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Jungle Trails Ratanakiri
Tour Organizer for Jungle Trekking in Ratanakiri

Discover the Beauty of Banlung

Welcome to Jungle Trails Ratanakiri, your guide to exploring the beautiful jungles of Banlung, there are in Virachey National park. Our experienced guides will take you on an unforgettable adventure, showing you the hidden gems of this magical place. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-timer, we'll make sure you have the time of your life. So come, let's explore!

Ratanakiri means “Mountain of Jewels” is a province of Cambodia located in the remote northeast. It borders the province of Mondulkiri to the south and Stungstreng to the west and the countries of Laos and Vietnam to the north and east, respectively.
It’s surrounded by a thick jungle to the north and a tropical deciduous forest to the south. Half of Ratanakiri’s population is indigenous people called “Chunchiet or Khmer leu”, they have six different dialects: Kreung, Tampoun, Jarai, Kacholk, Kavet and Prau while the other half is Khmer, minority Laos and Chinese immigrated for the last 200 years.
Most of indigenous people like Kreung, Kavet, Tampuan, Kachock, Jarai have their own territory and were set as community protected area for Eco-tourism and consuming its resource for supporting their daily life such as vegetable, herbal medicine stuffs, small animal hunting, fishing, and trapping.

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Why Choose Us

Tour tracking in Ratanakiri

Ratanakiri, located in northeastern Cambodia, is a remote and rugged province

known for its beautiful landscapes, ethnic diversity, and outdoor adventures. Trekking in Ratanakiri offers a unique experience through dense jungles, rolling hills, waterfalls, and traditional villages. Here's what you can expect:
1. Virachey National Park
Overview: Virachey is one of Cambodia's largest and most remote national parks. It's largely unexplored, offering a true wilderness experience.
Trekking Options:
Short Treks: Ideal for those with limited time. These may include a visit to the jungle, river crossings, and encounters with local wildlife.
Longer Treks: Multi-day treks can take you deep into the jungle, with camping in the wild, visits to remote indigenous villages, and potential sightings of rare animals like gibbons and hornbills.
Guides: Local guides are essential, as they know the terrain and can help you understand the local culture and environment.
2. Yeak Laom Lake
Overview: A stunning volcanic crater lake surrounded by lush rainforest, Yeak Laom is a popular spot for a less strenuous trek.
Trekking Options:
Around the Lake: A relatively easy trek that takes about an hour. You can swim in the clear waters, and visit the nearby Tampuan indigenous villages.
Cultural Experiences: Interact with the local communities and learn about their traditions and handicrafts.
3. Kachang and Katieng Waterfalls
Overview: Ratanakiri is home to several beautiful waterfalls, with Kachang and Katieng being among the most accessible.
Trekking Options:
Short Hikes: Walk through the jungle to reach these waterfalls. They are great spots for a refreshing swim or a picnic.
Combined with Village Visits: Often, these hikes are combined with visits to nearby villages, where you can learn about the local way of life.
4. Indigenous Villages
Overview: Ratanakiri is home to various indigenous groups, including the Tampuan, Kreung, and Jarai people.
Trekking Options:
Cultural Treks: Visit villages, meet local families, and participate in traditional ceremonies or activities. Some treks include homestays, offering a deeper cultural immersion.
Jungle Survival Skills: Some guides offer treks where you can learn basic jungle survival skills from indigenous people.
5. Best Time to Trek
Dry Season (November to March): The best time to trek, with cooler temperatures and less rain.
Wet Season (May to October): The landscape is lush and green, but trails can be muddy and challenging.
6. Preparation Tips
Fitness Level: Some treks can be physically demanding, so it's good to be in decent shape.
Equipment: Wear sturdy trekking shoes, bring insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
Local Guides: Always go with a local guide, especially in remote areas, to ensure your safety and to enhance your experience.
Ratanakiri offers a rugged and authentic trekking experience, ideal for adventurers looking to explore one of Cambodia's most beautiful and less-traveled regions.

