Smiling Gecko Farmhouse Resort

Rural
Foodies
Wildlife
Culture
Wellness

A Cambodian farmhouse stay supporting vocational training and farming

Smiling Gecko Farmhouse Resort sits at the centre of a 150-hectare social enterprise campus in rural Cambodia, founded in 2014 by Hannes Schmid and Sokleap Ngon to combat poverty through education and vocational training. Around it, the campus runs a bilingual school and kindergarten, carpentry and craft workshops, and working farms. Nearly 400 people are now employed across the project, and resort profits are reinvested directly into it. Khmer-style bungalows sit among gardens grown on the farm.

Tour the campus to see the school, the farm, and the workshops where young Cambodians train in trades from carpentry to hospitality. Eat produce grown a few hundred metres from your plate, and dine at chef Mariya's kitchen, run to Michelin-recognised standard using ingredients sourced straight from Smiling Gecko's own land.

Sustainability

Climate & conservation

Agriculture and fish farms across 150 hectares supply the resort and community kitchens

Community & culture

Head chef trained by the project after growing up in Phnom Penh's slums
Part of the Smiling Gecko NGO campus, founded 2014 to fight poverty
Runs a bilingual school, kindergarten and craft workshops for young Cambodians

Commercial

Resort is the project's largest income source, profits reinvested on campus

In brief

Price bracket: ££
Type of property: Eco resort
No. of rooms: 14 rooms & villas
Max guests per room: Rooms/bungalows sleep 2, plus up to 2 children on existing beds
Facilities: Restaurant, Pool, Wifi, Garden, Tours desk, Airport transfer
Activities: Farm tours, Cooking classes, Wildlife viewing, Cultural visits
Setting: Rural · Farmland

Kids

Up to 2 children aged 12 and under can join a parent's room free of charge using existing beds

££pp / night Visit website

Guide price · £ <£100 · ££ £100–300 · £££ £300–800 · ££££ £800+ pp / night