อุทยานแห่งชาติวีระชัย (Virachey National Park) ได้รับการจัดตั้งในปี พ.ศ. 2536 และครอบคลุมพื้นที่กว่า 3,325 ตารางกิโลเมตร ทำให้เป็น อุทยานแห่งชาติที่ใหญ่ที่สุดในกัมพูชา กินพื้นที่ระหว่างจังหวัดรัตนคีรีและสตึงเตรง โดยมีอาณาเขตติดกับประเทศลาวและเวียดนาม อุทยานแห่งนี้เปรียบเสมือน ห้องทดลองทางธรรมชาติที่ยังไม่ถูกแตะต้อง เนื่องจากพื้นที่ส่วนใหญ่ยังไม่ได้รับการสำรวจอย่างเต็มที่ มีความหลากหลายของสภาพภูมิประเทศตั้งแต่ ป่าดิบชื้นระดับต่ำ ไปจนถึง ป่าบนภูเขาสูง ทุ่งหญ้าสะวันนา และพุ่มไม้ไผ่

Virachey National Park was established in 1996 and covers an area of over 3,325 square kilometers, making it the largest national park in Cambodia. It spans parts of Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces, sharing borders with Laos and Vietnam. The park is often described as an untouched natural laboratory, as much of the area remains largely unexplored. It features a variety of landscapes, ranging from lowland evergreen forest to mountainous high-elevation forest, savanna grasslands, and bamboo thickets.

Virachey is crucial for conservation, serving as a habitat for rare and endangered wildlife and flora, including the Asian Elephant, Clouded Leopard, Dhole (Asian wild dog), hornbills, gibbons, and recent discoveries of species previously unknown in Cambodia, such as the Giant Muntjac. Tourism here is focused on Community-Based Ecotourism (CBT), managed in collaboration with the local indigenous communities to allow visitors to experience their culture and knowledge of traditional medicine and nature.

The primary activity in the park is multi-day adventure trekking, which must be led exclusively by local guides and park rangers. Popular trails include the trek to Phnom Veal Thom Grassland (7-8 days/6-7 nights), the trek to Kalang Chhouy Sacred Mountain (2-3 days/1-2 nights) which includes camping near a waterfall, and the O’Lapeung trail (3-4 days/2-3 nights) which may involve kayaking along the river. There is also an opportunity for homestays in indigenous villages to learn about traditional life.

---

How to Get There

• Bus/Taxi from Phnom Penh: Travel to Banlung City in Ratanakiri Province (approx. 12 hours from Phnom Penh), which is the main starting point and location of the information office.

• Private Vehicle/Motorbike Taxi from Banlung: From Banlung, the drive to the park entrance is about 50 kilometers, taking approximately 1-1.5 hours in the dry season, but potentially up to 4-5 hours in the rainy season due to road conditions.

• Airplane: Fly from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh to a nearby airport and then take ground transport to Banlung.

---

Travel Tips

• Suitable Season: The dry season (December–March) is the best time for trekking, as the roads are more accessible and the weather is cooler. However, during the rainy season (May–October), the forest becomes lush and beautiful, though travel can be significantly more challenging.

• Local Food and Culture:All trips require the services of local guides/forest rangers and include meals prepared by the community. Interaction with indigenous tribes is an essential part of the experience.

• Trip Planning: You must always book and arrange trekking trips in Banlung in advance through certified community-based ecotourism operators. It is also important to physically prepare yourself for long-distance travel in remote and rugged terrain.

---

Admission Fee:

• Admission fees for foreign visitors and guided trekking services vary depending on the trekking program.

Opening Hours:

• The Veal Chhay National Park Information Office is open Monday–Friday, from 08:00 to 17:00.

• Access to the park follows the schedule of the trekking trip you have booked. Trekking activities can begin early in the morning on the designated start date.