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What Clients Say

Mar 2017 • Couples

Ratanakiri is still a fairly remote area in Cambodia and so worth visiting. It's a proper adventure for anyone wanting to get off the beaten track & Kham is the man to do it with.
Kham is a young guy from a jungle village in this area. He is Cambodia's equivalent of Bear Grylls, but an authentic version, as this is truly his life.
We joined him on a 2 night/3 day jungle trek and absolutely loved it.
The trek was only accessible by boat which made a beautiful start to our journey. As we cruised along we passed village children playing in the water, their laughter and excitement mixed in with the buzz of the jungle was a joy to hear.
The trek itself wasn't difficult and is fine for anyone moderately fit.
Kham and his companion/friend, (SokHeng) carried most of the supplies. We only had to carry our own water supply ( which in hot summer months could be around 4 liters), our sleeping bag and personal items.
I would really not recommend over-packing for this trip & take only essentials.

✅ Good walking shoes
✅ Long trekking trousers
✅ socks x 2
✅ 2 t shirts ( alternate for trekking & sleeping)
✅Comfortable camp/sleeping bottoms
✅Light weight long sleeve top ( to protect from the sun if necessary)
✅Swim suit
✅Lightweight, quick dry towel/ sarong
✅Flip flops
✅Hat
✅Camera
✅sunscreen
✅Toothbrush & toothpaste
✅Water
✅Mosquito repellent
✅Med kit
It's a good idea to make things water tight for in case it rains.
Kham, armed with his machete led the way. The pace was really nice and relaxed and we were able to take in and enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle.
It was very warm, so we stopped regularly to rehydrate. Kham is full of information and knowledge, pointing out interesting edible plants along the way and giving us a few to try.
He also foraged a bit of foodstuff to add to our meals, including tree bark to make us tea... which was delicious.
It was so fascinating watching Kham 'at work' as he expertly navigated his way through the jungle.
Our first night was spent by a waterfall in hammocks. Kham got our camp beautifully prepared, with us helping as much as we could/wanted to.
We spent the rest of the day swimming in the lovely refreshing waterfall and relaxing on the surrounding rocks.
Dinner was an absolute highlight! Kham made a delicious jungle stew. He created bamboo pots and placed them upright directly into the fire with everything bubbling away inside.
After dinner we enjoyed some rice wine.
The weather quickly turned and a massive thunderstorm approached. Kham managed to convert our campsite into a water-tight haven in record time.
The hammocks have mozzie nets, so you should be able to have a fairly peaceful sleep.
We woke up to coffee in the morning out of freshly carved bamboo mugs! Kham got breakfast ready while we got ourselves ready. We all helped taking down our camp.
We visited a remote village and learnt a bit about how they exist / survive day to day. Also interesting traditions like their burials and beliefs. As Kham himself comes from a local village, he is full of information if you have any questions.
We also watched a tarantula get dug up as a potential addition to dinner... but, after it 'endeared' itself to the group, it was spared from the pot.
I could not recommend this experience enough. He is a young man with ambition who is trying to start a little business to help support his family and village.
He is great company, very knowledgeable and he takes extremely good care of his guests.
This is however a proper adventure trip, so don't expect luxury. Kham is very competent but you are taking part at your own risk.

Hapeetraveller

Mar 2016 • Couples

Last March, me and my girlfriend did a trekking in the jungle near Banlung (Ratanakiri), Cambodia. We stayed in Banlung at the "Bamboo House". This was a really great place to stay, run by mister Pov and his very cute family.
At mister Pov's Bamboo House we met his friends Kham Khvann and mister "D". Kham has spent a lot of time in the jungle since he and his family are living in the jungle's foothills.
The first day we had a thrilling and adventurous journey, and after a few hours of walking we set up camp in the middle of the jungle right next to a waterfall :D. Kham told us a lot about the jungle in general. We were educated on all kinds of eatable plants and learned about a particular tree which could be lit on fire only after a matter of seconds! We had a nice boat ride to the jungle and swum in the river. We all cooked dinner together, which was really, really delicious! They showed us how to cook authentic Cambodian meals using the bamboo tree (which after dinner was laid in the campfire in order to explode :P).

We had great fun drinking rice wine at the campfire and swimming near the waterfall. On our way back Kham also gave us a tour through a minority inhabited village next to the jungle. We met some of the minorities and visited the local elementary school.
I genuinely recommend this tour to anyone who is planning on doing a jungle trekking in Banlung (Ratanakiri), Cambodia. Kham is a really great guy and guide and knows a lot about the jungle since he practically lives in it. His tour includes the same things all the booking agencies downtown are offering, however this one is way cheaper and more amicable!

