National park · Cambodia
Virachey National Park
Enter Virachey: spend 2–3 days trekking Veal Thom Grasslands (entry ~USD 10, check), go Dec–Mar, avoid heavy rain Jun–Oct.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3,325 km² (1,284 sq mi)1,284 sq mi (3,325 km²)
approximate
Established
1993
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
- Eastern Cambodia ↗Carry riel and small US dollar notes; ATMs are few outside Kratie and Banlung, and many guesthouses and buses are cash-only.
- Eastern Cambodia ↗Do not walk off marked trails near the Lao border or around remote temples; unexploded ordnance remains in parts of Ratanakiri, Stung Treng and Mondulkiri.
- Eastern Cambodia ↗Dust and mud roads; in the wet season (roughly July to November) some hill routes and river crossings become slow or impassable.
At a glance
- Country
- Cambodia
- Area
- 3,325 km² (1,284 sq mi)1,284 sq mi (3,325 km²)
- Park covers about 3,325 km² across Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces; figures may vary slightly between sources (check).
- Established
- 1993
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Banlung
Virachey National Park is Cambodia’s largest protected wilderness, offering remote evergreen forest, high grasslands and river valleys. It hosts rare wildlife such as gibbons, sun bears and douc langurs, and the flagship Veal Thom Grasslands trek provides rugged multi‑day hiking with panoramic border views. Entry includes a hammock; guides are mandatory beyond the office.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1993.
Size and age
3,325 km² (1,284 sq mi)1,284 sq mi (3,325 km²) · national park since 1993
Park covers about 3,325 km² across Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces; figures may vary slightly between sources (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Banlung.
Why go
- Remote wilderness with dense evergreen forest and high grasslands.
- Rare wildlife such as gibbons, sun bears and douc langurs.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanCool, dry
- FebCool, dry
- MarCool, dry
- AprTransition, some rain
- MayIncreasing rain
- JunHeavy rain, leeches
- JulHeavy rain, leeches
- AugHeavy rain, leeches
- SepRainy, leeches
- OctRain lessens
- NovCool, dry start
- DecCool, dry
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibbons, pig‑tailed macaques, douc langurs, sun bears, great hornbills, clouded leopards, Asian elephantsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| LeechesMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Banlung office | Registration, fee payment, equipment distribution | Open daily |
| Trekking area | Veal Thom Grasslands, Brao villages, river valleys | Guided trekking only |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from official site; park headquarters approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (including hammock) | KHR 4,000–6,000 | person | 2026 estimate, check official fee |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Required for all treks beyond the office area
- Camping
- Only in designated sites; hammock provided with entry fee
- Fires
- Open fires prohibited
Where to stay
Near the park
Banlung town
Guesthouses and modest hotels, base for park entry
Safety
Leeches medium
Snakes low
Heavy rain high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Office reachable by road; trails are rugged and not wheelchair‑friendly
Visiting lightly
- Carry out all waste; support local villages by buying handicrafts
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Virachey National Park?
Entry is about 4,000–6,000 KHR per person (≈USD 1–1.5), includes a hammock; confirm at the Banlung office.
What are the best hikes in Virachey National Park?
The flagship Veal Thom Grasslands trek (5–7 days) and shorter day hikes to Brao villages are the main options.
When is the best time to visit Virachey National Park?
The cool dry season Dec–Mar offers the most comfortable trekking conditions.
Do I need a guide?
Yes, a licensed guide is required for any trek beyond the park office area.
Is there accommodation inside the park?
No permanent lodging; trekkers camp in hammocks provided with the entry fee.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Virachey National Park
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