Day 1: As you head east from Kratie towards Vietnam and Laos, you climb into a land of thick, lush forest soaked in green and criss-crossed with countless streams that eventually find their way into the Mekong River. After lunch in the provincial capital Banlung, you will have the chance to visit nearby waterfalls and see latex (the tree’s sap) being tapped from rubber trees. The day finishes with a detour to Yaklaom Lake, a beautiful and perfectly round stretch of water surrounded by forest, for a refreshing late afternoon swim. (B/L/D)
Day 2: Today we’ll take you northwest through bamboo forests to the banks of the Sé San river for a picnic lunch. As you progress the forest becomes even more vibrant and lush, leading on towards Laos and the village of Taveng, where you stop for the night at a hotel. On the way, cross Veyrum Plang, a round lava field in the forest that's just a few steps away from a small waterfall surrounded by tigers’ caves. You'll also stop at some of the traditional Kroeung villages glimpsed in the forest on both sides of the road. Depending on the season, you may be able to find some of their unique and impressive bachelor houses, built high up on stilts. (B/L/D)
Day 3: A day of meandering through the highlands along the Vietnamese border, stopping first at some Tampoun villages to observe tribal customs and perhaps to haggle for traditional handicrafts such as baskets, pipes and machetes. Leaving the villages, you’ll cross rubber, cashew nut and coffee plantations to arrive at the Sé San River, from where you can take a trip in a local dugout canoe to reach Jaraï tribal villages, before heading back to Banlung for dinner. (B/L/D)
Day 4: After breakfast depart at your leisure back to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. (B)
NB: we can also arrange overnight stays in the villages – please ask for more details.
