Dear SVC

We really enjoyed our half day bird watching trip with our guide Minear Chim. We saw 34 bird species, which given the season and very hot weather... read more was impressive.

The trip was relaxed and Minear was attentive to us all, making sure we'd all seen the birds he had spotted and checking and confirming species that we'd seen. Painted stork in flight, cinnamon bittern and yellow bittern were highlights and birds we had always wanted to see. Minear is very knowledgeable and always made a positive identification which could be relied upon.

It was also interesting to see the cultural aspects and daily Cambodian rural life along the road and at the birdwatching site. Again Minear was happy to answer any questions that we had, as well as to tell us about the inspirational Sam Veasna and the valuable work of the SVC.

Thank you for providing such a wonderful trip. Everything was easy and enjoyable from booking through to drop off back at the hotel.

Best wishes and good luck with your amazing work.

David and Ruth Lea (trip booked by Simon Bailey)

  I made a reservation through my hotel. A tour guide and a driver picked me up the next morning and brought me out a remote farming area outside of town.... read more My guide Reth Sarom really knew his species and managed to pick out more than 50 in about two hours of light walking. This is more of a "species spotting" tour and short on anecdote about them, so best for serious birders.

  We joined a small group for the Prek Toal birding tour today. From start to finish the whole thing went off as planned. The boat trip through, and the stops... read more in the floating village of Prek Toal were just fascinating. But the bird viewing in the wetlands after the village was astonishing. We spent several hours boating through various channels and stopping periodically including an extended stay at a viewing platform. We saw thousands of birds. It was just beautiful to see. Spotted Pelicans, lesser and greater adjuants, eagles, anhingas and many others. The guide spoke English clearly, knew his birds and made efforts to include everyone regardless of birding experience. We had a great lunch too at a restaurant in Prek Toal. Sure there are cheaper things to do in Siem Reap but this is a way to experience beautiful Cambodian nature as well as to see a way of life different from anything that exists in Europe, Canada or the USA. And to top it off, the SamVaesna organization is a non-profit working to preserve the wildlife and wetlands and to help the very poor local population.

  Ladong and his driver took us to a place about 20 minutes south of Siem Reap. Within minutes we saw a Kingfisher catch a fish, and in the next two... read more hours we walked in the countryside, seeing 43 different species of birds. My wife and...More

  We have just returned from Cambodia and used guides from this centre to visit remote eco lodges. These trips were superb and the expertise of both the Sam Veasna guides... read more and local guides from the communities were second to none. I have never seen people spot birds so well and set up scopes so quickly to enable us to see the birds. They saw birds where I could see nothing to begin with. We saw several Great Ibis, White shouldered Ibis, two white rumped falcons and about 85 beside these!!

Mr. Hat Huon gave a master class in birding!!

  The expertise of this organisation is incredible. Mardy's enthusiasm for birding is infectious and his knowledge of culture is second to none. Staying in their eco lodge in Prey Veng... read more was great (the food and staff were exceptional) and I would fully recommend to anybody wanting a true Cambodian experience.