Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Banlung, Ratanakiri - Remote Adventures


Banlung, northeast of Kratie, is the dusty capital of Ratanakiri, the remote northeastern province of Cambodia.  Though remote and mountainous, it is accessible via road and air.  Banlung is the base camp to go exploring the beautiful ecology and the various tribal minorities of Ratanakiri.


You can rent bicycles, motorcycles or go about on foot or on the back of an elephant.  Yep, some tour agencies in Banlung can arrange an elephant to ride from selected villages into the jungles to waterfalls or lakes or even village hopping. Do note that most of the roads are of red laterite earth which means dust and when wet, mud.

There are volcanic crater lakes to go swimming in and have a picnic such as the round Yeak Loam lake and not so round Lumkud lake to the east of Banlung.  Then there are the  Ka Chang, Ka Teang, Cha Ong and Bai S’rohk Waterfalls to appreciate and chill in.

Virachey National Park is north of Banlung. It’s a must see place for adventure travellers for the beautiful vistas especially at the Veal Thom Grasslands.  Then there are the various hill tribe villages and cemeteries and temples such as Wat Rahtanharahm to go and have a peek at to drink in the sights and sounds. 

This video from rikdr22 is of the jungles in Ratanakiri.





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