Bokor Hill Station: History of the Palace and Casino

Why the French built up here

Bokor is a mountain plateau west of Kampot, and the air up top is cooler and less humid than on the plains below. That was the whole point. In the early 1920s the French colonial administration built a hill station on the mountain so that colonists could get out of the lowland heat.

The station was not a single building. It had a casino, hotels and other amenities, and it quickly became a favourite with French colonists and wealthy local visitors.

Abandonment under the Khmer Rouge

The Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s ended the hill station's life as a resort. The site was abandoned and left to decay. Buildings were looted and damaged, and the jungle started to take the land back.

The years after the regime did not change much. The station stayed largely empty, with a few small villages nearby and only a handful of tourists making the trip up.

The rebuild

In the early 2000s a group of investors led by Cambodian businessman Sok Kong began a large renovation project to turn the old station into a luxury hotel and resort. The reported cost was over $100 million.

Several historic buildings were restored, including the Bokor Palace Hotel and the casino.
New buildings were added, including a golf course and a spa.

Le Bokor Palace today

The result is Le Bokor Palace, a hotel and resort with 36 rooms and suites. Facilities include several restaurants, a bar, a fitness centre and a swimming pool. Guests can arrange golf, hiking and sightseeing tours of the surrounding area.

The restoration has been praised for keeping the historic buildings and the natural setting intact, and the hotel is reported to have won awards for its design and sustainability practices.

Visiting the area

The hill station is one of many sights on Bokor Mountain, alongside the old church, the old royal residence, Popokvil waterfall and the national park. It is worth reading up on the road access before you set off, since the plateau is a long way up from Kampot town.

If you are only after the history, the story above is the short version: a colonial retreat, a period of abandonment and war, and a costly reinvention as a resort.

Questions people ask

When was the Bokor hill station built?

The French built it in the early 1920s as a retreat from the heat and humidity of the lowlands.

What happened to it under the Khmer Rouge?

It was abandoned in the 1970s. Buildings were looted and damaged, and the jungle began to reclaim the site.

Who paid for the restoration?

A group of investors led by Cambodian businessman Sok Kong began the project in the early 2000s. It cost over $100 million.

How many rooms does Le Bokor Palace have?

It has 36 rooms and suites, along with several restaurants, a bar, a fitness centre and a swimming pool.