Hanuman Travel

13/04/2024

As Cambodia celebrates Khmer New Year, a time of fresh beginnings, let Hanuman Travel be your guide to new horizons. May your adventures this year be woven with the threads of wonder, your memories be painted with the colors of discovery, and your heart overflow with the captivating stories travel brings. Happy Khmer New Year!

សួស្ដីឆ្នាំថ្មី បើកទំព័រថ្មី ហនុមានទេសចរណ៍ជាមគ្គុទ្ទេសក៍នាំលោកអ្នកក្នុងដំណើរផ្សងព្រេងគ្រប់ទីកន្លែង។ អបអរសាទរពិធីបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរ! សូមជូនពរឱ្យលោកអ្នកធ្វើដំណើរកម្សាន្ដប្រកបដោយភាពរីករាយ និង សុខសុវត្ថិភាព។

08/02/2024

Tripadvisor: Siem Reap is Number 7 on Best in Asia List

First it was Phnom Penh making the Top 10 of Trending Destinations in the world and now Siem Reap is riding high in the Top 10 of Best of the Best Destinations in Asia.

"When the morning light washes over the overgrown temples and ruins of Angkor Wat, a simple Siem Reap sunrise becomes a profound event. The ancient structures are contained within one of the largest religious complexes in the world."

Plan your trip to Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor with Hanuman Travel, the best of the best locally-owned, locally-operated Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and Tour Operators in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Contact the Travel Team today on [email protected] to plan your Cambodia adventures.

Explore the most popular and trending places to travel around the world, based on reviews by millions of real travelers.

18/01/2024

Looking for the unspoilt Thai islands of the 90s? Head to Cambodia according to The Daily Telegraph

"Koh Rong is as dreamy as everyone says – like an especially lovely and unspoiled Thai island, such as Koh Samui, in about 1993 (and I went to Koh Samui in 1993), but I am told that just across the choppy turquoise waters is an even more remotely perfect island, even less developed, yet equally enticing – in a different way. Koh Rong Samloem."

Cambodia is so much more than its temples. Plan a winter escape to discover blissful beaches, the vibrant capital of Phnom Penh, the wilds of the Cardamom Mountains or Mondulkiri and an up and coming culinary scene. And, yes, there are quite a few world-class temples as well, namely the one and only Angkor Wat.

However, more than all the sights of Cambodia combined, it is the people of this enigmatic kingdom that leave an enduring mark on all visitors. The spirit, the stoicism and the endless smiles make this one of the friendliest countries in the world.

Book an incredible trip to remember with Hanuman Travel. Contact the team on [email protected]

The islands of Cambodia remain in that perfect sweet spot where they are virtually untouched – but you can buy good sauvignon blanc

15/01/2024

Tripadvisor Names Phnom Penh as One of the the Trending Destinations for 2024

The vibrant Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh makes the Tripadvisor Top 10 list of trending destinations for 2024.

"Budget-minded travelers will appreciate Phnom Penh's reasonably priced hotel rooms. Explore the city's temples, palaces, and the remnants of its French colonial history. Just outside the city, the The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek) are a reminder of Cambodia's tragic past-- a somber contrast to the booming city of today."

What they don't mention is the striking riverside setting on the banks of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, the impressive wining and dining scene in the capital and the friendly people. Phnom Penh is so much more than its past, it is a youthful and dynamic city looking to the future.

Time to start planning that trip.

03/01/2024

Happy New Year from all the team at Hanuman Travel

As we enter 2024, the team at Hanuman Travel would like to wish you all the best in your travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Check out this stunning video for some inspiration for your adventures in Cambodia, including the stunning temples of Angkor, the vibrant capital of Phnom Penh, the beautiful islands of the South Coast and so much more.

We look forward to welcoming you to Indochina and the incredible countries of the Mekong region for a sustainable holiday that supports local businesses and local communities.

06/12/2023

Destination Mekong Summit 2023 in Phnom Penh on 6-7 Dec

Sign up for the Destination Mekong Summit here in Cambodia on 6-7 December 2023. The event will as always feature outstanding speakers on topics of interest, training sessions and networking events.

