Pitch Your Tent in Nature’s Paradise: Discovering Kulen Mountain’s Hidden Campsites and Picnic Spots
For travelers seeking a truly immersive experience beyond the magnificent temples of Angkor, a camping adventure at one of Phnom Kulen Kulen Mountain campsites offers a refreshing escape into nature and a deeper connection with Cambodia’s ancient spiritual heart. Located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Siem Reap city centre and around 10 kilometers more to the campsite like Ou Sambuor Mealea. This sacred mountain is not only a site of profound historical significance but also a burgeoning destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Kulen Mountain is revered as the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, where King Jayavarman II declared independence in 802 CE. Today, it mesmerizes visitors with its lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and ancient archaeological wonders. While day trips are popular, an overnight stay allows you to truly soak in the tranquility and witness the mountain come alive in locations off the crowds, offering opportunities to explore its more secluded treasures.
Top Campsite Recommendations on Kulen Mountain:
While wild camping within the national park is suitable for high level adventure lovers, several established and emerging options provide a comfortable and often eco-friendly camping experience for families. These sites also serve as excellent bases for exploring the mountain’s hidden gems.
- Phnom Kulen Youth Camp (ជំរំយុវជន): Located within the heart of Phnom Kulen National Park, this camp is designed to foster environmental awareness and teamwork. They provide high-quality tents, sleeping bags, and cooking supplies, along with freshly cooked local meals. The camp offers guided nature walks, survival skill workshops (shelter building, fire-making), and educational sessions on conservation. It’s an excellent choice for families, groups, or solo adventurers looking for an active and educational outdoor experience, and can often arrange excursions to nearby sites like Wat Preah Kral.
- O Phaong Staycation (អូរផ្អុង): This hidden gem on the slopes of Phnom Kulen (near Anlong Thom Village) offers a serene retreat amidst lush jungles. While not strictly a “campsite” in the traditional sense, O Phaong Staycation provides options that can include comfortable tents or cozy cabins designed to blend with nature.
- Ou Sambuor Mealea (អូរសម្បួរមាលា): According to the descriptions on their Social Platforms like Facebook page, and Google map, Ou Sambuor Mealea is described as following in English and local Khmer language:
Ou Sambuor Mealea Phnom Kulen, the freshest and naturally-friendly campgrounds and picnic spots on Kulen mountain. Stretching over 200 meters along a Riverstream, Ou Sambuor Mealea is located on the main concrete road from Preah Ang Thom Waterfalls to Anlong Thom Village and Water Reservoir and Dike, this campsite consist of huts along the Riverstream of Ou Sambuor. Each hut equipped with electricity sockets for charging and lights.
Sambuor is the name of natural forest plant with at least two main subdivisions:
1: Sambuor Meas (golden Sambuor) this is the most famous one, as it is on a famous song. Sambuor Meas is a vine-like plant.
2: Sambuor Phnom (mountainous Sambuor), this is almost unknown. Sambuor Phnom is solid tree, found a lot on this Ou Sambuor Mealea Stream.
This is the reason, the people here named this river stream as Sambuor. Mealea is just the name of the landlady. However, Mealea also means Flowers or Gallant of Flowers and a lady who make the flower gallants.
Let’s enjoy the peace of Sambuor Campsites by calling Mr Ran to book the best located spots:
Location https://maps.app.goo.gl/1wQxZBPGSDU8kBNQA…
Call 061 966 180
អូរសម្បួរមាលា ជាកន្លែងបោះជំរុំ និងកន្លែងពិសាអាហារកម្សាន្តតាមដងអូរ ដ៏សុខសាន្តបំផុតនៅលើភ្នំគូលែន។ ទីតាំងនេះស្ថិតនៅតាមបណ្តោយផ្លូវបេតុងធំពីទឹកធ្លាក់ព្រះអង្គធំទៅអាងស្តុកទឹកបូរាណនិងទម្នប់ទឹកអន្លង់ធំ។ កន្លែងបោះជំរុំនេះជាប់នឹងស្ទឹងអូរសម្បួរ។
សម្បួរជាឈ្មោះរុក្ខជាតិធម្មជាតិដែលមានយ៉ាងតិចពីរប្រភេទ៖
១៖ សម្បួរមាស៖ នេះជារុក្ខជាតិដែលល្បីជាងគេ ព្រោះមានបទមានបទចម្រៀងជំនាន់ដើមមួយបទល្បីខ្លាំងគឺបទ សម្បួរមាសអើយ។ សំបួរមាស ជារុក្ខជាតិដែលមានរាងដូចវល្លិ។
២៖ សម្បួរភ្នំ៖ ដើមនេះស្ទើរតែមិនមានគេស្គាល់។ ដើមសម្បួរភ្នំ គឺជាដើមឈើដ៏រឹងមាំមួយប្រភេទ ត្រូវបានរកឃើញមានដុះច្រើននៅតាមដងអូរសម្បួរមាលានេះ។ ហេតុនេះហើយបានជាប្រជាជននៅទីនោះបានដាក់ឈ្មោះអូរនេះនេះថាអូសម្បួរ។
ដោយឡែកមាលា ជាឈ្មោះរបស់អ្នកស្រីម្ចាស់ដីប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ទោះជាយ៉ាងណា មាលា ក៏មានន័យថា ផ្កា កម្រងផ្កា ឬអ្នកក្រងផ្កាក៏បាន។ ដូចមានកំណាព្យមួយសរសេរថាៈ រីយាយមាលា និងតាមាល័យ ក្រងផ្ការាល់ថ្ងៃ ថ្វាយព្រះរាជា ទ្រង់ប្រោសប្រទាន ឱ្យមានទ្រព្យា ចិញ្ចឹមអាត្មា កបដោយក្ដីសុខ។
សូមអញ្ជើញមកបោះតង់ និងពិសារអាហាកម្សាន្តនៅអូរសម្បួរមាលា ទាំងអស់គ្នាដោយរីករាយ។
- Ou Khla Khmom (អូរខ្លាឃ្មំ): This intriguing site is part of the extensive network of ancient carvings and natural features on Kulen. While “Ou Khla Khmom” might refer to various local spots, exploring the smaller streams and rocky outcrops away from the main Kbal Spean area can reveal more hidden carvings and serene natural pools. A local guide can help you find the best spots.
