Discover Cambodianess: Moving stories, creative activities, immersive journeys and the destinations’ essentials connecting you deeply with the magical touch of culture, artists, their arts and communities — siem reap, across cambodia, Mekong countries and beyond!
25 years of travel & tourism. Every encounter, handpicked with purpose.
Crafted by a collective of cultural and travel leaders who understand what turns a trip into a journey and a location into a true destination — each experience is intentionally designed for your personal renewal and meaningful local impact, uniquely tailored to your interests and aligned with your state of well-being!
When you are on one of our curated journeys…
- You not only visit or see—you feel, you participate, you connect, you remember.
- No encounter here is just sightseeing or a photo opportunity. Each one is a thread in a shared story of culture, daily life, and joie de vivre, woven from the foundation of Cambodian culture, their belief systems & practices.
OUR EXPERIENCES, CURATED JOURNEYS ARE…
— designed to help guests grasp the foundations of local culture. each journey is gainful, immersive, and rich with deep learning, inviting visitors to engage meaningfully with the ARTISTS, ARTISANS, VILLAGERS, STREET VENDORS, HOME-OWNERS WHO OPEN THEIR DOORS TO WELCOME US.
When You Meet Real People in their real Lives — Learn About The People’s Stories Over a Coconut Juice!
- You observe quietly and respectuflly while listening to their stories and how they relate to yous.
- You Learn their ways of lives, their appreciation of things and who they have, their joie-de-vivre!
- Then you may reflect on your own journeys — Perhaps over a coconut Juice, a cup of tea or coffee Offered by this retired school teacher and french speaking tour guide. He was and will be very happy to engage with visitors like YOU!
In one of our signature curation: From Streets to Global Stages: Cambodianess Storytelling With Phare Circus Founding CEO
You’ll meet HUOT Dara (ហួត តារា), a storyteller and a man of many hats and qualities. Born in 1983 into a generation that grew up in the shadow of Cambodia’s darkest years, Dara began as a street vendor in his youth, waiting tables and selling flowers at markets and pagodas.
He went on to spend two and a half decades living and breathing the transformative power of travel and leadership. Becoming a supervisor and manager at an early age, he led teams across travel, events, culture, and social enterprises, and set up new business operations in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh for Asiana Airlines.
For the last 12 of those years, he served as CEO of Phare, the Performing Social Enterprise (Phare Circus and Phare Creative Studio), a cultural tourism icon, leading a team of 47 artists and 70 staff members. The for-profit enterprise was created to support artists’ careers and to sustain the finances and programming of its parent organization, the not-for-profit Phare Ponleu Selpak school.
Join this journey and discover how a life can be transformed when opportunities, resources, and support are made available to a young Cambodian, or to anyone, especially those living in post-conflict countries.
Embark on a journey of moving stories along a short, shaded, and scenic village path.
You’ll learn from Dara how, after working as a waiter in a school cafeteria, he landed his second official job: interpreting between French, English, and Khmer for student artists and performers from Phare Ponleu Selpak. They were creating a show for their first Cambodian tour in the early 2000s, in collaboration with Le Collectif Clown d’Ailleurs et d’Ici (Clown Here and There, Tini Tinou***).
At the time, people living in the military-controlled areas of Samlot and Pailin had access only to Khmer Rouge radio, with little exposure to mainstream news or current events. The young artists performed to educate audiences about landmines, HIV/AIDS prevention, malaria, dengue fever, and other social issues.
Surrounded by “Danger: Landmines” signposts at every turn, they performed acrobatics, including somersaults, right beside them.
The young artists performed and educated audiences Landmines, about HIV/AIDS prevention, malaria, dengue fever, and other social messages. They performed acrobatics, including somersaults, near “Danger: Landmines” signposts, which were everywhere around them!
In Video: Circus On Train, In The Early 2000s, Battambang – Phno Penh Route****.
Video Credit: VINCENT BUSEAU and Phare Creative Studio team.
you’ll meet people in the rhythm of their daily lives. observe respectfully and reflectively, you’ll learn their ways of lives, enduring resilience, and genuine joie de vivre: Cambodianness.
IN VIDEO: DARA HUOT SHARES THE PROPER WAY OF PAYING RESPECT (SAMPEAH) 3 TIMES WITH THE 5 TOUCHING POINTS.
When learning and experiencing a different culture, we invite our guests to keep their minds and hearts open. Our curated activities are designed for learning, reflection, and personal growth.
We hold deep respect for the Buddha—not as a religious figure, but as an enlightened person whose teachings and presence are woven into the foundation of Cambodianess, especially through the practice of meditation.
In this spirit, we welcome you not as a spectator, but as a fellow seeker—invited to listen, reflect, and grow. you are welcome to immerse participate fully, or simply observe with curiosity and care.
like the apsaras adorning the bas-reliefs of Cambodia’s sacred temples, our artists embody the spirit of those timeless carvings
When you begin to understand the meaning behind each hand gesture, each movement of the body:…
- the language—its words, vocabulary, even its grammar—these celestial dancers transform. They become storytellers, Messengers between gods and humans.
