Boeng Yeak Lom Lake

Address: Boeng Yeak Lom (Yeak Lom Lake), Banlung area, Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

Hours: Daily dawn-dusk

Admission: Small local entrance fee may apply (paid on-site)

Overview

Boeng Yeak Lom is a crater lake in Ratanakiri province, northeastern Cambodia, noted for its clear green water and forested setting.

What visitors find

The site presents a single natural lake with clear water set in a wooded crater rim, popular for short visits, photography, and relaxed walks around the shore. Facilities are limited compared with larger tourist sites, and visits are typically brief.

History

The lake is a natural volcanic or crater feature that has been used locally for generations; it is not a constructed site and has remained primarily a natural attraction.

Location

Situated in Ratanakiri province, the lake is commonly reached from the town of Banlung and lies within the province’s forested uplands.

• Crater lake: A clear, deep volcanic crater lake known locally for its greenish-blue water and surrounding evergreen forest.
• Access: Located in Ratanakiri province, commonly visited from the provincial town of Banlung as a short excursion into the forested landscape.

The dormant volcanic crater lies a few miles east of Ban Lung, the capital of Ratanakiri, surrounded by dense jungle and waterfalls. The lake is perfectly circular, about half a mile (800 m) across and 165 ft (50 m) deep. It - like nearby Boeng Lum Kut - formed in a volcanic eruption roughly 700,000 years ago.

At the entrance, concession stands sell food, drink, and large containers of local rice wine sipped through wooden straws. A walking trail rings the lake (under an hour on foot) with several piers for swimming and shady picnic spots; heading left first lets you finish at the piers on the right. About half a mile past the concession stands, a cultural center sponsored by the Cambodian Community Based Ecotourism Network offers a look into local minority culture and sells handicrafts.

Boeng Yeak Lom (Yeak Lom crater lake) is the well‑known volcanic lake near Banlung in Ratanakiri province. From Banlung town it’s typically a 15-25 minute drive (roughly 7-10 km) on local roads; visitors usually take a tuk‑tuk or motorbike taxi. There is parking at the site and a short paved walk from the entrance down to the lake.

• Arrive early on a weekday to enjoy clearer water and a quieter walk around the crater lake - weekends and Cambodian holidays draw many local families.
• Enter through the official park entrance in Banlung where you pay the small fee; take the well‑marked trail that circles the lake (a short, easy loop) to see viewpoints most day visitors miss.
• Combine your visit with a short stop in the nearby Tampuan village to learn about local indigenous culture - many visitors treat the lake as a quick swim and miss the village walks and craft stalls.