3-Day Virachey National Park Encounter Trek

3-Day Virachey National Park Encounter Trek

Follow Kachoch hill tribe ranger for a 3-day trek that will take you to encounter Kaoh Piek forest, the southern of Virakchey National Park in Ratanakiri. Starting on the dirt roads to Vun Sai, the banks of the Sesan and O’Lalai rivers, visit small settlements, stay overnight in the jungle, and submerge in a beautiful forest. Numerous small creeks, streams and a river meander through this beautiful area. This 3-day trek does not only focus on nature but also engage with indigenous communities, learn about local farming and lifestyle. Different sceneries will be presented to you like beautiful panoramic views, mixed forest, secondary forest. Stay overnight in the jungle, and submerge in a beautiful forest.

Itinerary

Day 1: Approximately 4-6 hours trek

Stop At: Ratanakiri Province, Ratanakiri Province
You will be picked up from your hotel at 8.30am and travel north to Kachon village approximately 90-minute drive. From Kachon we take a scenic boat ride for about 50 minutes on Sesan river to a remote village of Kachoch ethnic minority. Upon arrival at the village, we meet our Kachoch ranger and start our trekking tour. At the beginning of the hike, we pass by many interesting rice fields and farmhouses.

Lunch break at a farmhouse. Prepare and get changed to avoid getting cut from the jungle and beaten by insects as we are heading deeper.

Carry on the trek and hike passing through a bamboo forest, rocky hills, streams, thick jungle stopping on a hilltop to enjoy the beautiful scenery. After 4 hours we arrive at the waterfall. This three-tier waterfall measures at least over forty meters and a beautiful clear river at its bottom is waiting for you rinse the sweat off your body and invigorate your muscles.

In the evening, your guide and ranger will set up a shelter, prepare the food, dinner at the camp-fire and overnight in the hammock with mosquito net near the waterfall.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in the hammock with mosquito attached

Day 2: Approximately 4-6 hours trek

Stop At: Ratanakiri Province, Ratanakiri Province
Early in the morning, you can enjoy hot coffee or tea. Breakfast will be prepared on the wood fire. Start with steep but a rewarding climb as on the summit of the mountain is a magnificent view. Trek and hike through lush old jungle with chances to see the wildlife and birds. Once in a while, we take a rest a little bit to enjoy the jungle surrounding and your guide will explain the natural resource as well as you will learn about your ranger’s way of life. After 3 hours of our trekking adventure, we will reach a stone field and there is a stream where we can take our main break for lunch. At this point, our trek can be flexible as there you 2 options of where we’ll spend the night. Either you sleep in the jungle which we will keep trek and hike for another hour or two towards camp-site or homestay in one of the Kachoch hill tribe family which we will we trek and hike out of the jungle to a village and be welcomed to enjoy a little drink of indigenous homemade whiskey.
Duration: 6 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hammock with mosquito attached

Day 3: Approximately 3-4 hours walk

Stop At: Ratanakiri Province, Ratanakiri Province
Have a lie-in – you deserve it! The majority of your trekking has been completed by this point and so today is all about understanding the Kachock way of life. If you stayed with the village the night before you will already be a little familiar with this, but if not, a short walk to the local’s home starts the day after another nourishing breakfast.

Upon reaching the village, take the time to see how this ancient tribe spends their days, weaving baskets and collecting and processing the natural resources. Make sure you ask before taking photographs of the people as a sign of respect and courtesy, but if you do be sure to show them the images on your digital cameras to really bring the house down.

Next, it’s off to the village cemetery, which may sound a little morbid, but if you do be further from the truth. The cemetery is a celebration of life and all around the spell-binding site are over 100 wooden constructs of crypts and effigies of animals that represent the lives of those indigenous people now passed on. Kaoh Piek is home to a traditional Kachoch burial ground complete with carved effigies of the deceased. Family groups are buried side by side and elaborate ceremonies held after a period of mourning. There are wooden men and women statues standing in front of the tombs to guard and likeness of elephant tusks and beautifully decorated tombs. The stories of how these come about are fascinating and include sacrifice, reincarnation, and bountiful offerings, but I’ll leave this to your guide to explain in full.

Lunch is a particular treat today. Sticky rice and locally-sourced produce give the food a distinctly regional flavor and if you’re feeling adventurous try some of chili and garlic dipping sauce – not for the fainted! Eating with the people is a rewarding and life-affirming experience not to be missed but unfortunately signals the end of your three-day adventure on Koh Perk. A quick walk back to the boat and you’re on your way back to a more recognizable civilization to Kachon village. Afterward, we are picked up by car and travel back to Ban Lung. Then, it is time to enjoy the refreshing waters of the beautiful crater lake of Yeak Loam, set amid a pocket of lush jungle. Our Kachoch hill tribe adventure mountain trek has now come to an end with a drop off at your hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.