Trekking and Sight

What to do & what to see in Ratanakiri?

If you come by plane, your adventure in Ratanakiri starts from descending to Ratanakiri airport and landing on an unpaved airstrip. This is even more interesting in rainy season when it is more windy and the airfield is wet! The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is funding for improvement of this airport, so in the future (we are not sure when?) you will be landing in style.

If you come overland from Kratie or Stung Treng, the road between Stung Treng and Ban Lung should give you a kind of adventure as well. In rainy season, the journey can drag you to spend the whole day for the trip – due to rains, car getting stuck, unbelievably slippery road, etc. So be prepared well for yourself if you plan to depart Ratanakiri by overland transport to these both provinces in rainy season (late May to early October), i.e. having enough breads & drinking water JUST IN CASE! We hope that you will not face this worst-case scenario.

In Yaklom Hill Lodge and the Surroundings:

-Viewing platforms : There are 3 viewing platforms in our lodge – the north, and the east (ideal for watching sunrise) on the northern hill behind the restaurant, and the south platform for viewing sunset on the southern hill behind room number 14. All 3 platforms give you a panoramic view of landscape of Ratanakiri. In the clear-sky night, up there with a can of cold beer or a wine for counting stars seems to be perfect!

-Nature Trails : The viewing platforms of the 2 hills are connected by short nature trails. Walking on these trails, you might have opportunity of sighting small wildlife, and certainly you will see many kinds of birds, apart from many kinds of trees. Welcome to you all nature lovers!

-Hiking Trails : As our lodge is the only one situated in the countryside of Ratanakiri, i.e. in Yaklom commune, our guests may want to take a hike to the adjacent areas surrounding the lodge – the hills and farms to the south, southeast, and west; the fruit orchards and farms along the national road number 78 to the east, and the farms and the village (Phume Phnom) to the north. Guided trekking (half and full day) can be organized. (See Our Trekking below.)

-Bird Watching : A group of our guests has done a birding activities during their stay here, and come up with a start list of 22 types of birds in the lodge areas (check in our guest book). And this list still grows! So far, we have already sighted more than 30 bird species in the lodge areas and we are now in the process of declaring our lodge areas as a bird sanctuary. If you are a bird watcher, you can do your birding activities here in the lodge (or even from your balcony!) – why go far. (We hope that we will be able to organize bird watching activities in the future – we are learning.)

In the Province: Please see the below Suggested Itineraries.

Some Suggested Itineraries

Note : Guests do not need to follow the order in this suggestion, or complete all activities on that day. This suggestion serves more or less like the contents you may want to do during your visit to Ratanakiri. Rainy season means access to some areas might be impossible or requiring longer travel time and more cautious preparation. Or you may not want to do any of the following at all, as to relax or to chill out in our lodge may be just enough!

Day 1 (1/2 day) – Yaklom Lake

-arrival, pick up from airport or taxi station in Ban Lung, check-in

-lunch & rest

-hike from the lodge along the east or west hiking trail to Yaklom volcanic lake – 3 km, 35 to 45 min walk (4000 riels fee), environmental and cultural center, hilltribe boy high house and girl house (demonstration), walk around the lake, swim, rest

-Dinner

Day 2 – Voensai (lunch box?)

-breakfast

-car or motorbike to Voensai district – 35 km, 1 hour & 30 min to 2 hours ride

-boat cruise – 1 hour (US$10-15 per boat round trip) to village of Tampuan hilltribe (Phume Kachon Leu), visit cemetery (4000 riels fee) Chinese & Lao villages

-lunch on one island in the San river (possible in dry season)

-visit Chinese & Lao villages

-back to Ban Lung, elephant ride (US$10.- per person per 1 hour ride, need to book in advance at least 1 hour)

-Dinner

Day3 – Yaklom lake (hard way) – lunch box?

-breakfast

-trek with our ecotour guide from the back trails of our lodge through hills, farms, streams, forest, etc. to the volcanic lake (max 6 pax, guide half a day USD8.-, guide full day USD15.-; lunch, water, lake entrance fee excluded)

**SEE DETAILS IN SEPARATE PAGE BELOW –our trekking**

Day4 – Trekking O’Trao Valley & Phume La En Kraen (lunch box?)

