Adventures In Cambodia's Wild Northeast

Nearly everybody who visits Cambodia will spend some time enjoying the food and culture in the capital Phnom Penh, marvelling at the wonders of the awesome temples of Angkor and perhaps popping down to the south coast for a bit of relaxation. And quite right too, but Cambodia has much more to offer. Far fewer people make it to the stunning rural provinces of Ratanakiri and Modulkiri in Northeastern Cambodia.

On a recent trip to Cambodia I visited Ratanakiri and was delighted to explore the lush jungle and local "Chunchiet" minority villages there. Banlung, the provincial capital of Ratanakiri, is often referred to as being reminiscent of a Wild West town. The dark red earth that lines the roads here, and the sprawling central market, give the town an undeniably rural and charmingly chaotic atmosphere and it is amazing to think only a fraction of Banlung's inhabitants have ever ventured out of Ratanakiri province. Among those are the inhabitants of the ethnic minority villages outside Banlung. A day's excursion, with a guide and 4x4, took me deep into the jungle from where I boarded a private boat to visit some of these villages, whose first languages include Chinese and Lao among their own indigenous languages, with many of locals not even speaking Cambodian! On my way back into Banlung in the afternoon, what better way to cool off than to stop for a dip in Yaklaom Lake, a beautiful, perfectly round stretch of water, scenically located in an old volcano crater. - where it is also possible to stroll the 3km around the lake. For those staying longer in the region a second, or third, day in Ratanakiri could include a number of trekking options.

I stayed at the Terres Rouges Lodge, just 2km outside Banlung, which overlooks a peaceful lake and is the perfect place to stay for a few nights in Ratanakiri. Here you can enjoy relaxing by the swimming pool, strolling through the spacious gardens and tucking into some top quality western or local Khmer cuisine.

Although it is possible to drive from Phnom Penh to Banlung in one day most people decide to break the journey by stopping overnight in Kratie, one of the best places in the world to see the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins.

For an insight into how a trip to ‘Cambodia's Wild Northeast' might fit into your itinerary please see our ‘Grand Tour of Cambodia'.