Travel Better
Responsible Travel in Cambodia
How to visit with a positive impact — for people, culture and nature.
The Short Version
Cover up at temples. Never visit orphanages — most are not genuine. Don't ride elephants. Buy crafts from artisan cooperatives. Hire licensed local guides. Stay in locally-owned guesthouses. These choices make a meaningful difference to the Cambodian communities you're visiting.
Temple Etiquette
Angkor Wat and Cambodia's thousands of active pagodas are living places of worship. These rules are not suggestions.
Cover shoulders and knees — always, at every temple and active pagoda
Remove shoes before entering any shrine, inner sanctuary or monks' quarters
Speak and move quietly — these are active places of worship, not photo studios
Ask permission before photographing monks or worshippers
Walk clockwise around stupas and shrines (Buddhist convention)
Do not climb on temple walls, statues or carved relief panels
Do not pose pointing at or appearing disrespectful toward sacred statues
Do not touch Buddha statues or reach into shrines
Do not kiss or embrace on temple grounds
Women should not touch monks or hand objects directly to them
Do Not Visit Orphanages
Cambodia has seen a dramatic rise in "orphanages" that exist primarily to attract tourist donations and visits. UNICEF research found that up to 80% of children in Cambodian residential care facilities have at least one living parent. They are placed there — often by families who cannot afford schooling — because tourist interest creates economic demand.
Visiting an orphanage, even with good intentions, directly funds a system that separates children from their families, denies them stable attachment, and exposes them to a revolving door of strangers. This causes measurable long-term psychological harm.
Instead, support: Friends International (FCF), Children's Action for Development (CAD), or Smiling Gecko — organisations working on family preservation and education.
Supporting Local Communities
Buy directly from artisans
Cambodia's silk, lacquerware, silverwork and krama scarves are world-class. Buy from cooperatives and artisan markets (Phnom Penh's Russian Market, Artisans Angkor in Siem Reap) rather than airport gift shops. More money reaches the maker.
Hire local guides
A licensed Cambodian guide at Angkor transforms the experience — and earns 5–10x what a tuk-tuk driver makes from commissions. The Angkor Enterprise and licensed tour operators can connect you with accredited guides ($25–40/half day).
Stay in locally-owned guesthouses
Large international hotel chains export most profits. Boutique guesthouses and homestays — particularly in Kampot, Battambang, and Mondulkiri — keep money circulating locally and offer far more authentic experiences.
Eat Khmer food
Cambodian cuisine is exceptional and underrated. Choose Khmer restaurants over international chains. Markets and local eateries where locals eat keep food revenue in the community and the food is better.
Ethical Wildlife Experiences
Cambodia has exceptional wildlife — Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong, gibbons in the Cardamom rainforest, and nesting sea turtles on the islands. Keep it that way.
Elephant riding — avoid
Commercial elephant riding causes long-term physical and psychological harm. The Cardamom Tented Camp and Elephant Valley Project offer genuine observation alternatives where elephants roam freely.
Tiger, primate and slow loris selfies — avoid
"Photo with a tiger" operations and slow loris selfie spots involve wild animals kept in distress. These are illegal under Cambodian law. Walk away.
Crocodile farm visits — avoid
Crocodile farms that allow visitor contact keep animals in inhumane conditions. Observe wildlife in natural habitats, not commercial operations.
Wildlife markets — avoid
Never buy animals, animal parts, shells, coral or rare plants from markets. This directly funds illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking. Report to WCS Cambodia if you witness active sales.
Ethical wildlife experiences to seek out
- Irrawaddy dolphin watching on the Mekong in Kratie — boat tours that stay at safe distance
- Gibbon spotting treks in the Cardamom Mountains with Chi Phat community ecotourism
- Sea turtle nesting observation at Ream National Park (November–February)
- Elephant Valley Project, Mondulkiri — walk alongside, never ride
- Birdwatching at Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve on the Tonle Sap
Environmental Impact
Reduce plastic
Bring a reusable water bottle with a filter. Cambodia generates enormous plastic waste. Refill at guesthouses and avoid single-use plastic bags at markets.
Choose eco-certified stays
The Cardamom Tented Camp, Shinta Mani Wild, and community homestays in Chi Phat actively fund conservation and provide local employment.
Stay on marked paths
In Angkor, Ream National Park, and the Cardamom Mountains, leaving marked paths damages fragile root systems and archaeological sites.
Avoid reef sunscreen
On the islands, use reef-safe sunscreen (no oxybenzone or octinoxate). Cambodia's coral reefs are recovering from bleaching events and chemical pollution accelerates damage.