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About Ratanakiri:

Situated in the northeastern corner of Cambodia, where the Indochina 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 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. This makes the province ideal place for ecotourism and those nature lovers.

Stay in the embrace of nature: 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 wincows 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 improve 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. 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 50 bird species have been sighted in the lodge's jungle. 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. Handicraft on the making is also on display in a small bamboo hut near the reception (subject to availability) by our hilltribe staff.

Room Rates and Included Services:

Places to visit and things to do/see:  

Ratanakiri is a large province and almost all of the areas is covered by forest, and uninhabited. This reveals that natural resources and ecological systems are largely remaining undiscovered and undisturbed by man. Something that many are worried that if no timely and appropriate measures are enforced, the similar thing may take place as those in Cambodia neighbors the over-exploitation and subsequent degradation (or even extinction) of natural resources and ecological systems. In order to help Cambodia to be able to keep this cradle of ecosystem, we therefore urge all visitors, including our guests, to keep in mind of this fragile resources, and hence apply the ecotourism approach when visiting the province. The following are some of the places that should be visited. Of course, there are many things in many places of Ratanakiri that awaits your discovery.  

                Kanchanh Waterfall  (7 km west of Ban Lung): This nearest waterfall to the provincial town of Ban Lung is very beautiful.  You may see this from the plane during descending just before landing, or just after take-off. (Admission : 2000 riel)  

Cha Ung Waterfall  (10 km west Ban Lung): This waterfall is so far the highest in the province. Very beautiful in rainy season with lots of water. The fall can be viewed from the top of the cliff where the water falls down below, from the front of the waterfall down the stream, and behind the falling water under the naturally carved out cliff.  The road to this waterfall goes through the beautiful para rubber plantation, a Kreung hill tribe village, and a lot of cashew nut plantations. Under management of Cha Ung  Commune Committee. (Admission fee : 2000 Riels)

Sean Lae Waterfall (seven-step waterfall)  (about 35 km south of Ban Lung) : This waterfall has been said to be the most beautiful waterfall in Cambodia with its seven steps. Located near the new camp of gem mining area (chomrom bai srok) where people dig the hole to look for their fortune precious stone. It is interesting to stop over the mining area to observe local method in search of gems. (Admission fee for waterfall  : 2000 Riels)   Road to this waterfall in rainy season is virtually impassable, unless you have a very very special effort!

Katieng Waterfall  (10 km west of Ban Lung) : This fall is less visited than the other nearby waterfalls. Good idea to combine the visit to this waterfall with the elephant ride from the elephant village north of the fall (Phume Kateung). If you are lucky, you may be able to spot this fall from the plane when it approaches the airport to land, or when it takes off. Elephant ride to this waterfall (USD15 per person, about 1 and a half hour) is recommended and can be organized by the lodge.  (Admission fee : 2000 riel)

                The Recline Buddha on the Hilltop (just west of Ban Lung town) : The hill (Phnom Svay), accessed through Wat Phnom Svay, overlooking Ban Lung offers the panoramic view around the provincial town. (No admission fee)

                Veal Romplong or Veal Thmor Da (10 km north of Ban Lung past O'chum district) : This volcanic rock field is part of the protected area of the same name. Look out for the natural almost monoculture of the Lagerstoramia trees with their white trunks just 50 meters from the eastern side of the field. Good place for picnic. (No admission fee)

                        *The Kreung Boy's High House  Traditionally and typically for Kreung hill tribe boys, who join together to form a group of 4-6 people to build a small high house after harvest season (November-December). The house can be up to 5 m tall from the ground. The builders sleep up there at night. Usually the house will be removed from the village when the first stormy rain comes (April), as it is considered dangerous. The house itself is temporary. Usually the house is made wholly of bamboo. The girl house is a low-small cottage.

                        *The Kreung Girl's House The little house, built by parent facing the main family house, is for the unmarried young girl. It is believed that the small house is the place where courtship takes place - the opportunity before the boy and girl  choose their life partner. Unlike the boy's house, this girl's house will not be demolished, but maintained instead. Therefore, it is common to see the girl's house whenever visiting the Kreung village.

                        *The Tampuan Hill Tribe Cemetery Tampuan people in Kachon commune of Voensai district interestingly and respectfully  pay attention to the family member after he or she passes away. In addition to huge ceremony with many all-days-all-nights-long ceremony, the grave yard or the burial site of the dead is prepared in special and respectful ways with interesting details and meanings. As the village stands on the bank of the San river, the trip to the village is normally combined with a 1-hour boat cruise along the river. 

