Cardamom Mountains

Phnom Kulen and its sprawling national park is considered by locals to be Cambodia’s most sacred mountain. Located in Siem Reap province, the area becomes populated by Cambodians during public holidays and religious festivals. It is home to a giant reclining Buddha that sits at the mountain’s peak, waterfalls perfect for swimming in, remote temples and The River of a Thousand Lingas, featuring ancient carvings on the stone riverbed. Steeped in history, it was at Phnom Kulen from where Jayavarman II declared himself a devaraja (god-king) in 802AD.

With respect running rife in Cambodian culture, this of course extends to the royal family. While the revered King Father Norodom Sihanouk passed away in 2012, his son King Norodom Sihamoni is still highly regarded. This means the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is special to many locals, with the manicured grass that sits in front of the Silver Pagoda full of locals during downtime.

This sprawling mountain range and dense tropical jungle stretches from Koh Kong province on the Thai border to Pursat in central Cambodia, through to the Damrei Mountains, close to Vietnam. Home to one of Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforests, a diverse range of rare flora and fauna remains here – for now – making the Cardamoms a great place for trekking.

Formerly a destination for Cambodia’s elite, the coastal resort of Kep is dotted with relics harking back to the country’s Golden Age of the 1950s and 60s. Today, it remains a popular spot with Cambodians during public holidays, with the small stretch of beach full of families eating freshly caught fish bought from the nearby Crab Market, wading in the water or playing on the sand.

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