-breakfast

-trek with our ecotour guide from the front of our lodge through O’Trao Valley, farms, streams, hills, jungle, etc to Phume La En Kraen (max 6 pax, guide half a day USD8.-, guide full day USD15.-; lunch, water are excluded)

**SEE DETAILS IN SEPARATE PAGE BELOW –our trekking**

Day5 – Trekking in Andong Meas district & Tampuan hill tribe’s long house (lunch box)

-Breakfast

-by car or motor bike to Malik commune of Andong Meas district (Takmpuan hill tribe) – 2 to 2 hours&30 min, 60 km)

-arrive at Phume Malik, trek through village forest to village paddy field and the site of old cooperative village during KR (2 hours), lunch onsite

-picked up and back to Phume Malik, trek from the village through farms, jungle, stream, hill, etc. to Phume Katae (2 hours), visit the Tampuan traditional long house

-drive back to Ban Lung \

(**ecotour guide&village guide USD20.-; Maximum 6 pax; lunch, water, and transport to and from the villages are excluded****SEE DETAILS IN SEPARATE PAGE BELOW–our trekking**)

Day 6 – Gem Mines & the seven-step waterfall (Sean Lae waterfall) – lunch box?

-breakfast

-rubber plantation and observe works of in action

-car or motorbike to Chomrom Beisrok (1 hour&30 min to 2 hours), visit and observe gem mining

-move to Sean Lae Fall (2-3000 riels fee), have a dip or swim

-Lunch onsite

-back from waterfall, visit and observe rubber processing factory

-back to Yaklom Hill Lodge

-Dinner

Day 7 – Eco-Trekking with Tampuan hilltribe in Yaklom commune

-06.00 a.m. watch sunrise at the lodge’s east viewing platform

-breakfast

-guided by Tampuan hilltribe guide in eco-trekking within Yaklom commune (half day)

-lunch at Yaklom Hill Lodge or onsite at Yaklom lake

-Cha Ung waterfall (2000 riels fee), Kanchanh fall and Katieng fall,

-back to Yaklom Hill Lodge

-05.30 pm. watch sunset at Yaklom Hill Lodge’s sunset viewing platform

-dinner

Day8 – Visit Kreung hilltribe villages and farm walks (lunch box?)

-breakfast

-leave by car or motor bike (15 km, 35 min) for La Ak commune of O’chum district (Kreung hill tribe), walk from Phume La Ak to Phume Krala in Poy commune (2 to 2 hours&30 min)

-lunch at Phume Krala

-trek through farms from Phume Krala to Phume Kres – 2 hours (may be subject to hiring village guide)

-picked up by motorbike or car and move to visit Phume Khmeng

-another swim at the lake?, back to the lodge

-dinner

Day9 – Lomphat –the former provincial capital of Ratanakiri

-drive by car or motor bike to Lomphat district (1 to 1 hour&30 min, 35 km) on Srepok river

-visit the old site of Lomphat which was Ratanakiri’s provincial capital during the late 70s, observe ruins of the war (former provincial high school, bullet holes on water tank tower, bomb craters, old traffic circle, old hospital, etc.)

-visit rapids in Srepok river (dry season), sleepy Lomphat town, and temple

-back to the lodge

-dinner

Day10 – Lumkut volcanic lake & Jorai villages (lunch box?)

-breakfast

-by car or motorbike ride to Borkeo district (1 to 1 hour&30 min, 35 km)

-from Borkeo district center, drive another 25 km to Lumkut lake in Seda commune (Tampuan ethnic group) of Lomphat district, lunch & swim & relax

-drive to O’yadao district to visit Jorai villages OR drive to visit visit Tampuan & Jorai villages in Kok and Kechong communes of Borkeo district, observe village lifetsyle & the long house

-back to the lodge

-dinner

Day 1X (1/2 day) – Morning market/shopping

-early breakfast

-visit Ban Lung morning market

-shopping souvenir

-check out, leave for airport at 10.00 a.m., or by car to Stung Treng (8.00 am.)

*Eco-Trekking with Tampuan hill tribe in Yaklom commune

Yaklom commune tourism committee offers a half-day trekking led by local Tampuan guide. For more information of the trekking and this project, please check in : www.geocities.com/yeak_laom

Yaklom Hill Lodge can also help in organizing this trekking with the project.

