light and quick dry clothing
- Insect repellent
- Torch
- Good walking shoes & socks
- Krama / sarong

Accommodation & Amenities

Homestay means you will spend the night with a local family in their house. The houses are prepared for your visit and will be equipped with mosquito nets.
Bathroom facilities consist of either squat or sit down toilet, and water cistern with scoop shower.
There is no electricity in the villages.
Simple, but delicious local cuisine
Cost of proposed two days/one night itinerary (All prices are in US dollars)
1 person: $42.00
2 persons: $79.00
3 persons: $91.00
4 persons: $115.00
Homestay: Room for 1 person $7.00 (2 persons is possible)
Breakfast: $2.00 per person, Lunch/dinner: $4.00 per person
Ox-cart: $5.00 for 1 person or a group of 4 people
Koyun rental: $6.00 for 1 person or for a group of 12 people
Bicycle rental: $1.50 per bicycle
Local guide: $5.00 (for international tourists)
Traditional music performance: $10.00
Rice show: $7.00
Temple fee: $5.00