No trip to Cambodia is complete without Angkor. An ancient city built at the zenith of the Khmer Empire, it contains some of the world’s most spectacular monuments. This means Angkor does attract huge crowds, but as this itinerary is all about escaping into nature, your guide will make sure you combine the classics with some under-the radar-temples.

On your second day you’ll pair a visit to the Landmine Museum with the APOPO visitors centre to learn about the demining efforts these specially-trained rats are involved in. Wrap up your stay in Siem Reap with a day trip to Ang Trapaeng Thmor; a protected wetland area visited by migrating bird populations.

Koh Trong is a small island in the middle of the Mekong River in Kratie Province. This region is the feeding ground of the elusive Irrawaddy dolphin – your early morning boat trip offers a chance to spot them. The island itself is a gorgeous, sleepy place of thatched roof villages where people make a living rice farming and cultivating pomelo fruit. There are no cars, just a few spluttering mopeds, but the best way to explore is by horse cart or bicycle. At the island temple, a local farmer invites all visitors to plant a tree. In doing so, you’ll be helping to recultivate the once densely forested island, leaving a positive footprint behind you.

At Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, you’ll be on the lookout for the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. In the early morning their calls echo through the rainforest above the open lounge of your safari-style accommodation. The camp is part of a conservation and species monitoring programme run with the indigenous Bunong community. As well as gibbons, you’ll help Bunong researchers track endangered species such as black-shanked douc langurs and sun bears on a hike through their ancestral homeland. If data is your thing, assist by collecting and analysing camera trap footage, or take a more cultural route by exploring the Bunong’s sacred animist sites deep in the misty jungle.

Continuing your stay in Mondulkiri Province, there are more wildlife projects worthy of support. First up is Dak Dam, a new site for bird watching where you might spot the black eagle, pale-capped pigeon and black-throated sunbird. But we’ve saved the best to last: the Elephant Valley Project. Maltreated elephants from dubious tourism enterprises have been rescued and brought here to live with minimal interference. As a visitor, you’ll get to observe the animals up close in their natural environment, learn about efforts to revive their declining numbers and meet the mahouts who care for these magnificent creatures. Afterwards, a final night in Phnom Penh concludes Wild Cambodia.