*Trekking in the Virachey National Park can be organized with the park office in town. See Ban Lung city map at the restaurant. (Virachey National Park Office is located in the premise of department of environment.) Please read the sign of the park at reception counter for more info and map. Yaklom Hill Lodge can arrange other logistics that are not provided by the park (foods, tour guide, transport to and from the park ranger station, etc.). More information can be obtained from : www.bpamp.org.kh and virachey@camintel.com

**For location of each attraction, please refer to the detailed provincial map at the reception hall of Yaklom Hill Lodge. Our receptionist will be more than pleased to assist you.

Our Trekking

We are researching with the respective villages/communities the routes of trekking, and each route will be posted in this menu and our website once they are finalized. In designing our trekking, and when feasible, we meet and discuss with local hill tribe villagers (especially elders) who know well about the route, its contents, as well as how hard, how long, and how far of it. Then our staff, tour guide, and a village guide where necessary, will give that route a try.

The price of the trekking charged by us also includes, where applicable and practical, our contribution to the villages/communities that are along the trekking route. Contribution may come in different form and may be different from village to village, depending on discussion and agreement with the village, and, more importantly, appropriateness to village development activities and problems/needs. Other extra income for the villagers may be in the form of village guide fee, and sale of villagers' handicraft, and in some cases lodging fee on overnight stay in the village.

1. Day-Trip Trekking

Trekking-1 : Farm walk in Yaklom commune (a half-day trekking)

This half-day circuitous walk with the distance of about a dozen of kms. will give you a picture of how people in Yaklom commune (Tampuan hill tribe) practice their slash and burn (or swidden) farming. The trekking starts from the lodge on the east hiking trail up the hill side of Phnom Korl behind the traditional hill tribe house. The paths walked are the ones frequented by Tampuan hill tribe villagers (of Phumes Sil, Lapo, Lon, and Phnom) in Yaklom commune to their farms. (Phume is a Khmer word, and means "village".) The walk goes through hilly and beautiful landscape, some points at which you may need to exercise your energy a little bit more.

You will pass a number of swidden farms where you will see and (when possible and suitable) join farm activities according to the cropping calendar or cropping pattern of the season. The walk ends at the west hiking trail of the lodge.

*Price : USD9.- (English speaking ecotour guide), Maximum : 6 persons, Guests should wear hiking shoes, trouser, hat, and bring with them enough drinking water. A handy raincoat might be needed in rainy season (May/June to October). A hiking stick can be borrowed from the lodge.

Trekking-2 : Farm walk in Yaklom commune and Yaklom Lake (a 1-day trekking)

The trekking starts from the lodge on the east hiking trail up the hill side of Phnom Korl behind the traditional hill tribe house. The paths walked are the ones frequented by Tampuan hill tribe villagers (of Phumes Sil, Lapo, Lon, and Phnom) in Yaklom commune to their farms. The walk goes through hilly and beautiful landscape, some points at which you may need to exercise your energy a little bit more. You will pass a number of swidden farms where you will see and (when possible and suitable) join farm activities according to the cropping calendar or cropping pattern of the season. Lunch at one of the farm with a chat with the villagers.

Then you will be heading through some more farms with some ups and downs before you arrive at the entrance of Yaklom volcanic lake. Trek around the circular lake and have a look at the lake from different angle. Visit the lake's environment and cultural center where hill tribe exhibits are on display. Swim and relax are a must. If you are fit enough, then it is challenging to swim across the lake whose diameter is about 800m. Walk back to the lodge to the west hiking trail through Phume Lon. The distance of this trek is approximate 15 km.

*Price : USD18.- (English speaking ecotour guide), Maximum : 6 persons, Guests should wear hiking shoes, trouser, hat, and bring with them enough drinking water, lunch box, and entrance fee for the lake (USD1 per person). A handy raincoat might be needed in rainy season (May/June to October). A hiking stick can be borrowed from the lodge.

Trekking-3 : Trekking the O'Trao Valley : a 1-day trekking (a half day trekking can also be arranged)

O'Trao (or Taro creek) is one of the 4 small streams that feed water into the O' chum hydropower dam reservoir. The valley (part of it can be viewed from both of our viewing platforms) covers the areas in Yaklom commune of Ban Lung district, and Aekkapheap commune of O'chum district. The O'chum hydro power dam is the main power supply to Ban Lung town. (This reservoir can be seen from our lodge's north viewing platform.)

