Kampot.city
Mountain national park

Preah Monivong (Bokor) National Park

Bokor National Park covers 1,581 square kilometres of forested mountain in Kampot Province. The ruined French hill station at the top is the best-known stop, and the cooler air is the reason it was built.

Forest and coastline seen from Bokor Hill Station
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What the park is

Officially named Preah Monivong National Park, and usually just called Bokor, this protected area was established in 1993. It takes its name from King Monivong, who used to come to the region to get away from the heat of the lowlands.

The park is in Kampot Province and covers 1,581 square kilometres. Phnom Bokor, its highest peak, looks over the surrounding mountains and forest.

A short history of the hill station

In the early 1920s the French colonial authorities decided to build a hill station here, a retreat where officials could escape the heat and humidity of the lowlands. Construction finished in 1925, and the station became a popular destination for the French elite.

Its buildings included a church, a casino and a hotel. During the Khmer Rouge period the station was abandoned and the buildings served as a base for Khmer Rouge forces. After the regime fell they were left in ruins until renovation work in the 1990s.

What to see and do

  • Bokor Hill Station: the most famous attraction in the park, with the church, casino and hotel buildings from the French era.
  • Popokvil Waterfall: set among dense forest and a popular place for a picnic and a rest.
  • Phnom Bokor: the park's highest point, reachable by car or on foot, with wide views over the mountains and forest. It is also used for hiking and trekking.
  • Wildlife watching: a popular activity, though sightings of the rarer species are never guaranteed.

Forest and wildlife

The park is covered in dense forest with orchids, ferns and bromeliads among its plants. Several rare and endangered animals live here, including the clouded leopard, sun bear, Asian elephant and banteng. Animals like these are shy and hard to see, so treat any sighting as a bonus rather than a plan.

Getting there and when to go

Bokor is in Kampot Province and can be reached by car or bus from Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville. The park is open all year.

The best months are November to February, when the weather is cool and dry. That is also the season when the altitude gives the least contrast with the lowlands, so bring a light layer for the summit all the same.

Questions people ask

When was Bokor National Park established?

The park was established in 1993.

How big is Preah Monivong National Park?

It covers 1,581 square kilometres in Kampot Province.

What is the best time of year to visit Bokor?

November to February, when the weather is cool and dry. The park is open year-round.

Why was the Bokor hill station built?

French colonial authorities built it in the 1920s as a retreat for officials wanting to escape the heat and humidity of the lowlands. It was completed in 1925.

Keep exploring

Bokor Lake on Bokor MountainA spring-fed lake on Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, laid out in the French colonial period. It has a floating...Camping on Bokor MountainBokor National Park covers the mountain plateau west of Kampot, and it is possible to sleep up there in a tent or a...The Old Catholic Church on Bokor MountainBuilt in the early 1920s as part of the French hill resort on Bokor, this stone-and-wood church has survived...Old Royal ResidenceA hillside house from the French colonial period, built as a summer escape for Cambodian royalty on Bokor Mountain....