Ethical cultural tours in Cambodia
Why we create Skual Tours
Skual Tours exists to offer a more meaningful way to experience Cambodia.
Today, travel often moves too quickly. Beautiful places are seen, photos are taken, and people move on without truly understanding where they are. In Cambodia, this often means missing what matters most—the people, everyday life, and the stories shaped by resilience, history, and hope.
We believe the true beauty of a destination is found in human connection and slow-paced travel. It lives in daily livelihoods, quiet conversations, shared meals, spiritual traditions, and the stories people carry. These moments cannot be rushed or staged; they emerge when time, respect, and presence are given.
Skual Tours was created to slow travel down and invite travelers to participate, not just observe. Our experiences are designed to encourage listening, reflection, and genuine engagement with local communities, while honoring their dignity and lived experience.
The name Skual comes from a Khmer word meaning “to get to know.” It reflects our vision of creating tours and activities that allow guests to truly learn, connect, and walk away with meaningful experiences.
We work closely with local guides, artists, families, and community partners to create respectful spaces for cultural exchange. Our intention is not to present Cambodia as a product, but to share it as a lived experience.
Skual Tours is for travelers who want more than sightseeing—those who wish to understand Cambodia through connection, awareness, and care. This is why we exist. To travel with purpose. To connect with people. To experience Cambodia more deeply.
What does Skual mean?
Skual is a Khmer word that means “to get to know.” In the Khmer language, there are several words with similar meanings, but skual carries a deeper and more relevant meaning to our company’s vision and mission. “Skual” doesn’t just mean knowing something, it refers to the process of gaining knowledge through experience, effort, exploration, and learning. It’s about truly understanding something on a deeper level, not just at the surface.
We understand that the word Skual might be difficult to pronounce or unfamiliar to non-Khmer speakers. However, we intentionally choose to include a Khmer word in our name to reflect our identity and vision. We named our company Skual Tours for two main reasons:
We want our guests to truly get to know Cambodia—through immersive experiences, personal exploration, and thoughtful reflection, especially the people, culture, and everyday life in local communities. This process fosters connection, awareness, and personal growth.
We also aim to introduce travelers to the beauty and depth of Khmer language and culture. By simply learning the meaning of our name, our guests already begin their journey into understanding Khmer culture.
Story that stay with us
Daemon Jones
Chom reab suor
Dr. Ana thank you for inviting me on this once in a lifetime trip.
I have deep appreciation to you and Mony for all the love time, thoughtfulness and care you poured into our time in Cambodia. Before arriving I knew almost nothing about Cambodian history or culture. Anything that Dr. Ana touches is a good experience. This trip that you both curated provided experiences I didn’t I needed to have. I have been profoundly changed by the experience with this group.
Sapada Thank you for taking care of me during this trip.
Carissa, Kayla and Matt what a pleasure to share this experience with you lovely humans! We made history together on this trip.
Kayla Abadie
Coming to Cambodia has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. When I first arrived, I felt overwhelmed with wonder and joy. As the days went on, I realized this trip was affecting me on a much deeper emotional, mental, and spiritual level than I expected. I was immediately struck by a quiet sense of truth the moment I stepped off the plane. Something about the environment here, the energy, the pace, the people - made something inside me shift before the tour had even begun.
Mathew Dean
I love international travel and getting to know the local population through learning about the cultural blend of history, food, and language. This trip made it comfortable and easy to develop personal connections by giving us both a broad overview of Khmer history and direct access to people’s personal histories, insight into their daily life, and continuous language lessons.
Khmer history, culture, and language were largely left out of my world history education, so this trip did a remarkable job of filling in my mental blind spots around pre–Khmer Rouge history and post–Vietnam War history. Since I was largely ignorant of Cambodia’s history and culture, it didn’t so much change the way I see Cambodia, but rather it allowed and encouraged me to finally see Cambodia for all it has to offer.
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What make us unique
In today’s travel world, experiences often move too fast. Many operators rush through highlights, focus on ticking boxes, and measure success by how many places are visited in a short time. Travelers admire the scenery, take photos, and move on, often without the time or space to truly connect. While this style of travel can be exciting, it frequently leaves little room to understand the people, everyday life, and stories that give a place its true meaning.
We believe this gap often begins on the tour operator’s side. Tour operators are the experts, while guests usually arrive with limited knowledge of the destination. Travelers naturally rely on guides and operators to shape their understanding of a place like Cambodia. This makes the way experiences are designed and delivered especially important.
Why travel with us
At Skual Tours, we understand that every traveler has their own preferences, needs, and goals and we strive to tailor our services accordingly. Whether it’s a day tour or a customized itinerary, we go above and beyond to ensure that every detail aligns with our guests’ expectations.
Our team is made up of skilled professionals with years of experience in tourism, guiding, and cultural storytelling. Through ongoing training and regular knowledge-sharing sessions, we ensure our team remains passionate, informed, and ready to deliver high-quality experiences.
We believe that truly meaningful travel must involve local participation. That’s why we prioritise listening to local voices, understanding their needs, and respecting their vision for how tourism should be presented in their communities. We collaborate closely with local partners to create strong, trust-based relationships. This allows us to build authentic experiences that form deep connections between our guests, the places they visit, and the people they meet.
As locals ourselves, we know the hidden gems, the untold stories, and the cultural depth of our home. We are committed to guiding you through meaningful journeys that help you see beyond the surface and into the heart of Cambodia.
Skual Tours
At Skual Tours, we believe the heart of every journey lies in the people you meet. The word “Skual” means "to get to know" in Khmer, and that’s exactly what we do—connect travelers with local communities in meaningful ways. Our mission is to promote authentic travel experiences by fostering real connections between visitors and the people who call these places home. Whether it’s sharing a meal with a local family, learning traditional crafts from artisans, or listening to untold stories from community elders, Skual Tours ensures that every journey is immersive and impactful.