About forty minutes from Kampong Thom, the Isanborei network offers homestays in seven Khmer villages surrounding the archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, the ancient pre-Angkorian capital of Isanapura, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2017.

Why choose an Isanborei homestay

Sambor Prei Kuk Homestay is not a hotel but a community tourism initiative run by residents of seven Khmer villages bordering the site. Earnings from overnight stays and activities go directly to host families, who have been trained in English to facilitate exchanges. You stay in a Khmer house, share the daily life of villagers, and access the pre-Angkorian temples on foot or by bike each morning, before the day's visitors arrive.

This formula appeals to travelers who value direct contact with local communities over the standardized comfort of a conventional establishment.

Village atmosphere

The seven hamlets that make up the Isanborei network spread out around the ruins, in a forested area where red brick prasats emerge between tree trunks. The atmosphere remains that of an agricultural village: you encounter ox carts at dawn, hear roosters before motors, and children readily greet visitors on the road. Hosts welcome travelers as an extension of the home, without artifice: you eat what the family prepares and they gladly explain the everyday tasks.

Accommodation and services

Guest houses have potable water, electricity, and mosquito nets on beds. Wi-Fi is available in some houses, telephone coverage is good across the area. Depending on availability, you book a private or shared room, with bed, sheets, blankets, and pillows provided.

• Western or local-style toilets depending on the house, with shower
• One to three rooms available per house
• Outdoor parking for cars and motorcycles
• Breakfast and dinner usually included in the night's stay

Activities are organized with the villagers themselves: bike rides or ox cart journeys on rural trails, visits to artisans, Khmer cooking classes, and introduction to traditional dance.

Location and access

The archaeological site is about 40 minutes from Kampong Thom, a waypoint town halfway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on national highway 6. Soriya and Mékong Express bus companies serve Kampong Thom daily from both tourist capitals. From downtown, you reach the ruins and guest villages by taxi, moto-taxi, or tuk-tuk. Allow half a day of travel from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

What to see nearby

The Sambor Prei Kuk site contains over one hundred pre-Angkorian structures from the 7th century, grouped in three main complexes: Prasat Sambor, Prasat Tao, and Prasat Yeai Poeun. Plan a full day to explore them on foot or by bike. Kampong Thom province is also home to Phnom Santuk, a hilltop temple accessible by a long staircase, and several stone sculpture workshops in neighboring villages. Sambor Prei Kuk makes a logical stop before heading to the temples of Angkor, whose architecture it foreshadows.

To integrate this community homestay into a broader itinerary, explore our trips to Cambodge or compare with other addresses such as The Sangkum Hotel in Phnom Penh, the Treehouse Bungalows or Veranda Natural Resort in the south of the country.