This 25 km or so, circuitous, full-day trek starts in front of the lodge across national road number 78 on the western rim of the valley, then winds down through the valley -crossing the "Taro Creek"- where Tampuan hill tribe grow wetland and upland rice, and some Lao and Khmer people growing fruit tree crops. Then the walk continues through the jungle upward and along the eastern side of the valley, at one point offering the panoramic view of the valley to the west -including the mountains in our lodge. On the way you will have opportunity to see farming practice of Tampuan people, their animal trapping devices, and field hut and way of life in the field. Crossing 2 more streams, up the hill through more jungle and farms, you will arrive at Phume Laen Kraen (Tampuan hill tribe) of Aekkapheap commune, O'chum district. Rest and lunch in one of the traditional house. Then look around to observe the village life with opportunity to see handicraft in the making - weaving hill tribe fabric of loin cloth, skirt, or blanket - usually in dry season when women are free from farm work (December to April), and water spring where people fetch water from the "bamboo" water. The trek then continues west from the village through bushes and farms downward to the ending part of O'Trao where it flows water into the reservoir. The walk ascends to the west rim of the valley entering areas of Phmue Phnom of Yaklom commune, Ban Lung district through plantation and village, then crossing the road back to the lodge.

*Price : USD18.- (English speaking ecotour guide), (USD8.- for a half day trek) Maximum : 6 persons. Guests should wear hiking shoes, trouser, hat, and bring with them enough drinking water, lunch box, and some money if they want to buy hand-woven cloth onsite. A handy raincoat might be needed in rainy season (May/June to October). A hiking stick can be borrowed from the lodge.

Trekking-4 Trekking in Andong Meas district in Tampuan hill tribe community, Tampuan traditional long house

Andong Meas district is about 70 km from Ban Lung and is home to Tampuan, Jorai, Kachock, and some Lao peoples. Our trekking is in Malik commune of the district covering the areas of Phume Malik (Tampuan) and Phume Katae (Tampuan) and car transport is needed to get there. Guests will travel by car to Phume Malik (2 to 2 hours&30 min). After arriving at Phume Malik, trek through village forest to village paddy field and the site of old cooperative village during KR (2 hours), lunch onsite.

Picked up and back to Phume Malik, trek from the village through farms, jungle, streams, hills, etc. to Phume Katae (2 hours). Visit Phume Katae to observe the Tampuan traditional long house. Drive back to Ban Lung.

*Price :ecotour guide&village guide USD25.-; Maximum 5-6 pax; car USD50.- (lunch, drinking water not included)

Trekking-5 Trekking in Ochum distric in Kreung hill tribe community

Ochum district is mainly inhabited by Kreung people who maintain the slash and burn farming practice. Recently, cashew nut has been introduced and become one important cash crop for these people, like in other parts of the province. Guests leave Yaklom Hill Lodge by car for Phume Korn (Kreung hill tribe) of La Ak commune in O’chum district. After arriving at Phume Korn, observe the village life and start trekking from Phume Korn to Phume La Ak through hilly terrain of forest, bushes, stream, and slash & burn farms. Observe farming activities, chat with hill tribe farmers, and check out some agricultural practice where possible (2 hours). Arrive at Phume La Ak (Kreung hill tribe), rest and lunch; observe the village life-style. Leave Phume La Ak and continue trekking to Phume Krala through hills, forest, streams and farms. Arrive at Phume Krala (Kreung hill tribe), and take a rest in the community hall, free time, and then drive back to the lodge.

*Price : English speaking ecotour guide&village guide USD25.-; Maximum 5-6 pax; car USD40.- (lunch, drinking water not included)

2. Trekking with Village Homestay

The best way to understand village lifestyle and hill tribe culture is to stay in the village. Overnight stay provides opportunity to guests to learn how people live in their own community. Of course, people can also learn from the guests as to why they come to visit their village. So keep your mind open to talk to the villagers. To respect to the place you stay and its culture and tradition, we request your proper behavior throughout your stay in the village. Check advice at the end of this section before you decide, and check with your tour guide while in the village.

As this trekking will require staying in the village, we need to know at least 1 full working day (or longer) in advance in order for preparation with the village. The lodge reserves the rights to deviate or cancel the programme or its contents without prior notice when needs arise or due to weather/road conditions or any other unforeseen difficulties.