- Peam So Hos Waterfalls or 7-tier Waterfalls (ទឹកធ្លាក់ពាមសូហោះ ឬទឹកធ្លាក់៧ជាន់): This is another stunning waterfall system on Kulen Mountain, known for its unique natural beauty. Unlike any other campsites, Peam So Hors offers a more secluded experience than the main Kulen Waterfalls, allowing for peaceful swimming and relaxation away from the crowds.
- Wat Preah Kral: A contemporary monastery and pagoda located atop the southern part of Phnom Kulen. This site offers extraordinary views over the plains below the mountain. It’s a peaceful place for contemplation and to observe local religious practices, and its location provides a sense of the scale of the Kulen plateau.
- Anlong Cheung Chab Waterfall: Described as a stream and waterfall good for camping, Anlong Cheung Chab offers another natural bathing spot and a more rustic camping experience. It’s mentioned as a place where locals enjoy camping, highlighting its appeal for those looking for a true wilderness feel. This campsite mostly recommended during rainy season not during dry season as the water only come during the rainy season only.
What to Expect and When to Go:
Camping on Kulen Mountain provides a unique opportunity to witness the mountain’s serene beauty and connect with its spiritual essence. You’ll wake up to the sounds of the jungle, breathe in fresh mountain air, and stargaze under clear skies. Exploring the hidden gems adds an extra layer of adventure and discovery.
Best time to camp: The optimal time for camping on Kulen Mountain is during Cambodia’s dry season, from November to April. During these months, the weather is cooler and drier, making for comfortable outdoor activities. The evenings are particularly pleasant, and the chance of rain is minimal. The water levels in the waterfalls will be lower, making the riverbed carvings more visible, but the main waterfalls will still be impressive. Avoiding the wet season (May to October) is advisable, as trails can become muddy and slippery, and humidity levels are high, though the waterfalls are at their most powerful.
Things to consider:
- Entrance Fee: Phnom Kulen National Park requires a separate entrance ticket, typically around $20 per person for foreign visitors.
- Transportation: While some tours include transport, you can also arrange private cars, motorbikes, or tuk-tuks from Siem Reap. Be aware that the road up the mountain is generally one-way traffic, with specific timings for ascent (before 11 AM) and descent (after midday). For the more remote sites, a 4×4 or a local guide with a motorbike is highly recommended.
- Local Guides: For exploring the lesser-known waterfalls and ancient sites like Ou Sambuor Mealea, Ou Khla Khmom, O Pha Ong, Peam So Hos, and Anlong Cheung Chab, hiring a local guide is crucial. They possess invaluable knowledge of the terrain, history, and local customs, ensuring both your safety and a richer experience. The Anlong Thom Community Based Tourism Committee (CBTC) can often facilitate guides.
- Amenities: Campsites vary in their amenities. While some offer shared bathrooms and basic facilities, it’s always wise to pack essentials like insect repellent, a basic first-aid kit, and sufficient drinking water. For remote camping, prepare for minimal facilities.
- Respect Local Culture: Kulen Mountain is a sacred site for both Buddhists and Hindus. Dress modestly, especially when visiting temples, and be mindful of local customs. Always ask for permission before taking photos of people.
Camping on Kulen Mountain, especially with the opportunity to venture into its hidden corners, is more than just an overnight stay; it’s an adventure that promises lasting memories, a deep connection with nature, and a truly unique perspective on Cambodia’s rich heritage. So pack your tent, embrace the wilderness, and discover the magic of Kulen Mountain’s overt and secret wonders.
