Info for 2-day treks in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri

Hi there! Where are you starting your 2 days from? For Mondulkiri, you need 2 days from Sen Monorom to make it worthwhile, but luckily the road is good now. You’ll find everything you need on-site to organize your trek. For Ratanakiri, the usual stop is Ban Lung, and you’ll need to head to Vuern Say (Wunsei or Virachey, depending on the translation) to take a boat up or down the river to start your 2-day trek. For this last trek, we booked through a local agency in Siem Reap. It was just after reopening post-COVID, so not everything was back in place—lots of improvising and setbacks, but a great guide handled it all, and that’s part of the charm of traveling! Happy travels! Eric

Thanks so much. Have a great day

Hi Eric,

I’d like to do a 2- or 3-day trek in either the Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri region. What would you recommend for a first trip to Cambodia? I’ve read that the Chi Phat area looks interesting too, with its variety of nature activities. Are these regions still pretty authentic and not overrun by mass tourism? To get to these different areas, is it better to go through a local agency that organizes everything or just take a bus to the spot? Thanks in advance!

Antoine

Good evening, Regarding Chi Path, I already replied to you in another discussion. I can tell you that when I went there, there weren’t many people at the center—about 6 or 7 travelers. Most were there for short stays, like 2 days/1 night, while we were just the two of us with our guide and our cook for 5 days/4 nights. Also, since there’s no electricity, there’s no Wi-Fi, which puts some people off. On the other hand, the nature is rich, and you’ll see some animals since you go far, first by boat.

For Mondulkiri, I explored it a bit in 2017. There were very few people because between Snuol and Sen Monorom, it was still just a dirt track (we even had to put chains on the 4x4 to get through some muddy slopes). Plus, our guide was amazing—she had me pretend to be her brother-in-law so we’d be welcomed without hesitation or apprehension. We could go anywhere, and we’d have meals all four of us—her, the driver, and us—like a group of friends. It was fantastic.

I discovered Ratanakiri in 2023. It’s farther away and more visited, though not crowded. It’s more structured, but with a good guide, it’s easier to step outside the conventional framework. For example, instead of lunching at the usual stop’s restaurant, we’d eat with the guides, drivers, and a few other trekkers in the kitchen—singing, laughing, and sharing some rice alcohol! You can also go by motorbike with locals to certain sites or return on a bamboo raft built with their help. This lets you break away from the classic circuit and only cross paths with a few people.

Yes, you can go without an agency, but since I don’t speak Cambodian, the guide is also a translator for me. They facilitate exchanges with locals, help gather info on markets or unplanned events to see, and let you join in activities like fishing or farming. You’ll discover more than what’s mentioned in guidebooks. Plus, when you spend a month with the same guide, they quickly pick up on your tastes and preferences, suggesting variations. That’s just my take.

Since the journeys are long, your itinerary might lead you to prioritize one over the other. Either way, you’ll come back with unforgettable memories. In Cambodia, a form of ecotourism involving villagers is well-developed. With a guide/translator, you can participate more—otherwise, you’ll just experience the basics like sleeping and eating in the common area. If you want to cook or help out, you’ll need to be able to communicate.

Looking forward to hearing about your trip, I hope!

Hi Eric,

Thanks for all the great details about these two destinations. Is the agency you traveled with still around? If so, could you share their contact info or your guide’s details?

Thanks in advance

Hi, I sent you the coordinates in private, but I forgot the guide’s details for RATANAKIRI—I’ll send them to you. Eric