Bokor Mountain and National Park

The mountain at a glance

Bokor Mountain is the highest point of the Kampot area, reaching 1,300 metres (4,300 feet) above sea level. It belongs to the Elephant Mountains, a range that runs across southern Cambodia in the southwest of the country.

The slopes are covered in forest, with rolling hills and valleys below. The climate is warm and humid. The dry season runs from November to April and the wet season from May to October, so plan your trip with that split in mind.

Preah Monivong Bokor National Park

The Cambodian government set up the national park in 1993. It covers roughly 12,000 hectares (about 30,000 acres) of the mountain and its surroundings.

The park supports a wide range of plants and animals, among them several endangered species. For visitors, the draw is the scenic trails, the waterfalls and the viewpoints looking out over the lowlands.

From spirit mountain to French hill station

For centuries the Khmer people regarded Bokor as a spiritual place. Local belief held that spirits and demons lived in its dense forests.

The French colonial period, 1863 to 1953, changed that. In the early twentieth century the authorities noticed the area's iron ore and timber, and Bokor became a centre for mining. The French built mines, roads and other infrastructure, which brought the first significant human presence to the mountain.

That presence led to the summit town. In the 1920s and 1930s the French built Bokor Hill Station on top of the mountain as a resort for European tourists and officials. It offered views, luxury accommodation and activities such as hunting and fishing.

Bokor today

The area is now being developed again, with attention on tourism, mining and urban planning. The government has invested heavily in roads, bridges and public buildings, and Bokor City has been revamped for a new generation of visitors and residents.

Growth raises the usual tension between building and protection, and the source material stresses balancing economic progress with the environment and cultural heritage. On the mountain you can see natural scenery, old temples and ruins, and the layers of history described above.

Tip: pick your season deliberately. The dry months from November to April are the more settled choice, while the wet season brings the rain typical of a humid mountain.

Places around Bokor

The summit area contains many separate sites, including the old church, the old royal residence, the lake, the Popokvil waterfall, farms, pagodas and the Thansur Sokha hotel and casino. Each has its own page in this guide. Nearby you will also find places such as Damnak Borey Resort, Kdard La Tente and Le Bokor Palace Hotel.