Sacred Mountain Safari
Sacred Mountain Safari
2 days / 1 nights
Phnom Kulen is one of the most holy places in Cambodia, the location where King Jayavarman II proclaimed the independence of Cambodia and pronounced himself a Deva Raja or God-King. Located about 50km from Siem Reap, and accessible in less than three hours from Siem Reap, the jungle plateau is home to a rich array of natural and historic sites offering the most diverse variety of experiences among our safari products. The Sacred Mountain Safari is a fantastic way to get off-the-beaten-track around the temples of Angkor and get closer to nature at this remote and beautiful location. If clients are to do just one safari on their trip to Cambodia, this would currently be our top recommendation for the sheer variety of attractions and experiences.
In brief
- Day 1: Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen. Sacred Mountain Safari
- Day 2: Phnom Kulen to Siem Reap
Other Journeys
In detail
Day 1: Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen. Sacred Mountain Safari
This adventurous safari starts with a beautiful drive up the mountain road, winding through dense jungle past strange boulder formations. Once at the summit, we visit the giant reclining Buddha of Preah Ang Thom, an important place of pilgrimage for Cambodians with great views across the surrounding jungle. After lunch, we continue to our camp location with panoramic views of lowland Siem Reap province below. We trek for 4km to the giant stone animals of Sra Damrei, including a life-size elephant standing guard on the Cliffside. We then continue our trek back to camp via a different 5km route. After a catered dinner under the stars, we retire for the night in our safari style tent.
Day 2: Phnom Kulen to Siem Reap
The next morning we offer the option of another trek to an old temple site before visiting the River of a Thousand Lingas, where small phalluses are carved into the riverbed itself. Later we continue to the attractive waterfall where it is possible to bathe in the splash pool. There is a small Angkorian temple at the top of the falls and a popular picnic area for Cambodians where we enjoy a local lunch before returning to Siem Reap.