Ban Lung (Rattanakiri Province) travel guide

Ins and outs

Ban Lung is 13 hours from Phnom Penh. It is better to break your journey in Kratie and Stung Treng and take a pickup/taxi from there. The chief mode of transport is the motorbike, which comes with a driver, or not, as required (usually US$5 without driver and US$15 with, but you’ll have to haggle). Bus services are sporadic. Cars with driver can be hired for US$40-50 a day.

Ban Lung and around

Air

There is an airport in Ban Lung but the old plane that used to fly from Phnom Penh crashed near Bokor, taking several Korean tourists with it. There are no plans at the time of writing to begin flights again.

Bus

There is now a daily bus from Ban Lung to Phnom Penh, 12 hrs, $15.

Motorbike/moto

Several guesthouses have motorbikes for hire, or can arrange hire, for around US$5 per day without driver and triple that with a driver. There are no garages/petrol stops outside the town of Ban Lung, though there are a few roadside places offering bottles of fuel of dubious quality, so it is advisable to set off with a full tank. Lake View Lodge can also arrange moto and dirt bike for US$5-10 per day.

Shared taxi/pickup

If you are a glutton for punishment or just want another after-dinner story when you get home, it is possible to travel directly to Phnom Penh but be prepared to sit in a cramped pickup/taxi for around 13 hrs. Taxi to Kratie, leaving the taxi stand at approximately 0800, 7 hrs, US$12-13; taxi to Stung Treng, 0830, 2-3 hrs, US$5-7.

You can only get a moto to take you to Lumphat for around US$15 for the day trip. The road from Stung Treng is fairly well graded now and is constantly improving due to its use by logging companies. The trip to Ban Lung from Stung Treng takes about 3 hrs (if you get yourself in a nice new Camry), US$10.

Tourists commonly ask about travelling between Ban Lung and Sen Monorom. At the time of publication this overland odyssey really wasn’t an option, as the roads are almost impassable and difficult to navigate. Only experienced dirt bike riders with very good local knowledge should attempt this trip.

Banks

Amazingly ANZ bank have opened an ATM near the airport. Details are sketchy if foreign bank cards are being accepted by this machine so it's best not to rely on it for a source of cash. The Mountain Guesthouse and the Ratanak Hotel both change TCs but allow at least 3 days for your cheques to clear.

Internet

Cyber Sophat near the market claims the only broadband connection in the whole province. Otherwise expect slow dial-up download speeds. CIC near Sovannikiri Hotel.

Medical services

The hospital is on the road north towards O Chum. Dr Vannara, T012-970359, speaks very good English.

Post office

In the centre of town.