Terres Rouge, Ratanakiri

Terres Rouge Lodge is the only boutique hotel in the North Eastern province of Ratanakiri. The former residence of the governor of the province, this traditional colonial mansion, with its overhanging wooden roof and surrounding terrace, is on the outskirts of the provincial capital Ban Lung and overlooks Ban Lung Lake. It is quiet and relaxing, and a great base to explore the rural delights of the surrounding area.

The accommodation is in the main building itself and a series of bungalows in the garden. There are 23 well equipped and colonial-style rooms, all with wooden floors and furnishings. The rooms in the main building do not have a/c, but with the temperature in this region of Cambodia being significantly cooler that is not necessarily a bad thing. All the rooms, apart from a couple of suites with a private balcony, have a shared terrace. The large single room suites are generally in the bungalows and have the addition of a/c, a T.V and generally a separate bath and shower available with a large king-size or two double beds.

The main house dominates the grounds, with the bungalows relatively tucked away. There is a good size pool at the back and the one-acre garden is lovely with lots of tropical plants and trees. The restaurant has decent Khmer food. The French management and the French-speaking staff, menu and music give the lodge a surprisingly French ambience and a real throwback to colonial times.

Terres Rouge offers a wide range of day excursions to the surrounding attractions, including the stunning volcanic lake, the local waterfalls, the minority villages, old towns and gem mines and various natural delights. It is a great base for anyone looking to explore an area of Cambodia that has only recently been discovered by tourists.