Trekking-1 Trekking and village home stay in Tampuan community in Ochum district –Phume La En Kraen (1 day and 1 night)

This trek starts from the north of lodge after lunch passing farms, O’Trao valley, shallow streams, and forest on rolling terrains. Observe farming practice of villagers on the way. The walk takes about 2 to 2.5 hours before arriving at Phume La En Kraen in the evening. This Tampuan hill tribe village is famous for its hill tribe fabric weaving by women (usually in the dry season). Explore around the village to see people lifestyle, check out old coffee trees, before taking a “refreshing shower”at the bamboo shower site – the village water source. Dinner at the host villager’s house and have a chat with other villagers. Overnight in the village.

After simple breakfast the next day morning, say goodbye to the host villagers and head west to the end of the O’chum dam reservoir through forest and farms. Cross the shallow stream and ascend to the boundary of Phume Phnom on the western rim of O’Trao valley. Arrive at Phume Phnom and turn left to the main road to the lodge at about midday.

*Prices : 1 person : USD35.-; 2 persons :USD25.- per person; 3-4 persons : USD20.-per person; 5-6 persons (maximum) : USD17.- per person

Prices include : English speaking guide, all meals (1 dinner+1 breakfast)&drinking water, basic sleeping gears, and lodging fee in villager house.

Trekking-2 Trekking and village home stay in Kreung community in Ochum district –trekking covering villages in La Ak and Poy communes (2 days and 1 night)

This trek provides trekkers opportunity to experience the lifestyle of Kreung hill tribe people in Ratanakiri, both in their slash&burn farms and the in the village. The trekking of the first day is originated from Phume Korn –a Kreung village in Ochum district- and takes about 3 hours before arriving at the Kreung village of Phume La Ak , also in the same commune of La Ak in Ochum district. Trekkers will walk through hilly terrain of forest, bushes, stream, and slash & burn farms. Observe farming activities, chat with hill tribe farmers, and check out some agricultural practice where possible. Phume La Ak typifies the Kreung settlement ones can see in Ratanakiri, i.e. the villagers’houses circle the community hall in the center of the village. Trekkers will have lunch here in the community hall. After taking a rest, trekking will continue from Phume La Ak to Phume Krala (Kreung hill tribe), also in Ochum district but another commune of Poy (2.5 hours).

After arriving at Phume Krala, trekkers will check in the community hall, have free time for rest, exploring the village, and personal routine. Dinner, informally meet/chat with village chief and other elders/villagers (subject to their availability and conditions). Overnight in Phume Krala in the community hall (mat, pillow & net provided).

On the next day after simple breakfast, trekkers will continue trekking to another Kreung village of Phume Kres through forest and farms on hilly terrains (2 hours). After lunch at Phume Kres), rest and then drive back to Ban Lung. On the way stop by the volcanic rock field (Veal Romplong Protected Area).

*Prices : 1 person : USD135.-; 2 persons :USD75 per person; 3-4 persons : USD55 per person; 5-6 persons (maximum) : USD48 per person

Prices include : car transfer throughout the trekking, English speaking guide and village guide , all meals&drinking water, basic sleeping gears, and contribution to community.

Trekking-3 Trekking and village homestay in Tampuan and Kreung communities in Ochum district -trekking covering villages in Ochum commune (Tampuan), La Ak commune (Kreung), and Poy commune (Kreung) (3 days & 2 nights)

Tampuan and Kreung hill tribes form the major part of ethnic minorities (or the Khmer Leu) in Ratanakiri province, apart from the Jorai. This trek offers visitors opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of these people. The trek starts from the north of Yaklom Hill Lodge on the trail winding down to O’trao Valley. Crossing the O’trao stream, the trekkers will ascend on the hill through forest and then step out to the slash and burn farm. Look back to see the panorama of Ratanakiri landscape. After 2 and a half hour, trekker will arrive at Phume La En Kraen (Tampuan)– lunch stop point. After lunch, observe women weaving hill tribe clothes (dry season), and look around the village. Another 2 hour walk or so will bring the trekkers to Tampuan village of La En Chong. Check in community hall, rest, dinner, and chat with the villagers before spending a night here. After simple breakfast in the morning of the next day, the trek continues to Phume Korn (Kreung hill tribe) to which it takes about 2.5 hours to arrive. Lunch and rest. In the afternoon trekkers will spend about 3 hours in the walk before hitting the local road to arrive at Phume La Ak –another Kreung village. Phume La Ak is located at the end of this local road and presents the typical Kreung village, i.e. all the villagers’houses circle the community hall at the center of the village. This community hall serves as a multi-purpose building of the villager that includes receiving the guests who want to spend a night (or nights). Overnight at Phume La Ak. The next day morning after breakfast, trekkiers will continue from Phume La Ak to Phume Krala (Kreung hill tribe), also in Ochum district but another commune of Poy (2.5 hours).

