7 of the most beautiful national parks in Cambodia

Make the most of your next vacation to Cambodia by visiting one or more of the country's most magnificent national parks, which are real biodiversity sanctuaries. Discovering these majestic sites will also be a great opportunity to encourage Cambodian national ecotourism.

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Phnom Kulen National Park

Located 50 kilometers Northeast of the city and the archaeological site of Angkor, Phnom Kulen National Park is distinguished by its great natural beauty and its high historical value since King Jayavarman II (802-850) proclaimed the foundation of the kingdom of Angkor at this place. Set off through the many hiking trails of Phnom Kulen National Park to discover many waterfalls and rivers, popular places for a picnic or a refreshing swim. The park is also home to the archaeological site of Kbal Spean, or "the river of a thousand Lingas", discovered in 1968 by Jean Boulbet, a prominent member of the French School of the Far East. You will appreciate the site, which is set in a primary forest setting where thousands of sculptures line the bed of the sacred Kbal Spean River.

Virachey National Park

The second national park in Cambodia declared a priority by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for preserving Southeast Asia, Virachey National Park, located in the remote Ratanakiri Province, is so vast that its natural riches have not all been inventoried. Two or three tigers inhabit the region as well as a dozen wild elephants and most species of Cambodian wildlife such as gaurs, bantengs or pangolins. Trekking tours lasting one or more days are organized to explore this sanctuary and to meet many ethnic minorities who traditionally live in the park's buffer zone.

Ream National Park

Located 18 kilometers from the famous seaside resort of Sihanoukville, Ream National Park, created by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1993, is a 150 km² jungle and 60 km² marine habitats. Ream National Park is a veritable green jewel that is home to splendid beaches, mangrove forests, tropical jungles, more than 150 species of birds, and its population of monkeys and freshwater dolphins. It is in Prey Nup, on the eastern side of Ream Park, where Marguerite Duras spent part of her childhood, that the plot of her novel A Dam Against the Pacific is set.

Preah Monivong National Park

Also known as Bokor National Park, due to the presence of the old Bokor climatic station built by the French authorities during the colonial era, Preah Monivong National Park is one of the most beautiful in Cambodia. Preah Monivong National Park is located at the gates of the charming river town of Kampot, on a plateau that rises to an altitude of 1000 m. It is considered one of the largest protected areas in the country populated by a large number of birds and mammals, including elephants and tigers. The park contains some vestiges of the French presence including a church, the old town hall some old colonial houses, and some hiking trails to appreciate the beautiful lush nature and to discover the Popokvil Falls, a two-level waterfall where you can swim.

Kep National Park

Overlooking the quiet seaside resort of Kep, established nearly a hundred years ago by the French, Kep National Park is a beautiful place not to be missed when you come to Cambodia. An easy 8-kilometer loop trail allows you to walk around the park in 2 to 3 hours. It’s a beautiful hike, largely protected from the sun by the multitude of shaded areas created by the abundant surrounding forest, which leads to a series of viewpoints, including Sunset Rock, at an altitude of 182 m, from where the view extends as far as the Bokor massif and Koh Tonsay and Phu Quoc Islands.

Kirirom National Park

The first national park in Cambodia, Kirirom National Park is located approximately 120 kilometers Southwest of the city of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on the magnificent Cardamom Mountain Range. The park is home to a wealth of flora and fauna. By exploring Kirirom National Park, you can try to observe elephants, gaurs, bantengs, leopards, spotted linsangs, hairy gibbons or tigers. For this, we advise you to spend the night there in the company of a park ranger.

Botum Sakor National Park

Listed as a global biodiversity hotspot by the Wildlife Alliance, Botum Sakor National Park is notable for its wide range of ecosystems and flora and fauna species. Located in Southeastern Cambodia, in the foothills of the Cardamom Mountains, the park is a popular destination for nature lovers. Discovering the park’s rainforest and rivers will be an unforgettable experience for them. There are many opportunities for gentle adventure such as rare bird watching, hiking to stunning waterfalls or kayaking down jungle-filled waterways.

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