The Community-Based Ecotourism Project at Trapeang Roung was established in October 2008 with the help of Wildlife Alliance. It is their goal to provide a sustainable environment for local people through the development of ecotourism in the region in order to reduce threats to local natural resources. The area offers plenty of wildlife in the area and is home of the endangered Siamese Crocodiles.
Trapeang Roung is located on Road 48 and is the gateway to the Cardamom Mountains. Lying on the banks of the Trapeang Roung River, Trapeang Roung commune consists of four small villages. This dynamic and enthusiastic community will make you feel welcome. If you want to experience the authentic Cambodian way of life with friendly people, this is the place for you. The area is renowned for its traditional food, especially seafood and delicious fruit such as the sweet Honey Pineapple.
Before the late 1960s only a few people lived in Trapeang Roung. Under the rule of the Khmer Rouge, many residents of this region were killed and most of the villagers fled to Thailand. After 1979 the area was restructured into the four villages of today’s Trapeang Ruong Commune. A couple of years later, the area became a key trading centre for Thai people, which was called “Thai Kaong Kang” (“Thai people living in the mangrove area”). The new inhabitants influenced the language of the area so that even today people speak Khmer as well as Thai. During the 1990s, people came from different parts of Cambodia to earn a living in the area through illegal hunting and logging and various species of flora and fauna became critically endangered.
Visitors of this area will discover a lot. Not only stunning waterfalls, thick mangrove forest and river rapids will turn this trip into an adventure but also the Trapeang Roung’s trails allow an intense discovery of the area (in total 123 km). You can chose between a variety of activities like trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, traditional freshwater lobster fishing as well as relaxing on one of the two beaches in the area. Moreover you can enjoy local cooking, sleep in a home-stay or go camping.