Alexander

Apr 2017 • Solo

I had a great time at the jungle trek, it was 2 days and we got to be hosted at the local village's new years' celebrations!
It was a real experience, and the guide Kham was absolutely amazing... he took care of us and everything we needed, cooked for us, made camp, and even took care ofy leg when i got stung in the jungle:)
If you're choosing a company to guide you on your jungle trek, choose this one. You won't regret it i promise!! Tony Nezar

Jun 2017 • Solo

I did a 2-day trekking together with two couples. The day started with going by a little boat closer to the jungle on the other side of the river. Nice views during this ride. The trekking is quite tough because the ranger walked on really high speed. So you need to be a little fit if you decide to do it. Even though the jungle and the route is really nice, crossing rivers, waterfalls en good flora and fauna all the way. The guide is a nice guy, provides good information about the jungle and the local tribes. For the night we stayed near a river we're we could swim and wash our sweat off. The local food cooked by the ranger en the guide is really nice. After some liquor and watching the fireflies we were exhausted. So no problems with sleeping! Next day we swam near a waterfall and visited some tribes. It was a really nice experience and would definitely recommend it.

Mr...Tim

Jan 2017 • Friends

We did a homestay in a ratanakiri minority village with noi and his wife and two children. They are lovely people with a lot of chickens pigs and three little dogs! It's was amazing to see how they lived and how they used the resources around them.
We drank rice wine and eat local food and felt like part of their family! Very welcoming!
I only wish that I had taken some things to help teach the children English as we didn't know there would be children there!
But we would love to go back and help them with their future project of building a school and teaching the children!

Emma

Mar 2017

What can I say about this tour other than, from start to finish it was amazing. Kham and Hok Seng were our guides on the 2 night tour out from BanLungi. We started off in a tuk tuk convoy (of 2) from Banlung with another couple and were taken to a small settlement where we boarded our boat for the trip into the jungle. The boat trip took around an hour and gave a glimpse of the riverside villages and traditional way of life far removed from from 'modern western civilisation'. The boat trip in itself was worth the effort before we'd even started the trek. The trek I would describe as easy to moderate as there were a few short steep sections but Kham makes sure everyone is comfortable with the pace and there frequent break as when required. We had to carry our own water and change of clothes and sleeping bag as a minimum but we also carried our own hammocks as well to ease the burden on Kham and HokSeng. Their insight and knowledge into all things jungle made it enjoyable and educational! Hok Seng kept us entertained with his magic tricks and both of them were so easy to get along with and had a great sense of humour. We spent the night at a waterfall deep in the jungle with another camp of around 4/5 people on the other side. The fresh cool water was just what was needed and it was safe to jump off one of the rocks into the pool (check with guide where this spot is.Dinner was traditional hearty fare cooked inside the bamboo canes. Couple with the setting this has to be one of my favourite ever dining experiences . This was washed down with the odd shot of Cambodian whisky. A night in a hammock in the jungle is also a must try experience. The place comes more alive at night. Don;t worry, the hammocks come with a mozzie net. Breakfast was also another great meal and hot coffee drunk from freshly chopped and made bamboo mugs set us up for another day of trekking. This time we visited Khams village and were shown around the school and little shops and graveyard. All very interesting. Kham wants to expand his mini business and help the people from his home village so I would urge anyone thinking of doing this trip to do it. It is not touristy and no one was trying to sell anything to us. This is as authentic as it gets in my opinion. In summary, Kham and Hok Seng are passionate about their country and culture and know how to look after their guests and keep us safe, well informed, fed and watered and entertained! In short, just go and say hi to them from us. John

John M

pr 2017 • Solo

I met Kham Khvann in Ban Lung city and decided to go together for three days in the minority villages near Veun Sai.
We stayed at two different homestays, saw lots of villages and great river bathing areas.
I had my best Khmer food in those days, drank rice whisky in the evening and learned so much about the different minorities life, as well as lao and cambodian ones.
As a local, Kham has so much insight to give, and it was easily one of my most fun, authentic and real experiences in a six month trip to east Asia.
I would recommend anyone who's interested in the stuff I mentioned to go for it :)

Tomer, Israel