For a different slice of the diversity that is Cambodia, it is worth taking a trip to Voen Sai. This is a small town approximately 38 kilometres north of the toen of Banlung. It sits nestled on the banks of the River Tonle Sap and is a popular destination with tourists that are in the know. A visitor to Voen Sai will appreciate the mix of ethnic races and cultures to be found here; Khmer people live alongside Lao, Chinese and Kreung minorities. The town is interesting as it is home to a 200 year old Chinese settlement located on the north bank of the river. There are also a small Chinese village and a Lao village to investigate on the other side of Tonle Sap River, near Voen Sai. Another important feature of the town is that it is home to the headquarters for the Virachey National Park.

Virachey National park is one of the most important wildlife and forest preservation areas in the whole of South East Asia. It was created in 1993 and covers a staggering 800,000 acres, crossing the Ratanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces. Most of the main features that attract visitors are located 400 metres above sea level. There are different environments to explore including deciduous forests, bamboo thickets, mountain forests and evergreen lowlands. The park has many rangers who do an excellent job at preventing poaching and reducing the amount of logging that occurs.
 
Virachey National Park is known to be home to many endangered species of animals including rare Hornbills, several primates (the Slow Loris and Pig-Tailed Macaque), banteng and the almost extinct Jungle Cow. Alongside these rare species, the park staff has managed to catch glimpses of elephants, tigers and the elusive Clouded Leopard on camera. The park is also only one of two areas in Cambodia that is home to the Germain’s Peacock Pheasant. You may also be able to get close to otters, crocodiles and freshwater tortoises at some of the watery locations within the park.

One of the best things about a visit to this national treasure is that it feels just like a microcosm. There are several ethnic villages that surround the borders of the park and the local people still hunt and trade (under controlled conditions) from the animals and plants found in the park. You may be able to arrange a tour where you can visit a nearby Chunchiet village and spend a night in a hammock, watching the stars and listening to the night stirrings of the wildlife around you.

If you fancy a trip to Virachey National park it is not recommended that you undertake the adventure independently. You will find there are many operators who offer different packages to be able to trek and stay overnight in the park. There are three tour packages that are offered by the park itself; they take a maximum number of 8 people per party to ensure that the quality of your visit and the delicate ecosystems within the park are not impacted on too much. There is a short tour, a medium tour and a long tour on offer. The short tour is an overnight stay in the park; the medium tour lasts 4 days and includes a trip up the Se San River. The long tour is labelled as an “extreme wilderness trek” and will get hikers and walkers all excited! This tour lasts 6 days and includes a hike to Phnom Veal Thom. It is recommended that only experienced trekkers or walkers undertake the long tour as it is very taxing. The prices of each of the tours differ based on the size of the tour and the number in the group.

Both Voen Sai and Virachey National Park can be reached by road. You can choose to hire a moto or car in Banlung. There is also a bus (it has to be said that it is very old and rickety!) that travels daily from Banlung to Voen Sai and costs in the region of 2,000 Riel. If you have some money to spend and time to kill, you could opt to take a river journey from Stung Treng to Voen Sai. This option takes 2 days to complete (giving you plenty of stunning scenery along the way) and costs in the region of US$100.