                         *Visit to Kavet Hilltribe Village  The Kavet ethnic group mostly inhabits in the upper part of Voensai district, especially along the Lalai river - one of many tributaries of San river, and in the areas of the Virachey National Park. These people mostly grow upland rice in slash and burn farms, as well as the wetland rice. Visiting to the Kavet village, you will see their local wisdom in making the most use of bamboo. For example, in building the house, almost parts of the house (except sometimes only pillar) are made of bamboo roof, wall, floor, and many home and kitchen utensils. The bamboo is also used for making raft for their water transport in Lalai river. Visit to Kavet villages is normally part of the trek to Virachey National Park via the park ranger station in Voensai district.

	Visit to Slash and Burn Farm (Chomka) : Ones might have thought that the slash and burn farming system (swidden or shifting cultivation) is destructive to natural forest. Visit to this kind of farm (especially in cultivation season) and talk to the highland farmers and the village elderly, however, may give you another understanding approach. The farm, when seen from afar, may seem messy. However, the system is there that makes up this highland farm (or chomka in Khmer) a multiple or mixed cropping system. Each farm may be planted with more than a dozen of crop species, and there is always reason behind as to why pumpkin is planted here, and egg-plant or chilli plant  is planted there. And why sesame  is planted with rice.
River Cruise in San River and Its Tributaries, Voensai  District : San river (or Se San as the Laos ethnic group call, and Tonle San in Khmer) is one of the two main rivers of Ratanakiri (another is Srepok river) flowing east-west in the upper part of the province. Boat cruise (motored or manual paddling) in the river
will give you a picturesque trip. In the dry season, when the water level goes down, cruising will be more adventurous as rapids emerge, and you will see many nice little sandy beaches along the river  bank, and many sandy beach islands. The river cruise may be combined with the visit to Tampuan hill tribe village in Kachon commune to see cemetery. Picnicking on your private beach island or sand bars and swimming in the San river are highly recommended. Trip along its tributaries (such as Lalai or Lalai river) is also interesting and even more adventurous.
.                 Visit the Lao and Chinese Villages in Voensai : Voensai district is home to the Lao ethnic group,  and also Chinese, Tampuan, Kavet, and Kachock. Many prominent figures in the provincial administration are from this district and the Lao ethnic group. The Lao and Chinese villages are along both side of San river near the district center which is just a cluster of houses and shops. The Chinese maintain their skills in commerce and trade here, while the Lao growing lowland paddy rice. It is interesting to learn when and how a cluster of   Chinese people have been living here amidst other their hilltribe counterparts.
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Nature Trek/Village Forest Walk : Apart from visit to the farm, nature walk in the village or community forest would be very interesting and informative. Yaklom Commune Council Tourism Management Body is offering this nature walk in their villages guided by  a trained Tampuan ethnic guides, who will explain the features of their village/forest. Yaklom Hill Lodge can help arrange this trip with the commune council. Parts of income from hiring local guide will go to community development activities.

                The old provincial town of Lomphat : Lomphat district was the provincial capital of Ratanakiri, before being moved to Ban Lung in the 80s. It sits on the bank of Srepok river and is also home to the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary. The ruins of the war in the past can be seen at the abandoned high school and the water tank tower. In dry season, many rapids in Srepok river offer beautiful scenic points and picnicking areas.  

                The Ban Lung Town Morning Market  : The morning market of the provincial town of Ban Lung is colorful, and very photogenic. Hilltribe people walking along the main road carrying their farm produces in their back-strapped baskets for sale in Ban Lung is the normal but interesting picture. 

                Discover Virachey National Park (overnight stay required) : This national park covers areas of the 2 northeastern provinces of Ratanakiri and Stung Treng. The head office of the park in Voensai district and office in Ban Lung can help arrange and guide the tour to the park. There is also the park office in Taveng district where trekking can start from there. Fees apply.  See more details in our Treks and Tours.

Visit to O'yadao and Jorai villages : O'yadao district (70 km from Ban Lung) is bordering Vietnam to the eastern side of the province. It is also home of one major ethnic group of Jorai people, the only ethnic minority that is said to still have the written language.          &n