After arriving at Phume Krala, trekkers will have lunch at the huge community hall –even bigger than that of Phume La Ak. In the after noon, trekkers have choice of continue trekking to another Kreung village of Phume Kres (2 hours) or walk to see small waterfall of Phume Krala (1 hour) (in rainy season). Picked up and drive back to Ban Lung. On the way stop by the volcanic rock field (Veal Romplong Protected Area).

*Prices : 1 person : USD200.-; 2 persons :USD110 per person; 3-4 persons : USD80 per person; 5-6 persons (maximum) : USD70 per person

Prices include : car transfer throughout the trekking, English speaking guide and village guide , all meals&drinking water, basic sleeping gears, and contribution to community.

Trekking-4 Trekking and village homestay in Tampuan and Kreung communities in Ochum district -trekking covering villages in Ochum commune (Tampuan), La Ak commune (Kreung), and Poy commune (Kreung) (4 days & 3 nights)

This trek is an extended version of Trekking-3 above that continues to other 2 Kreung villages in Poy commune (Phume Kres and Phume Khmeng).

After arriving at Phume Krala, trekkers will have lunch at the huge community hall –even bigger than that of Phume La Ak. In the after noon, trekkers will continue trekking to another Kreung village of Phume Kres (2 hours). Picked up from Phume Kres by car and transferred to Phume Khmeng (Kreung ethnic group). Phume Khmeng is a clean, small cluster of houses (about 35 families) that largely maintains traditional style of village housing, i.e. almost all of the houses are traditional Kreung houses made of bamboo and wood. This is different from other Kreung villages mentioned above which progressively undergo many Khmer-style house construction replacing the traditional ones. After dinner, there will be informal meeting session with village chief and some other invited village elders (where possible). In the next day morning after breakfast, trekker will leave Phume Khmeng and walk through community forest to see the waterfall. Lunch at the waterfall and rest. Walk back to the village and prepare to leave. Picked up by car and drive to Ban Lung passing and stopping at the volcanic rock field (Veal Romplong Protected Area).

*Prices : 1 person : USD235.-; 2 persons :USD145.- per person; 3-4 persons : USD115.- per person; 5-6 persons (maximum) : USD100.- per person

Prices include : car transfer throughout the trekking, English speaking guide and village guide , all meals&drinking water, basic sleeping gears, and contribution to community.

3. Sleeping with Elephant :Trekking with elephant and village home stay

To further the idea of improving a home stay and income for the host families of tribal communities in Ratanakiri, in the third quarter of 2007 Yaklom Hill Lodge has piloted a home stay in villages in La Bang I commune of Lomphat district, which includes trekking on foot, elephant trekking, and overnight at the elephant keeping families. In this case, the host family (which also owns elephant) will receive fees from lodging, provision of meals and sleeping gears, and, more importantly, hiring elephant. This kind of home stay will also support and encourage the families to keep elephants at their home areas in Ratanakiri where their habitat and feed are abundant and still much intact. (For some reason, many of elephants in Ratanakiri have been sold and brought to Siem Reap – the province of Angkor temples- where they are held in captivity and used purely to serve tourists on a daily basis.) In Ratanakiri, elephants are no longer used for logging, but in farm works, and fishing and hunting trips of the villagers. This means that being used for tourism is still not high priority and it is common that there are no elephants to serve tourists in certain periods of the year as they are used in family activities (e.g. in a multi-day fishing/hunting trip into the deep jungle.)

