Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Photographs
»
Do not photograph without asking permission first - this includes children. Some hill tribes believe
the camera will capture their spirit.
»
Don't photograph altars.
»
Don't use a flash.
»
Don't show up for 15 minutes and expect to be granted permission to take photos. Invest some time
in getting to know the villagers first.
Travel
»
Make a point of travelling in small, less disruptive groups.
»
Try to spend some real time in minority villages - at least several hours if not an overnight. If you
don't have a few hours to invest, don't go.
Virachey National
Park
This
park
(admission US$5)
is one of the largest protected areas in Cambodia, stretching for
3325 sq km east to Vietnam, north to Laos and west to Stung Treng Province. The park
has never been fully explored and is home to a number of rare mammals, including ele-
phants, clouded leopards, tigers and sun bears, although your chances of seeing any of
these beasts are extremely slim. However, you'll probably hear endangered gibbons and
might spot great hornbills, giant ibises, Germain's peacock-pheasants and other rare birds.
So important is the park to the Mekong region that it was designated an Asean Heritage
Park in 2003. However, the bad news is that it is seriously under threat from developers,
and Cambodian authorities have already sold more remote regions of the park to Viet-
namese rubber-plantation developers.
Virachey has one of the most organised ecotourism programs in Cambodia, focusing on
small-scale culture, nature and adventure trekking. The program aims to involve and be-
nefit local minority communities. All treks into the park must be arranged through the Vir-
achey National Park Eco-Tourism Information Centre (
Click here
)
in Ban Lung. The park
offers two- to eight-day treks led by English- speaking, park-employed rangers. Private
operators offer tours in the park buffer zone but are forbidden from taking tourists into the
