People, the locals, usually go there for a picnic and to have fun with their family by cooling themselves down from the hot weather in the pools of this sacred mountain. For this reason is a typical route to hike and visit when you are in Siem Reap, and it is really easy to find many ways and solutions to go to Kulen Mountain.
Phnom Kulen National Park, judged the Holy Mountain, is a significant place to engage with Hindu and Buddhist religions.
Discover the area of Phnom Kulen to see its history and lovely mountainous landscape, along with the ancient Valley of 1,000 Lingas.
Kulen Mountain is located in Siem Reap province. It is regarded as a mecca with Cambodian people and the authentic place of the great Khmer Empire.
On the top of Kulen mountain, King Jayavarman II declared independence from Java, provided the starting point of the Angkor Empire, and constructed the first capital.
Kulen Mountain these days has become a pleasing sightseeing destination.
Join our 1-day Kulen waterfalls and mountain tour
Important information to know before you go to Kulen Mountain
A playground for locals, Phnom Kulen, is a splendid day out.
The most important appeal is the waterfalls at the pinnacle of Kulen Mountain, and it’s also a gorgeous picnic spot, properly set up in Cambodian fashion with hammocks and shelters to preserve you shaded from the sun.
It’s around a 2-hour drive from Siem Reap, and if you go all the way to the top using a van or car or wish to drive by yourself, you would need to get there quite early, as this avenue is one-way traffic only.
Kulen Mountain entrance fee
Apsara Authority categorizes Phnom National Park inside the Kulen National Park, which requires a separate entrance ticket to the Angkor Archaeological Park.
It costs $20 for a foreign visitor. If can purchase a ticket at the gate to the mountain; however, you can obtain a ticket in town from the City Angkor Hotel for a decreased rate.
You may need a tour guide or driver to buy your ticket in town. It’s free for Cambodians.
How to get there?
Kulen Mount is 48km from Siem Reap town, and you will have to spend approximately 1.5-2 hours on the road there.
There are several ways to reach there: a van, car, motorbike, bicycle, or even Tuk Tuk.
From the entrance at the bottom of Kulen Mount, you might have to spend another 20 minutes on a few windy roads until you finally reach the top, where you can see a lot of stores selling souvenirs, clothing, snacks, and drinks.
You need to walk the rest of the way from the store’s area, following the grand staircase up to the pagoda or the lower route that leads to the waterfall and the picnic areas.
However, to ride on a Tuk-Tuk, you will have to walk up and back down again to the top of the mountain from the bottom entrance, while Tuk-Tuk cannot make the steep journey to the top.
You would have to spend about another 2 hours each way of walking, and it’s stunning.
How long time to spend on Kulen Mountain?
If you don’t plan to go trekking and camping overnight on the top of the mountain, then you should spend a full day more than enough to relax on Kulen Mountain.
Good time to go to Kulen Mountain
Siem Reap normally has a tropical climate. Few seasonal variations are ordinary in all of Cambodia’s territory. The dry season, every year, runs approximately from December through April, while the southwest monsoon from May to November brings a wet climate and excessive humidity.
Most people prefer to visit Phnom Kulen in December and January when the days are sunny and dry.
The road condition is not wet, and you don’t have to worry about rushing in the rain. During this period, the water in the pool of Kulen Mount may not be filled. And you should be alerted. Remember that this is the top traveler season, so you’ll find it more crowded everywhere, and fees will be higher.
In Siem Reap, April and May can get very warm, specifically in May when the rainy season adds a layer of sticky humidity to the high temperatures.
From June through November, you can assume a lot of rain, but this is not typically a terrible time to go to Siem Reap while the temple sites are less crowded and the surrounding landscape is completely green scenery. Certainly, bring an umbrella along with you.
Nonetheless, the rainfall commonly comes in light showers and will bring back the sunlight in a short moment, enabling you to take a nice photo of the mountain scene.
How to go to Khulen Mountain (Cambodia)?
Every year thousands of travelers visit Cambodia. One of the top destinations they want to cover is Kulen falls in the Phnom Kulen National Park.
The place is famous among travelers, and they come to achieve this goal that they have to reach the mountain. If you are one of those travelers but do not know how to reach Kulen mountain, you should keep reading.
We will tell you all the necessary details about the mountain in Kulen.
If you are confused about your tour, then the first thing we would suggest to you is to visit the National park, which is situated in the Phnom Kulen mountain range.
It is in the province of northern Cambodia named Siem Reap. If you think it is a mountain range, then we are here to tell you it is not.
It is nothing like the Rocky Mountains. It is a mid-height plateau, and the total distance of this plateau is around 40km.
The importance of this mountain:
The historical significance should not be ignored if we talk about the reasons for its popularity.
The range is also known as the “Mountain of lychees” and is considered a holy mountain among Buddhists and Hindus.
They often visit here for holy purposes. We cannot say that it is religiously important only. The beauty it holds is also a reason for many tourists visiting there.
If we talk about the national significance, the Khmer Empire took birth here.
Why visit this mountain?
If you already do not know much about this mountain, you should know that you can have the best time there. This place is suitable for all types of outdoor activities and fun.
You will see the two main waterfalls worth all the time and money.
The first waterfall is around 5 meters tall while the second one is 20 meters tall, so you should visit both to enjoy the scenic view.
It is suggested that you should visit in the rainy season because the waterfalls are at their fullest in this season. I would suggest you visit from May to November.
You might think waterfalls are the only thing to watch over there. But wait, this is not it! There is more to this beautiful place.
There is a massive statue of Buddha on the very top of the mountain. Not made of gold but beautifully designed with the help of sandstone.
It looks similar to the mountain. It holds to be the largest one in Cambodia. If you are interested in seeing the carvings in the riverbed done at the time of the Khmer Empire, then you will have to wait for the dry season because it is the time when these carvings are fully exposed.
You are supposed to trek 1.5km from the parking site to witness them.
How can you get there easily?
If you want to go towards the Phnom Kulen National park, you should be aware of the distance and take all the necessary measures accordingly.
You should know that the destination is located 48km to the north of Siem Reap. It is obvious that you have to go by car or a van over there, it will take around 2 hours to get there. In case you want more adventure and fun, you have the option of going on a motorcycle.
What are a few things you should consider?
You should consider following these few things when you are over there to avoid any sort of trouble.
- As we have already mentioned that this place has religious significance and is considered a sacred place for Buddhists and Hindus. Most of them visit over there for meditation. One should respect this place as much as possible because it is also a sacred place for Cambodians.
- When planning to visit the waterfalls, you should remember that you will be required to give bathing suits. You might not know, but you can easily rent bathing suits. But we would still suggest you take your own with you.
- You should know about the route towards the mountain. The road that goes towards the destination is a one-way road. So the road while you are going up stays open till noon. But the road down is open in the afternoon. This is important information that you should always remember.
- You do not have to worry much about the food and beverages because there are vendors in the park. You can easily find food items and beverages over there
- You should keep another thing in mind you will have to pay an entrance fee to enter the park. This would cost you around 20 dollars per individual.
- We would never suggest you go over there while you have knee problems. The elderly people should consider this before going that there is trekking and ups and downs
- At last, we would suggest you hire a driver or rent a car for your entire day because it will be comfortable and easy for you. We can assure you that this visit is worth every penny you spend there.
Endnote
So, this was all we had to tell you about Khulen Mountain, and if you already have experience going there, then you should share it in the comments section below.
If you have not been there, you should plan your next trip to Kulen Mountain, and you will not regret your decision.
