FILLED · 5 spots

Ratanakiri (រតនគិរី)

Capital: Banlung  · 590 km from Phnom Penh · 10h by road

Remote north-east. Volcanic crater lake (Yeak Loam) with turquoise swimming water, red-dirt roads, jungle treks in Virachey National Park, and tribal villages where many people speak languages older than Khmer. A 4-day minimum if you're going — getting there is the journey.

AdventureOff-beatNatureEthno-tourism

Known for: Yeak Loam Lake · Virachey National Park · Tribal villages · Gem markets

Top spots (5)

Yeak Loam Crater Lake

យក្សឡោម

★ 5/5

nature  ·  Cost: $2 entry  · 07:00–17:30 daily

Why visit: Perfectly circular volcanic crater filled with crystal-clear turquoise water — 50m deep, 700m across, swimmable, sacred to local Tampuan people. The single best swim in Cambodia.
How to get there: 5 km from Banlung, $4 tuk-tuk + return.
#must-see#swimming#photo-spot

Virachey National Park

រមណីយដ្ឋានជាតិវិរៈជ័យ

★ 5/5

nature  ·  Cost: $60–100/day fully-guided multi-day  · Multi-day only

Why visit: Cambodia's most remote national park. Multi-day jungle trek required — proper wilderness with rare gibbons, Asian black bears, and clouded leopards. Treks via authorised village guides.
How to get there: Park HQ in Voen Sai (1.5h from Banlung). Treks via "Eco Tourism Information Centre" Banlung.
#adventure#eco#multi-day#wildlife

Ka Chang Waterfall

ទឹកជ្រោះកាចាង់

★ 4/5

nature  ·  Cost: $1 entry  · Daylight

Why visit: Wide curtain waterfall easily reachable from Banlung. Swimmable plunge pool below, picnic-friendly. Pair with Ka Tieng waterfall on the same loop.
How to get there: 8 km west of Banlung, scooter or tuk-tuk.
#nature#swimming#half-day

Voen Sai Tribal Villages

★ 4/5

history  ·  Cost: $30–50 half-day with boat + guide  · Daytime

Why visit: River-side village inhabited by Lao, Kreung, and Chinese communities — each with its own cemetery and customs. Boat upriver to even more remote Tampuan and Jarai villages with traditional cemetery posts.
How to get there: 40 km from Banlung, organize through Banlung guesthouses.
#culture#off-beat#boat

Banlung Gem Market

ផ្សារត្បូងបាន់ឡុង

★ 3/5

market  ·  Cost: Free to browse · stones from $5–500+  · 07:00–17:00

Why visit: Ratanakiri is gem country — zircon, amethyst, peridot. Local market stalls sell rough and cut stones. Go with caution and someone who knows their stones; expect plenty of glass mixed with the real thing.
How to get there: Banlung centre.
#shopping#quirky
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