Bokor Hill Station was built by the French in the 1920s to be used as a retreat from the heat of the plains, a pre-air conditionning strategy familiar in all of Asia. The Old French Palace is a hauntingly beautiful colonial building constructed by French settlers in 1917 and completed in 1925 for the French social elites who were living in Cambodia and needed an escape from the humidity and heat of Phnom Penh. In the 1950s and 60s, the Old French Palace was used as a casino during the time of Prince Sihanouk. It is frequently used as a movie location, the most famous being City of Ghosts, starring Matt Dillon.
Make sure you get an early start. The summit of Bokor (1,080 meters high) is reached at the end of one of the worst roads in Cambodia and the journey (about 30km) takes a lot longer than you would think. Heavily potholed and scattered with reefs of the original asphalt surface, it is best traveled by 4WD or motorbike.
Spectacular views of the Gulf of Thailand glimpsed through the lush jungle and the abandoned buildings that dot the roadside grab your interest, and the journey is forgotten the moment you experience the summit's extraordinary atmosphere.At once beautiful and sinis-ter, the hill station buildings include a Catholic church and an old hotel, the aptly named and monumentally proportioned Bokor Palace, as well as a number of other crumbling dwellings. The view out to a sapphire sea across a vertiginous drop to dense emerald green jungle from what was the terrace of the Palace is remarkable.
It's easy to see the strategic significance of Bokor Hill Station, and even easier to see the scars of the many battles that have been fought there. Even on a sunny day it has a sinister aspect, redolent with mystery, as though the buildings, covered with red-pig-mented lichen, are steeped in the blood of their violent past.
Possibly the best known of these battles had the Khmer Rouge holed up in the Catholic church shooting it out with the Vietnamese in the Bokor Palace. It is only too possible to imagine this scene as you gaze across the windswept plains from the upstairs windows of the Palace, or wander through its echoing and cavernous ruins. But this only increases the fascination of the place.
The 15-minute drive from the hill station to the crystal clear waters of the popular Popokvil ('Swirling Clouds') Waterfall takes you past the abandoned and decaying grass huts of the Khmer Rouge families who once lived here. A 20-minute walk down a dirt track from the car park brings you to the first and more accessible of the waterfall's two spectacular tiers. But it's worth making the effort to get to the sec¬ond tier. It's here that you find out why the falls are so named. Clouds of the finest mist hover over the falls to magical effect.
The turn off to the park is located 8km from Kampot and 95km from Sihanoukville on National Route #3. The main entrance and park headquarters are about 1 km from the main road. From there it is another 32km uphill to reach the summit.
As of October 2008, the road to Bokor was officially closed due to construction of a new road by the Sokimex,however in 2012 the road was finished & now it takes just 1 hour to arrive from Kampot.It is still possible to arrange a trip through local travel agents for around 8 US$/including lunch. Trekking tours for US$18-$20 can be booked in town, including lunch. As in August 2012,there's a direct A.C bus from the "Thansur Bokor Highland Office" in Phnom Penh that takes just 4 hours & costs US$ 10/Pax at 7:30 A.M & 13:30 P.M.
Start at 4:00pm from Kampot. Enjoy the sunset behind the Bokor Mountain on the boat. And see the mangrove forests along the Kampong Bay ...
Pick up from your hotel at 8:30am. Cave: visit the Phnom Chnouk Cave. (Pre-Angkorian temple) Pepper farm: visit a plantation near KompongTrach where they produce pepper. Kep beach and Rabbit Island: ...
Less popular than Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Kampot is already a unique spot. This tour offers the opportunity to see life from a local perspective. Jump on a bike with your Cambodian student guides, ...
As with many historic areas around Cambodia, Bokor Mountain and many of the old buildings on it have been restored rather than preserved, and rights to develop the land nearby have been sold to ...
Get back to grass roots with an agricultural and active cycle tour of Kampong. Accompanied by local guides, guests will learn about the regional significance of the salt, rice, and pepper industries, ...
Catch a glimpse of the glory days of the French colonial period in Cambodia. This tour will take you up to the summit of mystical Bokor Mountain, where you can discover abandoned but hauntingly ...
Kampong Kreng,, Kampot, Cambodia
Best for Traveller!
Located along the mangrove shore, Retro Kampot Guest house is 2.5 mi from Kampot. The property features an on-site restaurant and bar. Guests can enjoy free WiFi access in all areas.
Featuring a private terrace that opens up to the river, city and garden, all units are tastefully decorated and fitted with a fan and mosquito net. Private bathroom comes with shower facility. Towels and linen are provided.
Restaurant is available for all-day dining and serves an array of local Khmer and European dishes. Guests can unwind with cocktails while chilling out and/or appreciating the sunset.
Phnom Penh International Airport is 87 mi from the property. Airport shuttle can be arranged at a surcharge.
This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Kampot! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.
Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.9 for a two-person trip.
This property is also rated for the best value in Kampot! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
We speak your language!