If you cannot make it there in person, it is free to join online, so sign up for the virtual event on the Destination Mekong website:

https://www.destinationmekong.com/dms23/

With the theme "MEKONG IN MOTION - MEKONG EMOTION(S)", the summit is a hub for tourism & hospitality businesses and professionals.

19/11/2023

The culinary scene in Battambang, as featured in The Observer

"A quiet provincial capital in north-west Cambodia that feels like a big country town, Battambang has been named a city of gastronomy by Unesco and is one of 55 places added to it Creative Cities Network of destinations known for crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music."

While most visitors are understandably focused on the temple town of Siem Reap or the dynamic capital of Phnom Penh, Battambang offers a more traditional urban experience in Cambodia, a throwback to the Siem Reap of the 1990s.

Battambang doesn’t have any Michelin stars but it does have street snacks like crunchy deep-fried bananas and turmeric-tinted minced-pork stuffed pancakes

04/10/2023

Cambodia Takes Number 1 and 2 Spots in Conde Nast Traveler

Conde Nast Traveler has announced its Readers' Choice Awards for the Top 10 Hotels in Southeast Asia in 2023 and three of the properties are in Cambodia.

Coming in at Number 1 is Park Hyatt Siem Reap scoring an impressive 97.30.

Closing following at Number 2 is Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor , also in Siem Reap, scoring 96.99.

Representing the capital is Rosewood Phnom Penh which scores 95.78.

A big shoutout to all three properties for flying the flag for Cambodia. Hanuman Travel works with all three properties, as well as numerous other hotels across the Kingdom, so start planning your adventures in Cambodia today.

Condé Nast Traveler readers rate the top hotels in Southeast Asia, outside Singapore.

18/09/2023

Koh Ker Temples Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The 10th century rival capital of Koh Ker has been officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fourth official site following in the footsteps of the Temples of Angkor, Preah Vihear temple and Sambor Prei K*k temples.

Koh Ker was established as a rival capital to Angkor in 924 AD by King Jayavarman IV and saw a prolific building campaign produce some of the most stunning sculpture produced anywhere in the Angkor period. Originally known as Lingapura (City of Lingas) Chok Gargyar, it is often referred to as a usurper capital, as Jayavarman IV was believed to have seized the throne by force.

Much of this stunning sculpture was systematically looted through an organised network of collectors working under the coordination of Douglas Latchford. Most of the priceless pieces ended up in museums, galleries and private collections around the world and is slowly but steadily being repatriated. However, much of it was also destroyed by reckless looting and is undergoing restoration such as the famous Dancing Shiva from Prasat Krahom at Koh Ker, brutally shattered into 10,000 shards of sandstone.

Sister company Hanuman Films worked with the National Authority of Preah Vihear (NAPV) to create an original video on Koh Ker to support the UNESCO World Heritage application. The Hanuman Travel team has also worked to support many television and video shoots at Koh Ker, including most recently a 2-part Expedition Unknown special on the temples for the Discovery Channel hosted by Josh Gates. The Hanuman Films team also shot a video for USAID and the Greening Prey Lang project to showcase the beauty of Koh Ker, viewable here.

Congratulation to Cambodia, please help to spread the good news...

Check out this stunning video of Koh Ker, capital of the Khmer empire under King Jayavarman IV from 928 AD to 944 AD. Boasting dozens of temples, this is one...

14/09/2023

Remembering the Life and Work of Dr Damian Evans

It is with great sadness we share the news of the passing of Dr Damian Evans, a friend, scholar and archaeologist who spent his career working to put the Khmer Empire, quite literally, on the map.

The Hanuman Travel team was privileged to work with him when looking after many special tour groups and VIPs who came to Cambodia over the years, whether for a private lecture at a hotel bar in Siem Reap or a helicopter trip to a remote temple in Preah Vihear.

Cambodia and the Cambodian archaeological community has lost a real champion who was passionate about all things Khmer. He will be sorely missed on a personal level by family and friends, and on a professional level by the wider community of scholars, academics and archaeologists in Cambodia and beyond.

