Banlung, Cambodia: travel guide
Red-earth hub for Yeak Laom crater lake and Ratanakiri's waterfalls
The dusty red-laterite capital of Ratanakiri in Cambodia's far northeast, ringed by waterfalls and rubber.
About Banlung
Banlung is the main town of Ratanakiri in Cambodia's northeast, a red-dirt town set among rubber plantations and forest. It is the base for exploring a remote corner of the country.
Yeak Laom, a near-circular crater lake with clear water, is the signature stop and a pleasant place to swim. Waterfalls such as Cha Ong, Kachanh and Katieng sit within easy reach, and the region is home to hill-tribe communities, including the Tampuan, whose villages can be visited with a local guide.
Banlung suits adventurous travellers who enjoy waterfalls, trekking and long rural drives. The drier months from November to April are the most practical for getting around, while the green season brings fuller waterfalls.
- Country
- Cambodia
- Currency
- KHR
- Time zone
- Asia/Phnom_Penh
Last updated
Top places to visit in Banlung
Banlung Central Market
Market · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
The provincial market at the centre of town, where Tampuan, Jarai and Kreung villagers come in to trade: forest produce, woven baskets, cashew, and the raw zircon the province is mined for. Opens at five and thins out by mid-afternoon.
Kachanh Waterfall
Waterfall · 4.2 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A broad 12 m fall in rubber and jungle 6 km south of Banlung, the easiest of the three classic waterfalls to reach and the one with a real swimming pool below it.
Katieng Waterfall
Waterfall · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A 10 m fall you can walk behind, 9 km south-west of town past cashew and rubber smallholdings, with a rope swing over the pool and a bamboo bridge on the approach.
Yeak Laom Crater Lake
Nature · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry $2 (≈ ₹190)
An almost perfectly round volcanic crater lake 800 m across and 50 m deep, held sacred by the Tampuan and managed by the surrounding villages. A shaded path circles the rim in about an hour, with wooden jetties for swimming and a small…
O'Sinlair (Seven Steps) Waterfall
Waterfall · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A staircase of seven cascades in the Lumphat direction about 20 km south-east of Banlung, each step with its own pool. Much less visited than the three town waterfalls and worth the rough track.
Cha Ong Waterfall
Waterfall · 4.1 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The tallest of the Banlung falls, dropping about 25 m into a fern-hung gorge 7 km north-west of town. A staircase leads down and behind the curtain; the ravine stays cold and dark even at midday.
Phnom Svay
Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The hill on the western edge of Banlung, topped by a pagoda and a large reclining Buddha, with the town's sunset view over the plateau and the Ou Chum valley. A short climb from National Road 78.
Kan Seng Lake
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
Banlung's own lake on the northern edge of the grid, ringed by a walking track and a scatter of cafes and lodges. The town's evening promenade rather than a sight, and a five-minute ride from the market.
Where to stay in Banlung
Hotels
- tribal village home stay
- Happy Homestay
- Banlung Hill Top House & Trekking(Mr.Jammy)
- Familyhouse & trekking
- Ratanakiri Homestay
- Molyka Lodge
Getting to Banlung
Nearest airport: Attapeu (AOU), about 119 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Walking
Best time to visit Banlung
- Jun 33°C
- Jul 33°C
- Aug 32°C
- Sep 32°C
- Oct 34°C