Visiting time: whole day.
Cost: the price depends on what type of transport you use to enter the park: on foot and by bicycle – free, scooter or motorcycle drivers pay 50 cents, motorists – $2.5, those wishing to travel by minibus – $3.75, bus — 5$.
Location (on map): Bokor Hill Station is located in Preah Monivong National Park. The most convenient way to get here is from the city of Kampot.
Climate: average +25°C and rainy.
You can pick up a paper map for free at the reception at the Thansur Bokor Highland Resort, which is located on the top of the mountain.
Entry fee to Pre Monivong National Park
Why the city became a ghost
In the 1920s, when Cambodia was still a French colony, the colonialists decided to build their own Las Vegas in this country with blackjack and cabaret.
For construction they chose Mount Bokor – a favorite vacation spot of the French elite of that time – the temperature at the top is lower than at the foot, the humidity is higher, and from the top there are incredible views of the jungle and the sea.
40 years the city flourished until the French finally left Cambodia in the 1960s. The once fashionable resort gradually began to empty out.
Now thrillers and horror films are filmed here.
Still from the film “City of Ghosts” with Gerard Depardieu
Fans of the movie Silent Hill will definitely like this place.
What to see in the city
Many buildings from that time remain on the mountain.
The most interesting of them:
1. Bokor Palace Casino, better known as the Devil’s Casino. The fact is that the casino was built near a cliff, into which casino guests who lost everything to the last centime used to often jump.
2. The Black Palace is the residence of the former king Norodom Sihanouk.
3. Catholic Church.
The less pompous buildings, from which darkness emanates, have not been completely destroyed by time. The intimidating atmosphere on the mountain is thickened by the omnipresent fog and regular rains.
But besides all the old empty houses, there is something else to see here:
1. Popoquil Falls. They are located about 5 kilometers from Bokor Hill. If you rented a car or other means of transportation, you can get there in 10-15 minutes. It is worth going here during the rainy season – from May to October. Otherwise, you will find a small stream there.
2. Pagoda Wat Sampo Moi Roi. Great spot for a selfie — this Buddhist temple stands above a cliff. From here you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the coast and the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc.
3. New hotel-casino Thansur Bokor Highland Resort.
Despite the fact that the hotel is new and very beautiful, there are almost no visitors here. If you decide to spend the night there, chances are you’ll be the only guest in this 5-story mountaintop castle.
By the way, the hotel does not use floors three to five; Only the first two are residential. Take the elevator to the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors and you will understand what the world would look like if all the people suddenly disappeared 🙂
They also say that there are elephants, tigers, snakes and other jungle inhabitants, but to meet them, you probably need to live in the jungle itself for a week.
How to get there:
You can climb the mountain on your own, without resorting to the services of excursion agencies or guides. There is information on the Internet that there is simply no road to the mountain – this is no longer true. In 2012, the Chinese company, which built the Thansur Bokor Highland Resort casino-hotel on the mountain and is now actively developing tourism, also built a road to Mount Bokor. The easiest way to rent a car, scooter or moped is in Kampot.
What else you need to know
- The top of the mountain is often flooded with rain. Bring windbreakers and raincoats.
- There are no cafes or gas stations on the way to the mountain, so take care of your water supplies in advance, take something to eat and fill up a full tank of fuel.
- The best way to get there is by scooter. The road to the top will take about an hour, but for the sake of such views I agreed to drive another five hours.
- Entry into the territory of Bokor Park is paid, you can probably only drive around the fields in a jeep, but it’s not worth it, because the entrance costs mere pennies.
- Visiting the waterfalls costs $1 per person, but you can bypass security here.
You can go on an excursion to Mount Bokor, but can you really call it an adventure? 🙂
You can easily find hotels and book a room on OneTwoTrip.