The team at Hanuman Travel fondly remembers all the wonderful times we have shared together over the years and lament the many collaborations that were yet to come. Our thoughts are with his close family and friends at this difficult time.

Tributes flow for ‘incredibly generous’ Australian Canadian researcher, who used space laser technology to uncover landscapes in south-east Asia

27/06/2023

Wild Cambodia: Hanuman FAM Trip into the Cardamoms

Earlier this month, some of the Hanuman Travel Team embarked on an adventurous FAM trip into the Cardamom Mountains, one of the up and coming ecotourism hotspots in Cambodia. The team covered about 750km in four days using a mix of minivan, motorbikes and boats.

Day 1, Phnom Penh to Chi Phat via Shinta Mani Wild
Departing early at 07.00am from the capital, the team took advantage of the new E4 Expressway to make good time to Shinta Mani Wild. Everyone had the opportunity to zipline into this luxury ecoresort and were shown a mix of opulent tents, including a Waterfall Tent and a Family Tent. After lunch, the trip continued via Thmor Roung Rapids, a popular local bathing spot near Shinta Mani Wild, to Chi Phat, one of the longest running community-based ecotourism (CBET) projects in Cambodia. Chi Phat has taken off as a popular domestic tourism destination since the pandemic and there are now a variety of accommodation options to supplement the original homestays. The Hanuman Team stayed at Cardamom Cottages which offers fan-cooled bungalows in a pretty garden bursting with fruit trees. Dinner was arranged at the community-run restaurant in town which rotates its chefs and staff throughout the month to support its members.

Day 2, Chi Phat to Stung Areng via Cardamom Tented Camp
Rising early for breakfast, everyone jumped on the back of motorbikes to visit the Wildlife Release Station (WRS), a flagship wildlife reintroduction program set up by Wildlife Alliance. At the centre, we saw a variety of animals that are being prepared for release, including sun bears, pangolins, leopard cats, pig-tailed macaques and long-tailed macaques. We also met some friendly hornbills hanging out around the camp and could hear gibbon calls in the nearby forest. It is possible to stay in basic accommodation at the WRS to support conservation in action and contribute to the essential work of the Wildlife Alliance team. This was Thearin's favourite experience as it included motorcycling into the jungle to spot local flora and fauna, meeting rescued wildlife during their feeding times, and learning about the duty of the rangers in finding traps and rescuing those animals from illegal trafficking.
Back to the van and a local ferry crossing later, everyone was on the way to Cardamom Tented Camp (CTC), a genuine ecotourism experience deep in a remaining tract of Botum Sakor National Park where elephants still roam. Approaching the resort by boat along the beautiful Prek Tachan River, we were welcomed by conservationist and resort manager Allan Michaud for a local lunch. The heavens opened during our visit, but this did not dampen the spirits of the team who checked out the tents and asked lots of questions about the activities on offer.
Leaving CTC mid-afternoon, the trip continued to Stung Areng, a more recent CBET deep in the heart of the Cardamom Mountains that was also set up with the support of Wildlife Alliance. Our destination was Areng Camping, a new glamping resort on the banks of the stunning Areng River. On arrival, we checked into the stylish safari tents and had a local lunch in the riverside restaurant and some drinks around the campfire. For several of the team, Areng Camping was a real highlight of the trip, including Chamrong, Mony and Samphors.

Day 3, Stung Areng to Koh Kong via Kravan La Vallee
Rising early, there was a gentle mist hanging over the forest which made the dawn gibbon calls very evocative. Hornbills flapped overhead and otters could be seen frolicking in the river. Truly this was a back to nature experience with the vast Cardamoms National Park on the other bank of the river. The team tried the zipline over the Areng River which is one of the faster lines in Cambodia before some of the team switched to kayaks to explore the river swimming holes in more depth. A breathtakingly beautiful natural stretch of water, it was dotted with vast boulders and small waterfalls, perfect for a natural shower.
Lunch was at the CBET Centre in Stung Areng and the team inspected some of the nearby village homestays, which are more like guesthouses if the truth be told, but are quite comfortable compared with more traditional ‘homestays’. Due to the ongoing rain, it was decided to skip the jungle trek and overnight camping at Mrech Krong Kep and we re-routed to Koh Kong after much deliberation over a multitude of options. Making for a beach out of town, we stayed in the basic A-frame huts of Young, Wild and Free, a little backpacker pad on the sand. Some of our team were definitely not young, wild or free, but most people ticked at least one of the boxes. Our Operations Manager Daran must have qualified as ‘young, wild and free’ as this was his favourite place to stay on the trip. At night, we ventured into Koh Kong City (Khmerak Phoumin) for a seafood barbecue before returning to the resort for some nightcaps.

