Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 097 679 2714;
www.trekkingcambodia.com
)
One of the most experienced trekking operators
in the province, run by - wait for it - a friendly Dutchman.
Parrot Tours
( 012 764714;
www.jungletrek.blogspot.com
)
Tours are run by Sitha Nan, a national-park-
trained guide with expert local knowledge.
TOURS
DON'T MISS
THE REAL GIBBON EXPERIENCE
Conservation International
(CI; in Phnom Penh 023-214627;
www.conservation.org
) has set up
a new project to observe semihabituated yellow-cheeked crested gibbons in the
Voen Sai-Siem Pang
Conservation Area
(VSSPCA), just outside the border of Virachey National Park north of Voen Sai.
This colony was only discovered in 2010 and is believed to be the world's largest at about 500 groups.
Hearing their haunting dawn call echo through the jungle and seeing them swing through the canopy
is memorable.
You stay at least one night in the jungle sleeping in hammocks or in a community-based homestay,
rising well before dawn to spend time with the gibbons. CI has an exclusive arrangement with the vil-
lage near the gibbon site to run these tours. The gibbon viewing season runs from November to mid-
June (it's too wet at other times). The maximum group size is six. The tours cost US$100 to US$200
per person. Most companies in Ban Lung can arrange these trips on behalf of CI.
The VSSPCA is highly susceptible to the types of illegal and legal logging that have ravaged most
of the forests around Ban Lung, so this is money well spent.
Sleeping
BUNGALOWS
$
Tree Top Ecolodge
( 012 490333;
www.treetop-ecolodge.com
; d US$7, cottage with cold/hot water US$12/15; )
Set-
ting the standard for budget digs in the northeast. Here rough-hewn walkways lead to all-
wood bungalows with mosquito nets, thatch roofs and verandahs with verdant valley
views. Up-to-date travel advice is plentiful, especially for those Laos bound.
Banlung Balcony
GUESTHOUSE
$
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