Terres Rouges Lodge

The best hotel of the province. Its the old mansion of the former governor. Great pool and gardens. Safe private parking for car or motorcycles. Friendly staff. From there you can go on a track through the jungle on an elephant. An amazing experience and an example of how to treat animals well and giving them back a close to nature life. Definitely recommended.

Take a trip back in time to colonial grandeur in this beautiful atmospheric hotel. Rooms are furnished in the French provincial style but with modern comfy beds and bathrooms. Great views over the lake from the restaurant, where the food is excellent at both breakfast and dinner. Staff were lovely. The only negatives were the poor lighting in the room and lack of soundproofing - thumping techno music from another property does not rock you to sleep!

The hotel is on the edge of the town of Banlung in The Ratanakiri Province. There were very few guests at the hotel during our stay, so there was no atmosphere. The hotel was a French Colonial base for The Governor of the province and is of wooden construction. As a result of this, there is no sound proofing. Unfortunately, there was a gentleman in the adjoining room who sounded very unwell and we could hear clearly how he was suffering. The bed was a decent size but very hard. The manager did make an effort to soften the bed with blankets and worked to a degree. The bathroom was very worn and needs updating. The WiFi, as incredibly, it seems across Cambodia, was very good. There was a TV that wasn’t working. The air conditioning was efficient enough. The restaurant was large with pleasant staff, but with very little English. The food options were acceptable. It was an ok stay. It is in an area of Cambodia that doesn’t appear to attract many Western travellers and this must be taken in to consideration, although the area, with an appropriate guide and on a tour, is very interesting. Not sure if there are any other options in the area, so would recommend.

Terres Rouge, the premiere boutique lodge in Ratanakiri was a former governor's plantation. The minute you enter through the intricate carved wooden doors, you realize that you have been transformed into the days where sprawling plantations were the norm. Imagine Gone with the Wind with a Cambodian flare. The well- manicured property makes a really comfortable environment where you can spend hours just walking around and admiring this beautiful place or you can swim in the pool. No wonder it is the backdrop of many wedding pictures. Unfortunately, that's where your dreams and aspirations of living life like Scarlett O'Hara or Rhett Butler cease to exist. The main check in is also quite charming, adorned in dark wood with a souvenir shop with locally produced and unusual items that you couldn't find elsewhere. When I arrived, I had to wait 20 minutes as no one was there to check me in. No welcome drink was provided. I was shown to my room near the main house. It was spacious with separate shower and toilet. The rooms had seen better days and are in need of a facelift. The bed was quite hard, no safe and the internet was spotty at times. No main switch for the lights. Two free bottles of water were provided/day. The restaurant is on the terrace of where you checked in. It has a beautiful view of the lake. Breakfast was a la carte with a selection of fresh fruit, eggs, pancakes with honey, fresh juice and tea or coffee. They don't have cereal or yoghurt. For dinner ( a few restaurants nearby) I would definitely recommend the French Onion Soup, Coq Au Vin (needed more wine sauce but still tasty) or the local Amok. The French cuisine is the standout on the menu. Service is inconsistent and you'll find at least one waitstaff who can speak English. Tours can be arranged at the front desk. A must is to bathe with the elephants at Airavata sanctuary who has the same owner as the lodge. Noel, the first elephant to be born in captivity in 30 years can be found here. She is called Noel as she was born during Christmas 2021. It was fascinating and informative chatting to the French owner. I did enjoy my stay at Terres Rouge Lodge despite its' numerous shortcomings. But is it the premiere place to stay in Ratanakiri? I'll leave it up to you to make your own decision.

Having decided to explore far-off Ratanakiri, I booked a three-night stay here and enjoyed every aspect of the lodge. Upon arrival, I met owners Pierre-Yves and Chenda who immediately arranged a next-day visit to Airavata Khmer Elephant Foundation. Founded and operated by the couple, the reserve is an experience not to be missed. They also set me up on two subsequent days with motorcycle guides Vutha (#1) and Vutha (#2) -- aka Mr. Happy. Both men were excellent company and showed me a variety of sights in the surrounding countryside. As for the lodge itself, the room was clean, spacious and comfortable. With its instant hot water, the (outdoor) shower was a welcome treat after a long day. The restaurant overlooked a lake and offered excellent breakfasts and dinners. From check-in to check-out, the staff was wonderful. Even the souvenir shop was fun with some dusty treasures. A very special thanks to Pierre-Yves and Chenda for their personal tour of Airavata. Also, a nod of recognition (again) to Chenda who arranged a car for me to Phnom Penh at an excellent price.

I have only 1 night stay at this lodge as my mission so short in Ratanakiri. I should have more time to stay and enjoy at this place, i like wooden house and Nature. This place so quiet and relax ! all good anyways.