Two YAANA Ventures’ ecolodges have been included in the National Geographic Traveller UK’s invitation-only Earth Collection publication, which came out in August.

Anurak Community Lodge located in Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand and Cardamom Tented Camp in Botum Sokor National Park in southwest Cambodia have been included in Nat Geo Traveller UK’s list of 36 eco-friendly hotels around the world that are leading by example in responsible tourism.

Invitation to the Earth Collection was based on each property having won an environmental award. All properties also have to be leading advocates of sustainable tourism practices. The 68-page Earth Collection includes properties in 28 destinations from all the world’s continents.

Anurak Community Lodge, which opened in 2016, won the 2019 SKAL Asian Area Award – Environment Category. Cardamom Tented Lodge, which opened in 2017 won the 2019 PATA Gold Award for the Environment – Ecotourism category. The Cambodian ecolodge was also one of 15 global finalists in the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

“Invitation to join the Nat Geo Traveller Earth Collection comes as an honour,” says Willem Niemeijer, CEO of the lodges’ operator and parent company, YAANA Ventures. “It recognises the unique and caring relationships that Anurak Community Lodge and Cardamom Tented Camp have fostered with the natural environment and the communities around them.”

Located between Koh Samui and Phuket on the southern Thai peninsula, Anurak Lodge (see cover photo) acts a secluded nature hideaway and activities base for the nearby Khao Sok National Park.

Guests engage in minimal-impact tourism activities such as hiking, river kayaking, cycling, rafting, jungle cooking and exploring nearby Chiew Larn lake. The lodge offers a range of three-to-four day packages for visitors. Anurak offers 20 eco-friendly rooms across 12 well-appointed bungalows and two safari-style tents.

Cardamom Tented Camp
Cardamom Tented Camp

In Cambodia, Cardamom Tented Camp has led by example to combat the illegal wildlife trade and boost natural habitat conservation within a 180 sq km wildlife concession granted by the Cambodian government.

With its partners, Wildlife Alliance and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, the ecolodge delivers conservation tourism experiences to guests, trains local staff and supplies income and resources to 12 forest rangers protecting Botum Sakor’s forest and wildlife – hence the camp’s tagline, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing.”

“Hotels and resorts across the globe are trying to make a difference to the impact they have on the planet,” says Adam Fox, project manager at National Geographic Traveller UK. “Earth Collection is a unique platform to champion their contributions, innovative plans and certifications for being sustainably minded.”

The Earth Collection follows on from previous Nat Geo UK annual collections dedicated to spa & wellness, Africa, European cities, and luxury.

Further information and booking for Anurak Community Lodge, and for Cardamom Tented Camp.