Cardamom Mountains Travel Essentials
Rating:
Weather:
Ideal duration: 2-3 Days
Best Time: October to February Read More
Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question
"Mountains and Wildlife"
Cardamom Mountains Tourism
The Cardamom Mountains are a mountain range located in southwest Cambodia and eastern Thailand and covers the provinces including Kampot, Kep, Battambang, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Pursat, Kampong Speu and Pailin. It is one of the largest mountain areas and is home to Cambodia's vibrant ecosystem comprising of deep jungles, valleys, rivers, wildlife, marshlands, coastline. It inhabits hundreds of thousands of people depending on these.
Travelers exploring Cambodia can experience Cardamom mountains through one of the many wildlife conservation projects located in many cities, signing up for guided hikes in the region and also biking.
The Cardamom mountains were home to ancient Cambodia tribal life between the 15th and 17th century, confirmed by the remains including many porcelain jars, burial mounts and coffins. In the 19th century, due to the presence of the Khmer Rouge and also hundreds of landmines, the mountains remained inaccessible to the outside world. It was only after the government started establishing wildlife conservation projects clearing mines, tourism began to develop here.
More on Cardamom Mountains Travel
Places to Visit
Wildlife sanctuaries - There are two wildlife sanctuaries, which were commissioned by King Nordok project in 1993. Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary located, which is located on the west side of the mountains. And the other is Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern Cardamom mountains. Both of these are open for tourists to explore the wilderness.
National Parks - Preah Monivong National Park located in Kampot province is an ASEAN heritage park covering the western end of Cardamom mountains. Botum-Sakor National Park is located on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and covers southwest of the Cardamom in the district of Botum. Southern Cardamom National Park is another noteworthy attraction for tourists located on the southern end.
Wildlife Conservation Projects - Chi Phat is the most popular of all the conservation projects in the Cardamom province, which takes about a day to visit. The Wild KK Project is another social enterprise in the Areng Valley, which focuses on preserving the ecosystem and wildlife.
Geography
The Cardamom Mountains are known for their rugged wilderness, but the regions between Koh Kong and Pursat provinces are the most secluded thick rainforests in Southeast Asia. The mountain spreads over a vast area of more than 4 million hectares, covering a large portion of South West Cambodia.
This land is home to hundreds of endangered species of wildlife, flora and birds. The highest mountain in Cambodia, Mount Aural is present in the region. Five main rivers run through the Cardamoms, which in turn has created dozens of waterfalls. Some of the wildlife that tourists can spot include elephants, leopards, Siamese crocodiles, gibbons, bears and tigers.
Tips
- It is recommended to carry essential items like medicines, toiletries, good trekking shoes, umbrellas, sunscreen, cap, and other things.
- Accommodation options get booked quickly, so it's better to book lodging well in advance and plan accordingly.
- There are no ATMs here, and all transactions are carried out only in cash. Carry sufficient cash while travelling.
- If you are travelling in a group, getting around by car is economical as well as comfortable.
Best Time to Visit Cardamom Mountains
Nearby Places
How to Reach Cardamom Mountains
How to Reach Overview
- The nearest town to get to this region is to travel to Chi Phat. Chi Phat is located about 20 km upstream from Andong Teuk village, the closest settlement.
- There are plenty of buses and minibuses available from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Koh Kong, Sihanoukville and other cities to Andong Teuk.
- From this village, you can either reach Chi Phat by boat, which is a scenic journey passing through dense forests and mountains.
- Alternatively, you can also rent a motorbike or a Tuk Tuk to get to Chi Phat from Andong Teuk village.
- The total journey costs about 8 USD from the town either way.
- You can also get here by arriving at Koh Kong. Regular buses are leaving to Koh Kong from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other cities.
- From Koh Kong, you need to book a cab costing about 50 USD for a one-way trip.
Browse Package Collections
Cardamom Mountains Photos
FAQs on Cardamom Mountains
What is famous about Cardamom mountains?
What is not so good about Cardamom mountains?
Who should visit Cardamom mountains?
What is the best time to visit Cardamom mountains?
Read More
What is the best way to reach Cardamom mountains?
- The nearest town to get to this region is to travel to Chi Phat. Chi Phat is located about 20 km upstream from Andong Teuk village, the closest settlement.
- There are plenty of buses and minibuses available from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Koh Kong, Sihanoukville and other cities to Andong Teuk.
- From this village, you can either reach Chi Phat by boat, which is a scenic journey passing through dense forests and mountains.
- Alternatively, you can also rent a motorbike or a Tuk Tuk to get to Chi Phat from Andong Teuk village.
- The total journey costs about 8 USD from the town either way.
- You can also get here by arriving at Koh Kong. Regular buses are leaving to Koh Kong from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other cities.
- From Koh Kong, you need to book a cab costing about 50 USD for a one-way trip.
Read More
What are the places near Cardamom mountains?
Have a Question on Cardamom Mountains?
experience.
Cardamom Mountains Reviews