North Eastern Cambodia

The indigineous peoples of the Tampuen tribe in North Eastern Cambodia say that the Yaklom Crater Lake is a gift from the spirits, and sitting in the fading light of day looking over its tranquil, crystal-clear water it is easy to see why.

No-one knows when or how this circular lake, surrounded by jungle, came into being, so perhaps the locals are right – either way, it is an exquisite and deeply spiritual place.

This part of Cambodia is about as far removed from the spectacular temples of Angkor Wat as you can get – a wild, jungle territory with spectacular waterfalls, lava fields and rolling hills.

The huge Virachey National Park, stretching up to the Laos and Vietnam borders is still largely unexplored, and elephants, tigers and leopards are thought to roam within its isolated splendour.

This was the setting for the jungle kingdom ruled by Marlon Brando in the film “Apocalypse Now”, and movie-grade atmosphere abounds – lazy brown rivers, steamy jungle, trailing creepers, and small tribes with their own unique customs and languages.

Teaser:

This part of Cambodia is about as far removed from the spectacular temples of Angkor Wat as you can get – a wild, jungle territory with spectacular waterfalls, lava fields and rolling hills.

Images: Cambodia – Rattanakiri – Yaklom & Yaklom Crater Lake by Carpe Diem Travel via Flickr

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