Day 4, Koh Kong to Phnom Penh via Canvas & Orchids Retreat
The began with a brief visit to the Cambodian-Thai international border crossing at Cham Yeam-Had Lek before continuing to Koh Kong City for breakfast. Next stop was a boat trip to Canvas & Orchids Retreat (formerly 4 Rivers Floating Lodge) for an inspection. Anna and her team kindly downed tools during their month-long renovation to show us around the resort, including a floating tent and a family tent on dry land. The team were given a detailed update on their expanded activity program, including longer treks into the surrounding rainforests and the installation of new camera traps to monitor wildlife in the area. The camera trap footage included civets, pig-tailed macaques and smooth-coated otters. This camera trap footage is shared with active conservation NGOs in the region, including Flora & Fauna International (FFI) and Kla Trey (Cambodia Fishing Cat Project). As Daran noted afterwards: “It's so great to see such cooperation with NGOs and their work really inspired me as they are contributing to the community, the region and the world. So proud of them!”
Chugging back up river to the Tatai Bridge, the final leg of the trip was a long drive back to Phnom Penh of around 265km. The journey between Koh Kong and Cambodian capital is a game of two halves. National Highway (NH) 48 between NH4 and Koh Kong is in very bad condition at this time, as it is undergoing a complete rebuild by a South Korean contractor. This means there are lots of potholes and unsurfaced stretches while the contractor focus on realigning the road in steep sections. It is likely this massive renovation project will continue into Q3 2024 or beyond. However, using the new E4 Expressway from Sre Ambel to Phnom Penh cuts this part of the journey to about two hours only. So realistically, it is a 6-hour journey from Phnom Penh to Canvas & Orchids or Koh Kong at this time. Travelling from Sihanoukville Airport (KOS) may save about an hour on this journey time. Another option is to end the Cambodia trip at Canvas & Orchids and continue overland into Thailand to pick up a domestic flight from Trat to Bangkok. The journey time from Koh Kong to Trat is only about two hours.

16/05/2023

Support Cardamom Tented Camp During the Green Season

Take a detour to one of the real deal ecotourism experiences in Cambodia, use your weekends or summer holidays to support conservation in action in the Cardamom Mountains region of Botum Sakor National Park in Koh Kong Province in southwest Cambodia.

USD 199 for 3 days 2 nights

USD 299 for 4 days 3 nights

It is a fantastic deal. Contact Hanuman Travel for bookings and vehicle transfers to Koh Kong or the Cardamom Tented Camp team.

17/04/2023

Happy Khmer New Year 2567 from Hanuman Travel

Sangkran or Chaul Chnam (New Year) marks the ending of the harvest season. This allows the farmers to enjoy the long break before the monsoon begins again, which coincides with the start of a new cycle of rice cultivation. This is when all Cambodians throughout the country celebrate in different shapes and forms but the nation is united in observing the tradition.

It is an opportunity of gratitude, gratefulness, forgiveness and blessing. The farmers pay homage to the spirits that they believe to have given land fecundity and prosperity throughout the year. Cambodians across the country attend the pagoda to make food offerings to reconnect with their ancestors. It is also an opportunity to do good deeds for those who are in need.

Hanuman Travel wishes to extend our thanks and gratitude to all our guests and partners for their wonderful support over the past year.






www.hanumantravel.com

31/03/2023

Cambodia Balloon Adventures Takes Off in Siem Reap

“Enjoy a unique perspective of authentic Cambodian life in the countryside as you gently drift above palm trees and charming farming villages, vibrant green rice paddies, curious water buffaloes, delightful smiling children, and perhaps even catch a rare glimpse of the ancient temples of Angkor.”

