Where is Bokor National Park

Where to stay in Kampot

With the Bokor National Park located in the Kampot province, Kampot is the best place to settle yourself for a few days.

Kampot is a lively city where life feels slow, making it one of my absolute favourite places in Cambodia.

Chances are that you stay a little longer than originally planned. Below you can find some of my favourite hotels in Kampot.

Rikitikitavi | Hotel Old Cinema | Montagne Residence |  Kampot RiverInn Boutique Hotel

Join a Bokor National Park tour

In the city centre of Kampot, you can find a few tourist offices that offer tours of the main attractions in Kampot. One of them is a tour of the Preah Monivong National Park. Most of these tours bring you along Bokor Hill Station, Wat Sampov Pram and the Lok Yeay Mao Monument. A trip from Kampot to Bokor Hill is usually combined with a sunset cruise on the Kampot river. Visiting the national park takes around 5-6 hours and costs $8 per person and you get transported by a minivan.

1. Damnak Sla Khmao

The Black Palace is located at the beginning of the Preah Monivong National Park. Damnak Sla Khmao (which is the original name) was built as a summer residence for King Sihanouk and was used between the 50s and 60s. Nowadays the palace is abandoned and the ruins are taken over by nature. The structure has fallen into decay and is covered with beautiful pieces of graffiti. The Palace itself is a perfect viewpoint to see the surrounding Bokor Hill and is home to hundreds of butterflies. When exploring the ruins keep an eye open for the surrounding jungle, you never know what kind of animal or insect might cross your path.

2. Lok Yeay Mao Monument

On the other side of the road at Bokor Mountain, you see an enormous monument. The 29-meter-high Lok Yeay Mao Monument is known as a goddess in Buddhist culture and locals still come here to pray. Legend says that Lok Yeay Mao was the protector of the mountains and coastal area of Cambodia.

3. Wat Sampov Pram

The top of Bokor Hill Station reaches a height of 1048 metres above sea level and that is where you find Wat Sampov Pram. The Pagoda that was built by King Monivong is the highest Pagoda in Cambodia. On a clear day, you get rewarded with stunning views over the Gulf of Thailand and the Preah Monivong National Park. What’s even more spectacular is when the clouds touch the edge of Bokor mountain. These circumstances provide stunning scenes and you literally find yourself above the clouds.

4. Bokor Hill Station

In 1921 the French Colonial rule built a village on top of Bokor Mountain to use as a summer getaway. With Bokor Mountain reaching a height of 1048 metres it was the perfect place to avoid the crowd and heat. Nowadays the Sokimex Investment Group owns the rights of the Cambodian government to rebuild Bokor Hill Station. But it won’t stop with rebuilding the place, the plan is to build hotels, golf clubs and restaurants. It’s a shame that this authentic place is being transformed into a place for luxury and leisure. Don’t hesitate to visit while it is still authentic.

5. Le Bokor Palace

The well-known Le Bokor Palace Hotel was first opened in 1925 by the French. The hotel that is positioned between the clouds of Bokor Hill in Cambodia was abandoned in 1946 during the Indochina War. After reopening it in 1962 it took only 10 years till it got abandoned again. This time Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge forces took over the area and used it as a stronghold. The Khmer Rouge managed to hold the stronghold until the early 90s.

After several years of renovation, the Bokor Palace reopened its doors in 2018 to function as a 6-star hotel and casino.

#7 Admire the Popokovil Waterfall

The Popokvil waterfall is the only waterfall in the Kampot province and is located not too far from the Bokor Hill Station. Although you see great pictures of this small waterfall on the internet, don’t aim too high with your expectations. During the dry season, there isn’t that much to see and the best time to visit the Popokvil waterfall is during monsoons.

Near the waterfall, you can find a small restaurant that sells local food and drinks.

#8 Overlook the scenic Gulf of Thailand

At 1048 metres above sea level you have a great panoramic view over the Gulf of Thailand when the sky is clear. From all of the attractions in Preah Monivong National Park, you have a great overview but we prefer the viewpoint at the Bokor Church or the one on the right side at Wat Sampov Pram.

The weather | The best time to visit Bokor National Park

Because of the height that Bokor mountain reaches the temperature is lower than around the coast in Kampot. The mountain is also well known for being cloudy and when clouds pass by the temperature most likely drops. The year-round average temperature is around 25 degrees.

