Cardamom Tented Camp ecolodge in Cambodia has won a gold award in the 2025 ICRT Southeast Asia Responsible Tourism Awards in the “Nature Positive” category.
Astungkara Way, Indonesia, also received a gold award in the same classification.
The award ceremony in Lyceum of the Philippines University in Manila took place 18 June with a total of 24 responsible tourism operators from across Southeast Asia receiving gold, silver or “one to watch” accolades.
The camp will now be entered as a finalist along with the other gold award winners from Southeast Asia into the International Centre for Responsible Tourism global awards taking place in November.
Other Southeast Asian gold award winners announced 18 June were Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam, in the “Adapting to Climate Change” category; Anthro on Foot Walking Tours, Philippines, for “Peace, Understanding and Inclusivity”; WormingUp, Malaysia, for “Managing Waste”; and Nay Palad Hideaway, Philippines and Sen Caraih Cultural and Ecotourism Village, Vietnam, for “Responsible All-Inclusive”.
Cardamom Tented Camp was chosen by the judges because its business model helps protect 18,000 hectares of native forest habitat in Botum Sakor national park. It does this by co-funding forest patrols.
Since opening in 2017, deforestation and poaching have all-but stopped. Wildlife populations have rebounded. The camp also gives visitors meaningful and close encounters with wildlife and flora without harming biodiversity.
The awards are organised by The International Centre for Responsible Tourism, a not-for-profit established with the aim of amplifying knowledge and implementation of responsible tourism globally.
The judges were looking for quantifiable and inspirational positive impacts, reduced negative impacts, and best practices that can be replicated by other operators. In addition to conservation, judges sought a commitment to local communities, economies and culture.
Wildlife photographer and conservationist, Allan Michaud, who is manager at the 12-tent ecolodge in Koh Kong province, southwest Cambodia, said: “We are grateful to the judges for recognising the commitment of everyone involved at the camp. We strive to deliver a genuine ecotourism experience in a setting we are proud to protect.”
Two awards on the same day
Cardamom Tented Camp was also recognised in the 2025 Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, which also took place 18 June in Bangkok. The camp was recognised among the best accommodation experiences in Cambodia.
Cardamom Tented Camp is an ecolodge located in the foothills of the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia. The 12-unit tented camp, with restaurant pavilion, staff dormitory, ecotourism equipment and boat pier, uses solar power to run lodge amenities. The camp has its own waste water filtration process. There is no road access. The camp is accessible only by river boat – or forest hike.
The lodge aims to minimise the human footprint on the natural world and serve as a role model in promoting sustainable ecotourism practices within both the national park and Cambodia as a whole. Located on an 18,000-hectare (180 sq km) concession, the lodge and its surroundings are home to pristine lowland and coastal habitats linking wildlife corridors to the Cardamom Mountains. Eco-friendly trekking and kayaking packages are available for adventure enthusiasts who are keen to be a part of real conservation work.
Cardamom Tented Camp is a three-way initiative between Minor Group, YAANA Ventures and Wildlife Alliance to ensure the land and its biodiversity does not fall into the hands of loggers, poachers and sand dredging operations
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