![]() When the weather is clear, Bokor offers stunning views over the coastal plain, some 1000m (3280ft) below. On cold, foggy days it can get pretty haunting up here as mists drop visibility to almost zero and the wind howls through the decaying buildings. The abandoned French hill station of Bokor, now part of Bokor National Park, is renowned for its refreshingly cool climate and derelict buildings that enjoyed their heyday during the 1920s and 1930s. Bokor National Park Best for panoramic views The Phnom Veal Thom trek is a six-day, five-night expedition and goes deep into the heart of the Phnom Veal Thom grasslands, an area rich in wildlife, with regular sightings of sambar deer, gibbons, langurs, wild pigs, bears and hornbills. The program aims to involve and benefit minority communities, with activities such as two- to eight-day treks led by English-speaking rangers. It's only possible to visit on organized treks booked through the Virachey National Park Eco-Tourism Information Centre in Ban Lung, 330km (205 miles) northeast of Phnom Penh. The park plays such a vital role in the biodiversity of the Mekong region that it was designated an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003. ![]() Homestays and community-based hiking programs provide plenty of chances to steer tourist income to local communities. One of the best hikes is the 14km (8.7-mile) trail up Phnom Dat Chivit (End of Life Mountain), where an abrupt cliff face offers an unbroken view of the Elephant Mountains and the Cardamom Mountains to the west. The remains of several old mansions can still be seen around the forest, including one built for former King Norodom Sihanouk. And there’s some great mountain biking to be had in this rugged landscape if you’re feeling particularly adventurous.īack in the heady days of the 1960s, when Cambodia was a peaceful and stable oasis, Kirirom was earmarked as the site for a new mountaintop city called Tioulongville, but civil war and genocide put an end to the plans. Winding trails lead through pine forests to cascading wet-season waterfalls and exposed cliffs with incredible views of the Cardamom Mountains. Kirirom National Park Best for pine forest sceneryĪlthough it lies just three hours southwest of Phnom Penh, lush, elevated Kirirom National Park offers a chance to really get away from it all. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. This is arguably the most rewarding park to explore in Cambodia thanks to the wealth of archaeological relics that await beneath the jungle canopy. Trekking routes are not yet well developed at Phnom Kulen, but community-based ecotourism projects in Anlong Thom are opening up some pristine areas of the mountain to trekkers. The extensive forests that cover the plateau also hide the remains of the ‘lost city of Mahendraparvata,’ the former capital of Jayavarman II, which lay forgotten beneath the jungle for a millennia or more. The sacred summit is still an important place of pilgrimage for the Cambodian people and the surrounding national park is one of the most visited reserves in the country.Īttractions include an iconic waterfall that featured in the original Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie, the mysterious River of a Thousand Lingas (Kbal Spean), and the 16th-century reclining Buddha of Preah Ang Thom. In 802 CE, this was the spot where King Jayavarman II proclaimed himself a devaraja (god-king) and the earthly representative of the Hindu god, Shiva. ![]() The sacred mountain of Phnom Kulen was the birthplace of the Khmer Empire. ![]() Phnom Kulen National Park Best for lost temples Many Cambodians have taken the opportunity to get back to nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, and trekking and camping in the national parks have really taken off, particularly in Kirirom National Park and the Cardamom Mountains.įor travelers who fancy a dose of nature with their temples, here's our guide to the best national parks in Cambodia. Other national parks that see plenty of visitors include Phnom Kulen National Park near Siem Reap, Bokor National Park near Kampot, and Kep National Park near Kep. Sprawling over 4104 sq km (1584 sq miles), Southern Cardamom National Park is the largest protected area in Cambodia and it forms part of the vast, magnificent Cardamom Rainforest Landscape, which encompasses 11 contiguous reserves covering more than 20,000 sq km (7722 sq miles) of the southwest. Cambodia is world-famous for its ancient temples, but the country also has an extensive system of national parks and protected areas, covering around 40% of the country and providing a vital haven for a vast variety of wildlife.
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