Monsoon

Cambodia has a tropical climate and the result of that is the monsoon that runs from June to October. You can still visit Cambodia during the monsoon as it only rains for around 2 hours a day. With the high chance of rain, it is wise to bring a rain jacket and some warm clothes.

How long should I stay in Bokor National Park?

The highlights of the Bokor National Park can all be seen in half a day but to truly appreciate each of them I recommend visiting the park a full day. If you’re thinking about hiking in Bokor Mountain it is wise to plan a few days. The easiest and most efficient way to explore the park is with a motorbike. It’s easy to park your motorbike once you reach one of the attractions and explore the area on foot.

Eventually, I did it in half a day with a guided tour, but if I could do it again, I would rent a motorbike instead and take some more time to experience the park.

How to get to Bokor National Park

If planning a trip to Bokor National Park came to mind, you’re probably thinking of staying in Kampot. Kampot is the best starting point when it comes to visiting Bokor Hill in Cambodia. Located only 35km from the city centre of Kampot it takes around 1 hour to reach Bokor Hill Station and this can be done in several ways.

How to get around Bokor National Park

By motorbike | The best way to explore the park is by renting a motorbike in Kampot. The roads from Kampot to Bokor Hill station are in good condition and you will come along some of the most spectacular viewpoints. If you enter the Bokor National Park by motorbike you have to pay an entrance fee of $0,50 at the bottom of the hill. We prefer this option as it gives you the most freedom while exploring one of the highlights in the Kampot province.

Where to stay in Kampot

If you want to stay near the city centre, Guest House Blue Buddha Hotel is a great pick. If you want to experience life a little bit slow down, Eden Eco Village is perfect for relaxing and is located on the riverside.

The price you pay to spend a night in Kampot is really low, it varies from $6 to $25 for one night and the options are endless.

Rikitikitavi | Hotel Old Cinema | Montagne Residence |  Kampot RiverInn Boutique Hotel

1. Roam around Kampot City

Kampot is a small but charming city where you will find a lot of French colonial buildings being converted into guesthouses, bars or restaurants. Walking along the Kampot River and exploring the city centre gives you a good impression of authentic Cambodia. Another good option to explore Kampot is by bike. Because of the short distances, it is easy and fun to ride around town with a bike.

One thing we also noticed is the number of statues in the city and in particular the durian statue that has its own roundabout. Durian fruit is really popular in Kampot, so they honoured it with a statue.

3. Take a river cruise along the Teuk Chhou River

A city divided by a river always charms us. In that case, a river cruise couldn’t be missed.

When you do the Bokor Hill trip, a sunset river cruise + drink is included. But it is also possible to only do a river cruise if you inform the tourist offices.

Some offices call it the Firefly cruise, but do you want our honest opinion? It’s a joke, there were literally no flies at all. Nevertheless, the cruise was quite relaxed and amusing.

4. Go on a day trip to Kep

Nearby Kampot you will find a lazy coastal city named Kep. The city is famous for its seafood and in particular for its crab. Besides the beach, this city has no big attractions. Kep can be a great day trip but also if you want to relax for a few days while enjoying the Cambodian food. For us, it is slow travel at its finest!

5. Take a stroll around the Kampot Markets

Similar to Battambang, there is a Night Market in Kampot. The market has been renovated and is open for business. With a lot of stalls that sell everything, it is nice wandering around. Find a souvenir, buy some clothes or enjoy the local food and drinks.

Besides the Kampot Night Market, you have the old market. It’s a traditional market that primarily provides the locals with the usual products. Have a look and wander around to see some local procedures but watch your head the ceilings are low.

6. Visit La Plantation | Taste Kampot Pepper

One of the best things to do when in Kampot, and easily one of my favourite activities here is visiting a pepper plantation to learn about Cambodia’s famous Kampot Pepper.

Located between amazing hills, yet close to the sea it is the perfect environment to grow these peppers.

The Kampot region is famous for its “Kampot Pepper”.

The pepper is the finest in the world and has been awarded the Protected Geographical Indication status.

Compare this with the fact that a wine can only be named champagne if it’s from Champagne (France).

Kampot pepper stands out with its unique flavour, high quality and strong taste. Walking through the vines and learning about the peppers is fun and you will also get to taste all the different types. After a visit, your love for this spice will grow. More information can be found at the La Plantation website or book your night here at this beautiful place.