Our Product Director Nick Ray experienced a flight in March and was able to get a bird's eye of view of Pre Rup temple from above (pictured below), as well as great views of the Eastern Baray, Phnom Bok and the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen. A highly recommended experience as a slow-paced alternative to a scenic helicopter flight.

Cambodia Balloon Adventures is the first and only fully authorised company to operate hot air balloons in the Kingdom of Cambodia, with an Adventure Air Operator’s Certificate issued by the Cambodian State Secretariat of Civil Aviation. All their pilots hold internationally recognised commercial licences issued by the UK CAA and FAA, and they operate UK certified and registered aircraft, backed by a comprehensive aviation insurance policy underwritten through Lloyds of London.

The balloons are built to the highest standard in the UK and Europe and are type-certified by the UK CAA and EASA for public transport, with Certificates of Airworthiness issued and maintained by Part-66 licensed Aircraft Maintenance engineers.

Cambodia Balloon Adventures operates sunrise and sunset flights daily between 1 December – 31 March, weather permitting. The price is US$250 per person and includes hotel transfers, refreshments and a flight duration of approx 45 minutes (50% refundable if the flight is less than 30 minutes due to weather conditions).

It is not possible to fly over the main temples of Angkor due to safety restrictions put in place by Apsara Authority who manage the Unesco World Heritage Site. However, the balloons take off from close to Banteay Samre Temple and fly towards Banteay Srei Temple, so it may be possible to see two world-famous temples on the flight, as well as some stunning views of the countryside and distant sacred mountain of Phnom Kulen.

18/03/2023

Stolen Cambodian Treasures are Welcomed Home

Click on this Khmer Times article for photographs of the 77 sculptures and royal treasures that were returned to Cambodia this week from the 'Latchford Collection', looted through an art and antiquities trafficking network established by British art dealer Douglas Latchford.

Following his death in 2020, his daughter pledged the return to Cambodia of all these looted artifacts, many of which were stolen from Cambodia during the long years of civil war and instability. Some of these ended up in international collections, including a number of prominent museums in the US.

The Ministry of Culture & Fine Arts in Cambodia has been working tirelessly to bring these national treasures home, including some stunning pieces like Shiva and standing Skanda featured in the link below. There is also a beautiful Skanda on a peacock and many intricate items of gold jewellery.

Some of these unique pieces will go in display in the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh later in the year.

The Kingdom of Cambodia this morning celebrated the return of hundreds of priceless Khmer antiquities - returned from foreign countries after being removed from Cambodia

30/01/2023

Siem Reap in at Number 4 on Trending World Destinations

Gateway to the majestic temples of Angkor, Siem Reap has made it into the Top 5 of Tripadvisor's trending world destinations.

"When the morning light washes over the overgrown temples and ruins of Angkor Wat, a simple Siem Reap sunrise becomes a profound event. The ancient structures are contained within one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The complex and the 12th century Angkor Thom royal city are considered the main reasons to visit Siem Reap. Get a lesson in national history at the Cambodian Cultural Village, and a lesson in bargaining at the Angkor Night Market, a bonanza of shopping stalls, food vendors, and bars."

Start planning your trip to Temple Town today and see what the buzz is about. Contact [email protected] to plan an unique journey to Cambodia, including the lively capital Phnom Penh, the beautiful Southern Islands, the riverside town of Kampot and the wilds of the Cardamom Mountains.

Explore the most popular and trending places to travel around the world, based on reviews by millions of real travelers.

27/10/2022

Angkor Wat on the list of five ancient sacred sites on BBC Travel

"The famous temple complex of Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, sprawling over 400 sq km just outside Siem Reap. Constructed in the early 12th Century as the capital of the Khmer empire, the Unesco World Heritage site was originally a Hindu temple, but was converted into a Buddhist temple by the end of the century and is now one of the world's most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists."

From Mongolia's mysterious deer stones to cities to honour the dead, ancient sites built by people trying to make sense of life, death and the universe are scattered across the planet.

