The forest of the Kroeung, 5 to 7 hours hike

Tour IB) Overnight in a field house
We start early on this journey for the Kroeung territory. We drive for about 15 kilometers until we stop in a big village with a superb view : hills covered in forest roll for ever from West to East. The hike starts by going down a trail and then crosses a few fields before progressively entering the forest. This timber forest is exploited by local villagers for the first kilometers of the hike an then recovers its integrity. We cross a number of streams, some with small rapids in the shade of the forest. The hike is usually easy but can become more difficult when trees have been fallen or when the track goes up a slope. If we wish for more sport, it is possible to go towards a small waterfall by leaving the track and cutting through the forest. This waterfall is nothing like the Victoria Falls, but the hike to get there becomes much harder and one must often use the macheta to make way through the bush and thorns, it lengthens the trip by about an hour and a half. We then reach slash and burn fields where a small bamboo hut shall be our home for the night. The following morning we bid farewell to our hosts before reaching the place where our car shall hopefully be waiting for us.

Tour IC) Overnight in a village
We start early on this journey for the Kroeung territory. We drive for about 15 kilometers until we stop in a big village with a superb view : hills covered in forest roll for ever from West to East. The hike starts by going down a trail and then crosses a few fields before progressively entering the forest. This timber forest is exploited by local villagers for the first kilometers of the hike an then recovers its integrity. We cross a number of streams, some with small rapids in the shade of the forest. The hike is usually easy but can become more difficult when trees have been fallen or when the track goes up a slope. If we wish for more sport, it is possible to go towards a small waterfall by leaving the track and cutting through the forest. This waterfall is nothing like the Victoria Falls, but the hike to get there becomes much harder and one must often use the macheta to make way through the bush and thorns, it lengthens the trip by about an hour and a half. The first slash and burn fields that we encounter mark the quick ending of the forest, as a matter of fact, half an hour later we cross the road and reach the village where we shall overnight with a local family. rcher le matin suivant pour nous ramener à Banlung.

Tour II - A 3 day hike among the Jaraï

We head east, towards the border of Vietnam through plantations of heveas, cashew nuts, then we walk north to Andong Meas to reach the Se San river on which we shall take a boatride towards the Jarai villages. After a 90 minute ride in the middle of an exceptionally beautiful nature we reach a big Jaraî village which has an interesting cemetery. Superb wooden statues, which will eventually rot, accompany the dead in their last trip.
After our visit to the cemetery we shall cross another village where we shall have something to eat before a two -hour walk through forest and dry rice fields ; everybody carries his /her bag and water in the flask he /she has brought.. We head north, north-east closer and closer to the Vietnamese border ; the only difficulty of this walk is a climb onto a hill at the beginning of the afternoon. At the end of the day we shall arrive at a Jarai village and sleep in a hammock in the common house after a swim in the river nearby.
The next morning we head westwards for a six-hour walk which will take us to Katcha territory. The Katchas are one of the smallest ethnic groups of the province.
We shall walk across forest and freshly cleared ground . the ground is level but the heat can be intense. Towards the end we shall head south through a superb forest of srolao (immense white- barked trees). We shall go past a Jarai village which has the most beautiful funeral statues in the whole province as well as a freshwater source which walkers generally appreciate. An hour later we arrive at the big village where we shall spend the night. A big clean up in the river : back to civilisation.
The next morning, after lounging in the village, we shall head for the Se San river. The 2h30 walk is easy, we go down and the landscape is particularly pretty. Should you be interested, we can make a detour to see a big waterfall whose access is protected by hundreds of leeches. After crossing the river we reach Anlong Meas where the jeep is waiting for us. We shall have a late lunch at the lodge and the whole afternoon to attend to our blisters and other small problems before going to the lake of the Giant Laom for a swim.
Dinner and night at the lodge.

Tour III - Three days two nights adventurous jungle trek.

On this trek our guides will take you to one of the most remote areas of Cambodia close to the borders of Laos and Vietnam. Due to its remote location this place it is rarely visited by tourists, therefore the chances of seeing wildlife are more important. The area is also the habitat of several hill tribes where families live in small settlements. During our trek we have lunch in a Brao village and will spend one night with a local family. We will quite likely experience the fishing and hunting techniques of the local people. Please note that we do not accept any kind of hunting on protected animals for tourists entertainment nor consumption !
Landscapes are very diverse, with wide views contrasting with the dense jungle. You will pass small villages flanked by rice fields while some parts of the trek are crosscountry. This means that our way is cut through the dense jungle. Small streams have to be crossed. The Steung Khampha is not so easy to cross as it is too deep. Therefore we look for a small boat or resort to building our own raft.
We spend two nights during this trek. One night in the jungle and one with a tribal family. One thing they have in common: pitch black skies with countless stars. The sounds of insects and animals completes the blend of life in the jungle.

Tour IV - Cha Ong Kalay jungle trek two day one night.

Cha Ong is one of the waterfalls close to Banlung. It is where the trek starts. It leads us through small family villages, fields, secundary and primary forest. We spend the night at a river where we can have a swim. On the way we meet the locals (Kroeung people). We see some of their daily activities and learn about their culture and their way of living close to nature.
First day.
We leave at 08.15 am. It takes about half an hour to get to Cha Ong waterfall. We spend 30 of 45 min at the waterfall. After that we walk until noon and have lunch in a small settlement. ‘Round 15.00 pm we reach the campsite. There you can have a swim and relax.
Second day.We leave around 08.00 am. We go for the highlight: the primary forest. Huge trees that makes us humans appear very small. We go up hill and down hill. Never on the same path. Regularly we check our position in order to determine the course which leads us to Kalai. Some parts are kind of difficult to pass. Our way has to be cut and speed is often limited to 1 km/hour. The time we spend walking the second day is approx. six to seven hours.

Creation date : 20/04/2004 @ 03:44
Last update : 20/05/2009 @ 09:37
Category : Our excursions
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