Eastern Cambodia - The Rough Guide to Cambodia

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

T 012 770650, W ratanakiri-lodge.com. Luxurious

guesthouse in lush gardens near the lake, offering an

unexpected haven of luxury in remote Banlung. The

lodge's wooden buildings look a bit like a miniature

Khmer village given a chic modern makeover, with

standard rooms in the main building, plus more

luxurious accommodation in private bungalows

arranged around a beautiful garden. Rooms (all a/c) are

individually decorated with traditional fabrics and

artefacts. There's also a good restaur ant (see below) and

a good-sized pool, plus a small spa. $52

Thy Ath Lodge Boeung Kansaing T 097 315 5559,

E thy.ath.lodge@gmail.com. Friendly family guest-

house in a sparkling new building close to the lake.

Rooms (all a/c) are spacious, spotless and very

comfortable, w hile those upstairs ($5 extra) have good

lake views too. $20

★

to reception. The bungalows themselves (all en suite, fan

only) are fairly basic, although the stone-pebbled

bathrooms are a nice touch. More expensive ones have hot

water, and some also have nice balconies with hammocks

to loll in. There's also a restaurant an d f free wi-fi, and staff

can arrange tours and onward travel. $7

Tribal East of the centre T 075 650 8555. Long-running

Banlung institution, although now somewhat past its best.

The wood-panelled rooms are spacious but a bit gloomy

(and could be cleaner), although perfectly OK for the price.

The attractive attached restaurant (see below) is a major

plu s, a nd staff can also sort out transport and tours.

Fan $7 ; a/c $12

Yaklom Hill Lodge 6km east of town, beyond the Hill

Tribe Monument T 011 790510, W yaklom.blogspot

.co.uk. For real isolation this eco-resort is hard to beat, with

fifteen stilted wooden bungalows dotted amid jungly

grounds featuring sunset- and sunrise-viewing platforms,

linked by a nature trail amid the trees. Rooms (fan only) are

simply but nicely furnished, although there are communal

showers only, and the e lectr icity goes off nightly at 9pm.

Rates include breakfast. $15

Tree Top Eco Lodge T 012 490333, W treetop

-ecolodge.com. Banlung's most original place to stay, with

accommodation in bungalows scattered across a thickly

wooded hillside and connected by a picturesque network

of raised walkways - you'll feel a bit like Tarzan just getting

4

EATING, DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE

A'Dam East of the centre T 012 411115. This pavilion

restaurant is generally quiet (sometimes bordering on

comatose), but the food more than compensates, with a

good selection of fresh and flavoursome Chinese dishes,

plus a few Thai and Khmer options (mains $2.50-3). Daily

8am-10pm.

Café Alee East of the centre. The newest kid on the

Banlung block, with a telephone directory-sized

menu stuffed with all the usual Western and Khmer

favourites (mains $2.50-4) along with a truckload of

other home-from-home comforts - anything from

cookies and fruit bread to pancakes and popcorn, plus an

interesting selection of local coffees. Doubles as the

office of DutchCo (see p.231) in the evenings. Daily 7am

until late.

Coconut Shake Boeung Kansaing T 077 912021.

Simple little Khmer restaurant in a pleasant lakeside

setting. All the usual Khmer standards (mains $2.50-4),

plus a few baguettes and a smattering of more expensive

Western options including that old sailor's favourite, “Fish

& Ship”. The signature coconut shake itself ($1, when

available) gets mixed reviews. Daily 7am-9pm.

Gecko House East of the centre T 012 422228.

In a vaguely jungly-looking thatched construction,

Gecko is usually the liveliest place in town, and can get a

bit of a party atmosphere if there are enough trekkers

around. The big menu features plenty of Thai, Khmer and

Chinese options (mains $4-5.50), plus a good Western

selection, although the slighty above-average prices

aren't always reflected in the quality of the food. Daily

8am-11pm.

Terres Rouges Lodge Boeung Kansaing T 012

770650. The place to go for a special meal by sultry

lamplight with a good range of Asian dishes ($4.50-6) plus

various pastas and a few French options ($11-12)

including meltingly tender coq au vin . Reservations

recommended. Daily 11.30am-2pm & 6-9.30pm.

Tribal Restaurant Tribal hotel, east of the centre

T 075 650 8555. Attractive pavilion restaurant serving up

nicely presented Khmer (mains $3-4) and more expensive

Western food. A good place for breakfast or lunch

(including tip-top baguettes), with cheap beer and a well-

stocked bar come sundown - or indeed earlier if you fancy.

Daily 6am-10.30pm.