Top 6 of the most beautiful hikes in Cambodia

At your own pace and according to your level, set off on the paths of Cambodia to discover wild lands, distant lands, and preserved territories and to meet the Cambodian people in all their diversity. Hiking in Cambodia will allow you to see the Khmer kingdom beyond its tourist facade, to praise slowness in a country where taking your time is a virtue, an art of living. Discover Cambodia from a unique and rare angle by drawing inspiration from the most beautiful hikes in this fascinating country whose interest is not limited to the architectural jewels of the temples of Angkor.

Hiking in Ratanakiri Province

This isolated province in the Northeast has the air of the Cambodian Wild West with its red trails, hills, wild mountains, plateaus, plains, watersheds and crater lakes. Its tropical forests are home to the most diverse ecosystems in all of Southeast Asia. In these nature reserves live several ethnic minorities Khmer Loeu (mountain Khmer), with animist traditions and ancestral ways of life. By taking the hiking trails, you have the opportunity during your trip to Cambodia to meet this population with legendary hospitality and fascinating customs and traditions. This province, still very little visited, is full of hidden natural treasures guaranteeing a total change of scenery.

Hiking in Mondulkiri Province

Travel to unknown lands in this remote region of Cambodia with its mountains as far as the eye can see and breathtaking landscapes. A true land of adventure for travelers who wish to discover a region that has remained wild, the territory of many ethnic minorities faithful to their ancestral traditions. Over one or more days, you can explore this exceptional territory on foot, which is home to exceptional flora and fauna including elephants, age-old companions of the jungle of the mountain tribes. Other rare and endangered animals, such as monkeys, tigers, bears or leopards inhabit this wild nature. Here, treks are always punctuated by swimming in the many waterfalls and always conclude your day of walking in style with a meal and a night with a local.

Hiking in the Cardamom Mountains

The Cardamom Mountains are an exceptional sanctuary classified as a biodiversity reserve that is still largely unexplored and is favored by travelers in search of unspoiled nature and a travel experience off the beaten track. This wild mountain range that extends over a length of approximately 300 kilometers is a vast forest and animal area, a wonderful playground for hikers. Between rivers and caves, you walk under the cover of a thick jungle to the sound of the gibbons that have taken up residence there, as well as some tigers, Asian elephants, bears, and many endemic species. You have the possibility of hiking on one or more with a night in a bivouac, with locals or in a lodge. The Cardamom Mountains offers you a great opportunity to discover the last great natural sanctuary of Cambodia.

Climbing Phnom Kulen Mountain

This mythical massif culminating at 487 meters, located about forty kilometers from the temples of Angkor, is considered sacred and is an important place of pilgrimage for the entire Khmer population. To climb, you take the pilgrims' path through a lush tropical forest rich in many species of rare trees and home to remarkable fauna. Along the way, you will discover the famous river of 1000 lingas of Kbal Spean. This archaeological site discovered by the French ethnologist Jean Boulbet is home to religious sculptures carved in the river bed. After a refreshing swim in a waterfall, you continue through the jungle to reach the summit of the mountain where there is a pagoda housing an imposing statue of a reclining Buddha. The summit offers a spectacular view of the rice-growing region of Angkor. There’s a possibility to sleep there and continue the next day towards Sra Dumrei, immense rocks sculpted in the 10th century in the shape of an elephant, frog and tiger.

Hiking at Bokor Mountain

Located in the magnificent Preah Monivong National Park, the former colonial-era climatic station of Bokor offers beautiful walks to do for a day or just a few hours. Easy hikes that will take you through exceptionally well-preserved nature where you can observe hornbills (Asian toucans) and gibbons in particular. Hiking at Bokor also allows you to admire some vestiges of the French presence and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Gulf of Thailand and the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc. Discovering Bokor Mountain on foot combines perfectly with a visit to the Kampot region which offers beautiful walks through its sublime countryside.

Hiking in the Cambodian countryside

The enchanting Cambodian countryside is particularly suitable for walking. It is a pleasure to walk through the immense carpets of rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see to discover small villages with thatched roofs where the authenticity of an unchanging rural life beats. It’s a pleasure to discover on foot the charming little islands placed like confetti on the majestic Mekong River. You can also discover the Cambodian terroir on foot, the Kampot pepper plantations and the salt marshes of Kep. And it’s a pleasure to hike in the jungle to discover some Angkorian archaeological remains. The Cambodian countryside will satisfy all your desires for hiking and unique discoveries.

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