Kampong Kreng, Kampot River Front, Kampot, Cambodia
Best for Couple!
Based in the natural green beauty of Kampot, Villa Vedici offers both relaxing stay and exciting activities. This riverfront resort features two outdoor swimming pools and riverside terrace, allowing guests to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Bokor mountains. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.
Private rooms, suites and family rooms are available, equipped with either a fan or air conditioning. Bungalows include a kitchen, living room and a flat-screen TV. Private bathrooms come with hot shower facilities and free toiletries.
Villa Vedici is a 5-minute drive from Kampot's city center. The Old French Quarter and Kampot Central Market are both within a 7-minute drive away. The property offers motorbike rentals and Tuk Tuk services at additional charges.
Guests can practice yoga by the river side during their stay at the resort. Table tennis facilities are provided and guests have complimentary use to bicycles to explore the surrounding area. Alternatively, outdoor activities such as kitesurfing, kayaking, mountain biking and river cruises as well as ticketing services and day trips can be arranged at the tour desk.
The on-site restaurant serves a selection of Mexican, Western, Khmer, and Thai dishes, as well as a daily breakfast.
Solo travelers in particular like the location – they rated it 8.7 for a one-person stay.
We speak your language!
154 Sky St., Kampot, Cambodia
Best Seller!
One of our best sellers in Kampot!Located 6.8 mi from Phnom Chisor, Pink Sands Villa offers accommodations in Kampot. Guests can have a drink at the bar. The guest house has a terrace and views of the river. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and there is free private parking on site.
Each room at this guest house is air conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV. All rooms have a seating area to relax in after a busy day. There is balcony or patio where guests can enjoy a cup of tea. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer in all rooms.
Along the river, there is also seating areas for relaxing or picnic. Luggage storage space is also available at the property.
The guest house also offers car hire.
Solo travelers in particular like the location – they rated it 8.5 for a one-person stay.
This property is also rated for the best value in Kampot! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
We speak your language!
Andong Khmer, Kampot, Cambodia
Best Seller!
Bohemiaz is tucked away in the peaceful town of Kampot. Offering a natural swimming pool and a private restaurant, this eco-friendly accommodation also provides guests with free WiFi access.
Overlooking scenic mountain views, rooms will provide you with a fan, mosquito nets and tile flooring. Bathroom facilities are equipped with shower facilities. Refillable bottles of water and bamboo straws are offered for guests staying at Bohemiaz Kampot.
Other facilities include a 24-hour front desk, barbecue facilities and free access to the fitness centre which provides a hot tub, steam room, sauna, sun deck and plunge pool. There are also treatment rooms where guests can indulge in a range of massages and body treatments at an additional charge. Free parking facilities are offered those who drive. Free table tennis is available at the hotel.
This charming Cambodian-style accommodation is about 7 km away from the entrance of Bokor National Park and 20 km from Kep Beach.
This property is also rated for the best value in Kampot! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
We speak your language!
st.729, Kampot, Cambodia
Best for Couple!
Happy Family Guesthouse is located in Kampot, 3.4 km from Kampot Pagoda and a 6-minute walk from Kampot Night Market. Featuring a garden, the 2-star guesthouse has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The property provides a 24-hour front desk, a shared lounge and buying tickets for guests.
At the guesthouse all rooms are equipped with a desk and a flat-screen TV.
Kampot Provincial Museum is a 20-minute walk from Happy Family Guesthouse, while Teuk Chhou Rapids is 9.7 km away. The nearest airport is Sihanoukville International Airport, 83.7 km from the accommodation.
Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.4 for a two-person trip.
This property is also rated for the best value in Kampot! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
We speak your language!
24 Dragon Street, Near The Old Bridge, Kampot, Cambodia
Best Location!
Stay in Kampot features simple accommodations in Kampot. It offers free WiFi in all guest rooms and guests can relax at the rooftop common area overlooking views of the mountain.
Each unit at Stay in Kampot is equipped with a private bathroom. Certain rooms feature a desk, a chair and a bathroom with hot shower, while only specific rooms come with cold shower.
Staff at the property can advice guests with things to do in the local area.
A continental breakfast is available each morning at the property.
Located near the Old Bridge, the property is an 8-minute walk to the Durian Roundabout, a 9-minute walk from Kampot Night Market and 901 m from Kampot Provincial Museum. The property is 5.6 mi from Teuk Chhou Rapids and 6.8 mi from Phnom Chisor.
This is our guests' favorite part of Kampot, according to independent reviews.
This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Kampot! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.
Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.9 for a two-person trip.
This property is also rated for the best value in Kampot! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
We speak your language!
Being the locals, we know the true value of our land. We always listen and arrange everything as your desire. Please kindly send us whatever about your trip,we will send you best offers quickly.
Guest Name: Ms. Lyn
Country: Philippines
City: Manila
N.of Person: 1 pax
Travel date: 23-09-2024
Booked: Ream National Park Kayaking & Boat Trip Day Tour
Tour Style: Beach Break Holiday
Duration: Full Day
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