In Banteay Chhmar, within the remote province of Banteay Meanchey, the community-based homestay offers an overnight stay with a local family in a traditional Khmer stilt house. The accommodation is part of the village's CBT (Community-Based Tourism) program, which distributes revenue among host families and supports the upkeep of the neighboring archaeological site.

Why stay here

Banteay Chhmar remains one of Cambodge's largest and least visited Khmer temples, more than 150 km northwest of Siem Reap. Spending one or two nights here radically transforms the experience: you avoid the exhausting day trip from Siem Reap and arrive at the site during the best hours—early morning or late afternoon—when light brings out the bas-reliefs.

The homestay format suits travelers willing to accept simple comfort in exchange for direct contact with a Cambodian family. Program revenue supports host families and enables them to improve their English, facilitating exchanges throughout your stay.

Setting and atmosphere

The layout is typical of rural houses in northwestern Cambodge: residents sleep on the ground floor, guests upstairs in a private room furnished with floor mattress, mosquito net, and fan. Furnishings remain modest, wooden partitions separate rooms, and village life begins at dawn—roosters, motorcycles, children's voices heading to school.

Dinner, prepared by the family, is typically shared on the terrace or in the main room. Family Khmer cuisine: soups, stir-fried vegetables, rice, fish from the Sangker River. About a dozen families rotate through the program, allowing assignments based on availability.

Services and comfort

• Private upstairs bedroom, floor mattress, mosquito net, fan
• Shared bathroom with the family (cold water, sometimes bucket shower)
• Breakfast and dinner included, prepared by the host family
• Centralized coordination through the village CBT office (reservations, family assignment, English-speaking guide available upon request)
• Temple visits, bicycle rides, and silk-weaving workshops available on-site

Comfort remains basic: no air conditioning, electricity sometimes intermittent during rainy season, limited internet connectivity. The modest rate goes entirely to the community circuit.

Location

Address: National Road No. 56A, Banteay Chhmar Commune, Thmor Puok District, Banteay Meanchey Province. The village is approximately 3 hours' drive from Siem Reap and 1.5 hours from Sisophon, on the route to the Thai border. The CBT office, your arrival meeting point, is located beside the national road, a few minutes' walk from the temple's outer wall.

Nearby attractions

• Banteay Chhmar Temple: 12th-century complex attributed to Jayavarman VII, renowned for its multi-armed Avalokiteshvara bas-reliefs, partially restored by the Global Heritage Fund
• Satellite temples: Banteay Top, Prasat Mebon, and several secondary sanctuaries accessible by bicycle or tuk-tuk
• Baray: ancient reservoir south of the village, beautiful at sunset
• Weaving workshops: local silk production, visits arranged by the CBT

Planning your stay

Banteay Chhmar fits naturally into an itinerary between Siem Reap and the coast or Thai border. To combine this stop with other distinctive accommodations, consider The Sangkum Hotel in Phnom Penh or Apsara Greenland Boutique in Siem Reap. For a seaside break afterward, Anaya Koh Rong offers a more restful setting. Build your bespoke Cambodge trip with our advisors.