7. Sample traditional Cambodian food

When in Kampot, you can’t go around the smell of Kampot’s famous pepper. In every restaurant, you can eat this pepper, but we highly recommend Rikitikitavi for its traditional Khmer food. The restaurant is located on the riverside and also offers rooms.

Another Guesthouse and restaurant we really enjoyed is Pepe & the Viking. It is basically on the same street and is a place where you will feel very welcome.

We also recommend the hostel and restaurant GreenHouse; it is located across the river and on the right side of the main part of town.

8. Visit the salt fields

Another fascinating thing to do in Kampot is visiting the salt fields.

On your way to Kep, you will find a number of rice paddies that are currently being used as salt fields.

The salt production is mostly done by hand and is from around the beginning of December to April, when it doesn’t rain too much.

How to get to Kampot

Sihanoukville to Kampot | Transportation in Cambodia is done best by bus. But if you travel from Sihanoukville to Kampot you will find out there is no bus line between those two cities. This means you have to travel by minivan or a private taxi. A minivan will cost you $6 and a private taxi will be between $30 and $35. The ride will take around 2,5 and 3 hours depending on how good the roads are and the amount of traffic.

Phnom Penh to Kampot | Going from Phnom Penh to Kampot offers more options. You can travel by bus, taxi and even by train. The bus will cost you anywhere around $10 and takes around 4 to 5 hours. A taxi from Phnom Penh to Kampot is one of the fastest ways to travel. It cost you between $30 and $50 and takes approximately 3,5 hours.

A nice alternative is to travel by train, the journey takes almost 5 hours but costs you only $6. The fun part about travelling by train is that you get to see a lot of the beautiful countryside Cambodia has to offer. If you pick this option, book your tickets direct at the train station.

Where is Battambang

Battambang is a small, yet charming city located in the eponymous Battambang Province in the northwest of Cambodia, in the midst of one of the largest rice-growing areas of Southeast Asia.

Where to stay in Battambang

The Sanctuary Villa Battambang | Cambana La Rivière Hotel | Maisons Wat Kor | La Villa

1. Take a ride with Cambodia’s iconic Bamboo Train

When in the Battambang province you can have a ride on a classic norry what you may also know as the bamboo train. It’s an improvised rail vehicle made of bamboo that can reach a speed of 50 km/h. When the train brings you from A to B, you will have a nice impression of the countryside. With lovely views of vast rice fields and local people working in the fields. The experience is really worth it and will cost you only $5,- for a return ticket.

2. Visit the Killing Cave

This tragic site is known as one of the places where Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge soldiers killed thousands of innocent Cambodian people. Normally we don’t like to visit that kind of tourist site. But we learned more about the tragic history of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge and are now making people we know aware of what happened. So this will hopefully never happen again. On the other side of Phnomh Sampou you can find something that is more calm and has a serene vibe.

3. Admire thousands of bats leaving their cave

As we mentioned, this is the cave with the serene vibes. Besides the tragic Killing Caves, you also have the Bat Cave at Phnom Sampou. You can have a look on the side of the road or go to the edge of the cave with your local guide. There are so many bats leaving the cave that this scene lasts about 20 minutes. Such an amazing vibe and show by mother nature. We went up and that was a really nice experience. One thing, head down the hill before it’s dark. It can be a dangerous climb down if you don’t see anything.

4. Sample delicious tapas at Lonely Tree Cafe

The Lonely Tree Cafe is an organization that supports humanitarian activities across multiple lines of action in North-West Cambodia. With the goals of formation, empowerment, employment and obtaining profits to help finance the activities. On the ground level, you can buy all kinds of traditional handcrafted items crafted by the victims of landmine accidents. On the top floor, you can eat delicious tapas or Spanish, Mediterranean, Western and Khmer dishes.

Please bring me some more of that Creamy Pumpkin Soup, NOW.

5. Walk around and abandoned train station

At many places in Cambodia, you will find abandoned train stations and that’s also the case in Battambang. At the train station in Battambang, all of the buildings are abandoned and some of them contain graffiti traces.

A funny thing about this station is that the clock always says it’s two minutes past eight. It’s worth having a look and after all, the time isn’t ticking.

6. Climb your way to Wat Banan

Wat Banan is one of the best-preserved temples of Battambang and is on top of a hill. You can reach the temple by climbing 358 steps, but when you reach the top you have a great panoramic view. The temple is located about 22 km outside Battambang but easily to combine with a visit to the bamboo train and Phnom Sampou.