- You feel the depth of emotion in every character, sense their personalities, and carry the timeless stories they embody through the waters and the land of this kingdom, echoing across hundreds and thousands of years.
- In some of our curations, artists come and go—ស្រស់ស្អាត និង (មានអារម្មណ៍) ស្រស់ថ្លា ( srah sa’ath and srah thla)—graceful and evocative, as if born from the stones and stories that have shaped Cambodia for thousands of years.
Soon, you’re no longer just an observer. You learn, you practice, and before long, you join the artists, gracefully and joyfully, becoming part of the dance itself.
Videos and many of the photos used courtesy of Osman Khawaja, Executive Director, Phare Ponleu Selpak.
Fun Facts:
*តារា (Dara) is a Sanskrit word that travelled from India to Cambodia. They have long steered by the stars, and in Buddhism Tārā is the one who guides beings safely across.
**Young Cambodians are eager and hungry for knowledge and skills, excelling in many things—but one thing that stands out above all is “Languages”. Do you know why? Ask Dara!
***The Collective is still running today. Here and There (Tini Tinou) has become a renowned Cambodian homegrown brand in the world of modern storytelling circus. It is an International Circus Festival, a name respected by many artists here and there! In his tenure at Phare, Dara had an opportunity to revive the festival and the brand from its suspension due to budget cuts caused by the 2008 Gobal Financial Crisis.
****Trains were still running once per day between Battambang and Phnom Penh giving ways for Cambodian’s creative mode of transport: Nory, which later became Battambang’s “must-do” tourism experience!
Daraism & Artists’ signature closing: At the end of this journey, you’ll be invited to practice a short anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) meditation, guided by a Buddhist monk or your cultural host, followed by a reflection session on your takeaways from the experience.
this is just one of our curatoin of meaningful encounters! discover more of our signature journyes here.
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR 2006 CATALOG OF MEANINGFUL ENCOUNTERS
COLLECTION 1 : Experiential Travels, Learning Expeditions, IMMERSIVE ACTIVITIES
Discover impactful encounters
AND Potentially transformative experiences for visitors, artists, and villagers alike!
THEY are Designed not just to inform—but to move, to empower, to transform
COLLECTION 2 : values of the artists and their arts
We create magical moments WITH THE ARTISTS
— inviting guests to honor the values they carry the inspirations and contributions, both intrinsic and instrumental.
COLLECTION 3 : YOUTH, ARTISTS & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
we initiate and collaborate with partner
— for YOUTH & ARTISTS PERSONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
COLLECTION 4 : A FACE, A NAME & COLLECTIVE VOICES FROM THE KINGDOM!
Through initiatives like the “Ask Me About Cambodia!” Club & webinars
WE MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD! WE AMPLIFY VOICES THAT MAY NOT BE HEARD!
— WE HELP CREaTE THE POSITIVE CHANGES WE WISH TO SEE.
Our Star Experience is Oudom Sokhomal (Supreme Wellbeing) Private Villa or Shared Retreat
Yours and yours alone with your group only!
- adorned with six thoughtfully appointed rooms, a swimming pool, dining space, and a meditation/yoga studio, it offers complete rest and renewal in full privacy. You hold the key to the entire sanctuary.
- Conveniently Located right between Angkor Achaelogical Park & Pubsrtreets, 10 minutes to Each and within easy reach to 3 supermarkets. Away from the noise, Giving you a fCambodian Village feel yet everything is within a few mnitues away!
- Choose pure stillness—or explore meaningful encounters from our curated collections. Better yet, opt for “Day(s) in a Lifetime” with Daraism&Artists, where we co-create your journey—or gently surprise you with the quiet magics of Siem Reap & THE KINGDOM!
- During Fixed Retreat & cultural Immersions Program Dates, The villa quietly transform into a sactuary of shared journeys opening up equitable access to everyone from triple occupancy still with the comfort and exclusivity of the villa, Guest has her/his own bed. to Single to double Occupancy, Pefect for those coming as a small group of friends, family, colleagues.
I mentor, initiate, and support skills and development projects for youth and artists. I host an online talk show, and I speak, write, and advocate on Cambodian tourism, entrepreneurship, social enterprises (the Social and Solidarity Economy), youth skilling, the values of artists and their art (the Cultural and Creative Industries), travel, and impactful events.
beyond journeys & M.I.c.e curations
— I host transformative events that leave lasting impressions and I offer strategic, team, and organizational culture consulting and trainings.
Join our community and become a member of the “Ask Me About Cambodia!” Club. Together, we’re building a future with equitable opportunities for as many people as possible.
our stars
- Oudom Sokhomal Private Wellness Villa & Retreat
- Arts&Education Managers Collective
- The Sessions, Daraism & Artists Talkshow
coming soon!
- Ask Me About Cambodia! Club
- Voices from the Kingdom!
- RISE CAMBODIA! an Vocational Skills For Youth “Ready for Work”, inspired by V-PET