YAKLOM HILL LODGE Ratanakiri

Stay in the embrace of nature

Situated in the northeastern corner of Cambodia, where the Indochina Emerald Triangle (Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia) is, Ratanakiri is home of the country natural heritage and cultural diversity of multi-ethnicity population.

The natural and ecological features of the province remain largely untouched, and the old style living of the indigenous people has changed little over the past time even development is starting to take place with the increasing in-migration of the lowland Khmer Cambodians.

Of the population of 80,000; about 75 per cent is non-Khmer Cambodians. They are Lao, Tampuan, Kreung, Jorai, Kachok, Preuw, Kavet, Chinese, Vietnamese, and some others. People of Tampuan, Jorai, Kreung, Preuw, Kavet, and Kachok ethnic groups (hilltribes belonging to Mon-Khmer group) have their own languages, and still practise slash and burn agriculture.

These Upper Khmer (Khmer Leu as called by lowland Khmers) are animist and still have strong belief in spiritual influence.

The province also offers the breath-taking and stunning natural features, such as the Yaklom volcanic lake, countless number of water falls (some believed to be waiting for you to discover and name them!), beautiful hilly landscape, and a variety of flora and fauna in the tropical rain forest, especially the Virachey National Park - country's largest national park.
This makes the province ideal place for ecotourism and those nature lovers.

Just 10 minute drive east out of the provincial town of Ban Lung and 5 minutes drive from the magnificent Yaklom volcanic lake, Yaklom Hill Lodge is nestled in the beautiful jungle between the 2 hills. All 14 cottages -a mix of Khmer/Lao/Khmer Leu style- are dotted on the hill side overlooking another hill.

All cottage rooms have fan, private bathroom, and balcony - most of which has a hammock for you to chill out the day. Complementary drinking water and tea making facilities are provided in every room. Hot water in a thermos is provided (on request) daily in every room for making tea. For those who cannot tolerate the cold shower in cold season here (November to January/February), you can mix this hot water with cold water in a jar in the bathroom and enjoy traditional bathing. (Two (2) public hot water shower rooms are available - operating from from 6 pm. to 9 pm. or when the generator is on.) Others available in the room include : torch, candle, and lighter. Mosquito coil is available on request. Additionally, all windows of each cottage is equipped with mosquito net. At Yaklom Hill Lodge, each of the cottage rooms has at least 2 windows in order to ensure good air flow.

Apart from our 14 wooden cottages, Yaklom Hill Lodge also has a traditional hill tribe house that is ideal for small group or an extended family of up to 8 persons. Designed after a hill tribe village community hall, this traditional house was built by our Tampuan hill tribe neighbors. The house has a main hall with 8 mattresses on 2 raised platforms, and has 2 attached toilet/bathrooms. The balcony of the house commands an extensive mountain view in our lodge.

A family cottage (with 1 double bed and 2 single beds) is also available.

In the main reception hall, our restaurant Sawasdee Food Terrace serves Khmer, Thai and Lao foods prepared by our Thai/Lao and Khmer cooks. Some western dishes are also available. Seating on the terrace by the hillside will make your dining experience a special one -dining amidst nature and bird/cicades singings. A la carte and set menu, and buffet style for group are available. Please check with us for the costs. Please click here to check out our menu.

The wooden hall on the hilltop in the lodge areas, reached by 136 steps of wooden staircase, offers the panoramic view of the natural surroundings that present the landscape of Ratanakiri.

On this hill top, there are 2 viewing platforms -one facing north and another one facing east. From the north platform, you can see the northern mountain ranges of Ratanakiri beyond the landscape below (which with the field of yellow wild sunflower from October to December), the O'trao valley, and the reservoir of O'chum hydropower dam. On the clear sky day, some say, you may see the mountains in southern Laos. The east platform is ideal for viewing sunrise besides the panoramic view of the O'trao valley landscape below, and the crop plantations. Make sure you are at the platform well before 6 am. for sunrise. The nature trails linking to another hill leads to the sunset viewing platform. Facing west to the direction of Ban Lung, this platform commands also the mountain view of our lodge. You should be at this platform from 5.30 pm. for sunset.

For birders, bird watching does not mean you have to go to the jungle far away, but here in our lodge areas. With kind help of our guests, around 60 bird species have been sighted in the lodge's jungle and this list is still growing. We welcome your addition/verification of new species you may find while staying with us. (We are in preparation on declaring our lodge “the bird sanctuary” in order to help promote conservation of birds in Ratanakiri.)

Also in the main reception hall, our small hilltribe handicraft shop offers a variety of hand-made products from the villages.

(5pers-US$30, 6pers-US$35, 7pers-US$40)

• The above rates are per night, and include : breakfast, tax, and pick up and drop off from and to Ratanakiri airport and bus/taxi station in Ban Lung. Although we have “flexible” check-in and check-out times, please let us know your plan.
• 15% discount is offered during the “fresh&green” period (1 June thru 30 September). 15% discount is offered for long-term stay (i.e. 1 week or more). Please check with us for the monthly rates.
• A limited number of baby cots (for up to 1.5 year-old baby) is available on request at no charge. Please indicate in reservation if you need one.

For further inquiry and reservation, please click here For your convenience, please kindly indicate in your reservation the arrival details (date of arrival, mean of transportation: by air or overland, expected time of arrival).

Also indicate if you need us to arrange for transport and guide services, etc.

• Treks and Tours
• Local English speaking guide : US$20 per day
• Bicycle rent : 6000 riel per day
• Motorbike rent : US$6-8 per day
• Pick-up truck/Jeep rent (with driver/petrol) : from US$55 per day (Please check for destinations.)
• Hilltribe Traditional Dance Performance (with dinner) can be organized on request. Please check with us for the costs.
• Elephant ride to Katieng waterfall US$15 per person (approx 1 hr & 30 min)
• bus/van ticket from Ratanakiri to Stung Treng, Kratie, Kampong Cham, and Phnom Penh; Cambodian/Lao border (Dong Kralor crossing), Don Det (4000 island in Lao), Pakse (in Lao)
• Taxi to Stung Treng, Kratie, and Phnom Penh; Cambodia/Vietnam border (Oyadao/Le Thanh crossing)