12/10/2022

Wat Bo Village in Siem Reap Voted 3rd Coolest Neighbourhood in the World by Time Out

Plan a trip to Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor with Hanuman Travel and explore one of the 'coolest neighbourhoods in the world'. Not forgetting the world's most impressive temples just down the road, including Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious building.

"The area around the Wat Bo pagoda, one of the oldest in Siem Reap, was first developed as tourism gradually descended on Cambodia’s ‘Temple Town’ in the ’90s. But in 2021, a city-wide makeover kickstarted a serious glow-up for Wat Bo Village. Helped out by up its idyllic riverside location, it’s now an incredibly chic quarter. The vicinity of Street 26 and Wat Bo Road has become a favoured haunt for expats frequenting its numerous bars (former Pub Street luminaries Laundry and chinoiserie-themed Miss Wong), experimental Khmer restaurants in scenic settings (Banlle) and elegant design hotels (Viroth’s, Treeline Urban Resort). Stewart on 26 boosts the area’s nightlife rep with DJ nights, while organic-cooking institution Tevy’s Place doubles as a social enterprise empowering local women. Until recently a forgettable residential suburb, Wat Bo now stands unrivalled as the city’s – and arguably Asia’s – most happening area.

The perfect day Take breakfast at boulangerie-pâtisserie Paris Bakery and a morning riverside stroll, before dropping by Oko Gallery’s curated collection of hand-crafted trinkets and Cambodian curios. Head to Snack & Relax’s cooling coffee joint enlivened with koi-carp ponds, before Khmer-Western lunch at expansive, inexpensive River Café. End the afternoon at Footprint’s airy café stacked with books and artwork, then sample the chilled ambience, cocktails and adventurous dishes of Pou Restaurant & Bar at boutique retreat Maison 557.

Plan your trip for The Unesco-sponsored Writers and Readers Festival, showcasing local and international authors with workshops, screenings and social soirées, returns in December. The programme is still under wraps, but last year’s festival was largely centred on Wat Bo Village."

Did your area make this year’s list?

06/09/2022

'Winter is Coming' and Cambodia is a Hot Spot to Visit

The Temples of Angkor are emptier than they have been for a generation and there are lots of exciting new ecotourism frontiers opening up in places like the Cardamom Mountains and Northeast Cambodia. Not forgetting the beaches as a great way to end a long winter trip by chilling out on islands like Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem and dozens more that dot the coastline.

If you need some visuals to promote Cambodia to an international audience of family, friends, journalists or tour operators, try the 'Taste Cambodia' videos that were shot by our sister company Hanuman Films back in 2020-21. Released during the height of COVID-19 when people could not travel, it seems the ideal time to recycle them now that people are planning their winter escapes.

Filming stunning locations, organic ingredients, traditional recipes and iconic venues all over the country, the ‘Taste Cambodia’ videos showcase the best of Khmer gastronomy. It helps to promote the unique food culture of Cambodia which is all too often under the shadow of its larger neighbors Thailand and Vietnam.

There are also regional videos for Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Northwest Cambodia, Northeast Cambodia and the South Coast.

"It's time to taste Cambodia"

Cambodia has a culinary culture that is older than the fabled temples of Angkor. Rice is Cambodia’s white gold and has won the title of best in the world. Ca...

05/09/2022

Claim Your Free Temples of Angkor Pass for One Year

Take advantage of this incredible offer from Angkor Enterprise and the Apsara Authority to claim a free Angkor Pass for one entire year, providing you can prove you have been resident in Cambodia for two years or more.

An Angkor Pass is usually US$37/62/72 for 1/3/7 days, so this really is a very generous move on the part of the Royal Government of Cambodia. Start planning your trip to the temples of Angkor for Pchum Ben from the weekend of Saturday 24 September onwards.

Hanuman Travel offers lots of unique experiences in Siem Reap, including the Angkor Wat Photographic Scavenger Hunt for families, the Hidden Trails of Angkor by e-mountain bike or motorbike and a beautiful private dining space at Sra Srang called Sala Kdei where you can try a cooking class, have a massage or meditation session and enjoy a private breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has announced a new scheme which will grant long term foreign residents a free yearly visit to the famed Angkor complex.