Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOURS AROUND STUNG TRENG
There are a number of attractions around Stung Treng: the widest range of local tours is run by
Xplore Asia, but there are other options available.
TOUR OPERATORS
Riverside Guesthouse Tours By the transport
stop T 012 439454. This guesthouse is a good option
for boat trips, either up the Mekong to the Laos border
and back (about $70 including lunch for up to four
people) or along the narrower Sekong ($15/hr).
Xplore Asia Just east of the centre on the riverfront
- you're most likely to find the manager, Theara,
there after 6pm T 074 973456, W xplore-cambodia
.com. A good range of interesting, albeit pricey, trips,
including a grand four- to five-day journey down the
Mekong to Kratie that takes in parts of the Mekong
Discovery Trail (see box, p.218) using a combination of
cycling, trekking and kayaking (starting from around $450
for two people). More affordable excursions include one-
day trips combining kayaking, trekking and dolphin
watching ($85/person), a full day's kayaking ($65/
person); half-day cycling and kayaking trips ($35/person
for two people); and fishing trips (the nearby section of
the Mekong offers particularly good fishing even in the
dry season, since the various falls across the Mekong on
either side of the border prevent fish swimming upriver).
They can also arrange boat trips to the Sopheak Mitt falls,
dolphin watching and a spectacular stretch of flooded
forest ($80/boat seating up to four people).
EATING AND DRINKING
There are no culinary frills in Stung Treng, although you won't starve, and the two places listed below do a passable
selection of Khmer and Western favourites. Alternatively, head to the long line of food stalls along the riverfront dishing
up cheap meals, beer and fruit shakes from late afternoon until after dark.
4
Ponika's Palace Just northeast of the market T 012
916441. There's nothing particularly palatial about this
simple little family-run, tourist-oriented café, offering
economical Khmer food (mains $3-4) and more
expensive Western and other dishes (not all always
available) - the so-called Indian chicken masala bears a
suspicious resemblance to Khmer chicken amok , but is
very good all the same. Decent Western breakfasts too,
plus baguettes, burgers, pancakes and the like. Daily
6am-10pm.
Riverside Guesthouse Café By the transport stop
T 012 439454. Big, traveller-friendly menu featuring lots
of Asian mains ($3-3.50) and Western staples - baguettes,
pancakes, spaghetti and so on. The two street-side tables
offer a nice perch from which to watch the world go by.
Daily 6.30am-10.30pm.
DIRECTORY
Internet All the hotels and restaurants that we review (see
above) have wi-fi, but there aren't many internet cafés.
Money There are ATMs at the Canadia Bank (Visa and
MasterCard) and the Acleda Bank (Visa only).
North along the Mekong: Stung Treng to
Laos
The stretch of Mekong between Stung Treng and the Laos border is rich in ecotourism
potential, most of it still largely untapped. River islands, waterfalls, rapids and
impressive stretches of flooded forest dot the waters, culminating in the thundering
Sopheak Mitt waterfalls , which block the route on into Laos.
As at Kratie, pods of Irrawaddy dolphins are the major draw, and can be found at
several spots along the river. Most visitors head for the so-called Anlong Cheuteal
dolphin pool , just south of the Laos border. Boat trips here can be arranged at
Stung Treng (see box above); alternatively, you may be able to arrange a boat
(roughly $15/hr) at the nearby villages of O Svay and Preah Rumkel - homestays can
also be arranged at the latter (see p.220). Dolphin numbers are smaller here than at
Kampie, although there's still around a ninety percent chance of spotting them.
 
 
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