3.1 Two-day/One-night Trekking in La Bang I Commune (day 1 trekkking on foot and day 2 trekking on elephant)

The first day of this circuitous trek you will be transferred by motorbike or car to Katieng waterfall of La Bang I commune. Enjoy and refresh yourself or even swim in the cool of this beautiful waterfall, before you are led by our hill tribe guide for trekking on foot to Phume Kaplenh of La Bang I commune. The walk is through forest, hilly terrain, and paddy field. Make a lunch stop when you are hungry. Continue the walk through Veal Srae Prang (wetland rice paddy field)–said to be the rice bowl of the commune- before arriving Phume Kaplenh around mid-afternoon. Greet and check-in with the host family and rest. Walk through Phume Kaplenh and other 2 neighboring villages (Phume Katieng and Phume Kalong) to see the village lifestyle in the late afternoon. Back to the host family, there is an opportunity to get to know the elephant you will be riding the next day by taking a bath for him/her in a nearby stream (when circumstance allows). Dinner with the host family and sample “ Samlor Prong” – the vegetable thick soup cooked in bamboo – a typical dish of hill tribes in Ratanakiri. Overnight at the host family in Phume Kaplenh.

The second day after simple breakfast at the host family, you will board the elephant and head through paddy field and forest to La Bang II irrigation dam. Enjoy the scenery near the water reservoir where you will have lunch here. After lunch, continue riding elephant through the forest and hills to Katieng waterfall. If you like you can enjoy the waterfall once more, before being transferred back to the lodge.

Prices : 1 person : US$98; 2 persons : US$67 per person; 3 persons : US$81 per person; 4 persons : US$66 per person; 5 persons : US$73 per person; 6 persons (max) : US$65 per person.

Prices include : transfer from and back to the lodge, all meals, English speaking guide, drinking water, sleeping gears, lodging fee, elephant hiring, entrance fee at Katieng waterfall.

3.2 Two-day/One-night Trekking in La Bang I Commune (day 1 and day 2 trekking on elephant)

The route of this trekking is the same as the one above, but trekking of the 2 days is on elephant.

The first day you will be transferred by motorbike or car to Phume Kateung of La Bang I commune where you will board elephant and head to Katieng waterfall. Make a stop to feel a cool air at this beautiful waterfall and then continue the ride through the forest, hills, and paddy field. Stop for lunch on the way. Arrive in Phume Katieng of La Bang I commune in the afternoon. Check in and meet with the host family, and rest. You may also have time for walking around the 3 adjacent villages to see lifestyle of the villagers in the evening. Dinner with the host family and sample “ Samlor Prong” – the vegetable thick soup cooked in bamboo – a typical dish of hill tribes in Ratanakiri. Overnight at the host family in Phume Katieng..

Prices : 1 person : US$173; 2 persons : US$109 per person; 3 persons : US$130 per person; 4 persons : US$103 per person; 5 persons : US$118 per person; 6 persons (max) : US$101 per person.

Prices include : transfer from and back to the lodge, all meals, English speaking guide, drinking water, sleeping gears, lodging fee, elephant hiring, entrance fee at Katieng waterfall.

4. Trekking in the Jungle adjacent to Virachey National Park

Please contact us through email for more information and cost.

Things to bring, things to do, and things not to do

-shoes suitable for trekking, flip-flop during stay in the village, sun cream, insect repellent, torch, water

-the trails walked are mostly the ones that villagers use for traveling to their farms or to other villages. There might be parts of the trek (at the beginning or ending of that leg) that hit the local roads.

-the walk may be through some leach infested areas as well as wading through shallow streams

-walk only on the well-worn track (no land mines reported in Ratanakiri, but might be animal traps!)

-nudity and expression of affection in the village should not be practiced in the village

-get permission before you take picture of the villagers. Use you common sense by looking at the body language communicated by villager that it means “yes” or “no”. Ask the guide to help you out.

-respect to the hill tribe culture, check out some taboos (eg. sacred banana near the community hall, …) Ask the local guides.

-no gifts or candy to the villagers or kids, please. Unless it is organized in the community meeting manner

-if you are not qualified doctor, please do not prescribe medicine or perform medical consultation or treatment in the village

-do not step on crops while passing through farms. They are the result of farmers’ hard work and only once a year.

-please consider hygiene concern when you want to taste the locally produced rice wine.

-do not leave any garbage in the village, farm, and forest. Bring all of them with you to the lodge.

-all the villages visited have no electricity, so be prepared to sleep in the dark in the middle of nowhere. Candle will be use for lighting before bedtime.