7-Day Virachey National Park Deep Jungle Trek

Follow Kachoch hill tribe ranger for a 7 Day Virachey National Park Encounter Deep Jungle Trek Veal Thom of Virakchey National Park. It’s an open trek to thrilling and fulfilling adventures in this amazing forest. Starting on the dirt roads to Veun 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 deep trek focus on nature, engage with indigenous communities and also learn about local farming and lifestyle. Different sceneries will be presented to you like beautiful panoramic views, mixed forest, secondary forest. This trek has a high expedition experience. We go into the forest, have a great adventure and educative time.

Each tour begins with Evening briefing. At 4:30 PM we will meet at your hotel in Siem Reap for a journey briefing. It is the first opportunity for everyone to meet the guide on their trip and to run over the final details so everyone knows what to expect.

Please note that occasionally this schedule may change in case of extreme weather conditions or other unusual circumstances.

Day 1: Approximately 4-6 Hours Trek

You will be picked up from your hotel at 8.30am and travel north to Kachon village approximately 90 minutes 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 to 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 farm houses.

Lunch break at a farm house. 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 bamboo forest, rocky hills, streams, thick jungle stopping on a hilltop to enjoy beautiful scenery. After 4 hours we arrive to 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 hammock with mosquito net near the waterfall.

+ Accommodation: hammock with mosquito attached

Day 2-3-4-5-6: Approximately 4-6 hours Trek Each Day

As the sunlight pours into camp in the early morning, make sure you take advantage of your environment one last time and go for a dip in the waterfall to start the day off. Surely there can be no better way to invigorate and inspire for the day ahead?! Breakfast is served and you won’t find a fresher alternative – fish caught from the waterfall itself are cooked to perfection on the campfire, along with tasty noodles and a quick coffee, if the water wasn’t enough to wake you up. Make sure you eat up though, today’s 20km trek requires all the energy you here.

Experiencing the jungle at this time in the morning is a real pleasure as the light plays down from the occasionally indiscreet canopy of trees above. Shafts of gleaming sunlight set the jungle alight and guide you on your way through this unblemished setting which is, in every sense, an ‘ off the beaten track’ experience. Climb mountains of rock to hitherto unreached heights to indulge yourself with the stunning panoramas available and push on through the multitudes of stream and river crossings necessary to reach lunch; your first stop of the day.

Picnic over and appetite sated for now, pick up your trek and eventually find yourself with a new natural vista to engorge your visual appetite. The stone field rises out of the jungle like a shambolic Stone Hinge – there’s no order but what the Tropics have deposited here is tablet upon tablet of white stone that tic-tac their way around a 50m square distance. Truly a sight to behold, the locals frequent the area, with a tributary running picturesquely around it, as a popular fishing haunt, but tonight it could be your bedroom.

Not wanting to be too prescriptive about how you want your trek to be, the chose is yours as to whether your last night in Koh Perk is spent amongst the white hunks of the stone field, a villager’s residence as a homestay or on a local tribal farm. Whatever you decide the guides will be happy to lead you there for another delicious meal and truly unique experience.

+ Accommodation: hammock with mosquito attached

Day 7: Approximately 2-3 Hours Walk

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 the tombs to guard and likeness of elephant tusks and beautiful 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. Afterwards, 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.