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Voykit pocket guide · Cambodia
Chi Phat
Spend 2–3 nights in Chi Phat for community-run trekking, kayaking and wildlife in the Cardamom Mountains; it's a half-day journey from Sihanoukville or Koh Kong.
Chi Phat is a riverside commune in the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains, known for its Community-Based Eco-tourism (CBET) project. Visitors stay in local homestays, hire guides for multi-day treks, mountain biking and kayaking, and support a village that shifted from hunting to tourism. The experience is rustic and guided; you need at least two full days to reach the waterfalls and forest trails.
- Country
- Cambodia
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (heavy rain, trails muddy, river high)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.
- Daily spend
- Budget $20–35 (homestay, meals, guide fee) · Mid $35–60 (guesthouse, private guide, kayak rental) · High $60+ (eco-lodge, full-board, multi-day trek) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Smart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire 118 · Ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C, G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins; newer hotels have UK-style type G.
- Tipping
- Street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.; Tuk-tuk: Round up; US$2–5 extra for a full Angkor day.; Guide day: US$5–10 per person.; Massage: US$1–2 per hour.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels have refill stations.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road. Paper goes in the bin in older places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Homestay per night (with meals) | $15–30 |
| Guide fee per day | $10–25 |
| Kayak rental per day | $5–12 |
| Boat from Andong Teuk to Chi Phat (one way) | $5–10 |
| Meal at a homestay or guesthouse | $3–6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KOS · Sihanoukville International Airport
- About 2.5 h by bus to Andong Teuk village, then boat to Chi Phat
- PNH · Phnom Penh International Airport
- About 4–5 h by bus to Andong Teuk, then boat
Typical fares
- Boat Andong Teuk → Chi Phat
- about $5–10, 20–30 min (check)
- Bus Phnom Penh → Andong Teuk
- about $8–12, 4–5 h (check)
- Bus Sihanoukville → Andong Teuk
- about $5–8, 2.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Guided treks, mountain bikes and kayaks arranged through the CBET office. No public transport within the commune; walking between villages is possible.
See and do
Known for
- Community-Based Eco-tourism (CBET) project
- Trekking and mountain biking in the Cardamom Mountains
- Kayaking on the Stung Phipot River
- O'Mallu Waterfalls
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| O'Mallu Waterfalls | Guided trek from Chi Phat, about 2–3 h each way | 5–6 h |
| Koh Kong | Boat to Andong Teuk, then bus (about 1 h total) | 2–3 h |
| Sihanoukville | Boat to Andong Teuk, then bus (about 2.5 h) | 3.5–4 h |
Sleep
- Chi Phat village
- Homestays and guesthouses arranged by the CBET office; all fees go to the community.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | ជំរាបសួរchum reap suor |
| Thank you | អរគុណor kun |
| How much? | ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?tlai ponman? |
| Where is the CBET office? | ការិយាល័យ CBET នៅឯណា?kariyalay CBET nov aina? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Sampeah (palms together, slight bow); higher hands for elders and monks; avoid: Firm handshakes with older women
- Head and feet: Keep feet down and pointed away from people and Buddha images; avoid: Touching heads, even children's
- Temples: Shoes and hat off inside, shoulders and knees covered; avoid: Sitting with feet toward the Buddha; women touching monks
- Keeping face: Stay calm and smile when things go wrong; avoid: Shouting or public anger
- Giving and receiving: Use the right hand or both hands; avoid: Tossing money or objects
- Photos: Ask first, especially of monks and at memorials; avoid: Selfies at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek
Scams and watch-outs
- The CBET office arranges all activities and accommodation; book in advance during peak season (Dec–Feb).
- Mobile reception is limited; check with your provider.
- Bring cash (US dollars) – there are no ATMs in Chi Phat.
- Leeches are common on rainforest trails after rain; wear long socks and closed shoes.
Chi Phat is safe for tourists; the main risks are leeches, slippery trails and limited medical facilities. Carry a basic first-aid kit and travel insurance.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chi Phat yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Community-Based Eco-tourism (CBET) project
- Trekking and mountain biking in the Cardamom Mountains
- Kayaking on the Stung Phipot River
- O'Mallu Waterfalls
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chi Phat, revision 5229770 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5229770
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chi-phat). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.