Have a detailed encounter with wildlife and expertise indigenous cultures on this distant nook of Cambodia that’s managing to carry on to a couple remaining pockets of forest. Right here’s our information to visiting Mondulkiri, Cambodia.
By: Paul Healy |
Printed: 25 Mar 2024
With the development of logging in Cambodia, Mondulkiri, though not untouched, is defiantly holding on to a couple remaining pockets of forest.
Separated by patches of barren, typically burnt lands, these elusive patches of greenery are a sanctuary for a few of the finest wildlife in Cambodia.
Dwelling to 1 / 4 of the nation’s wild elephants, in addition to primates and a whole bunch of hen species, Mondulkiri has a give attention to balancing the wants of the wildlife and indigenous communities. A number of vacationer experiences in Mondulkiri immediately assist these causes.
This sparsely populated province was as soon as tough to get to, however new roads have opened up, providing some great experiences in Cambodia which are a lot simpler to get to.
WHERE IS MONDULKIRI?
Mondulkiri is a province within the distant northeast of Cambodia. Bordering Vietnam, the area is roofed in forested hills and minimize by three rivers.
The realm is sparsely populated and was tough to succeed in. However new, paved roads have been constructed, making bus journeys from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Ratanakiri way more accessible.
The capital of Mondulkiri is the city of Sen Monorom. Nearly all excursions and excursions go away from right here, making it one of the best base to discover the realm.
MONDULKIRI PROVINCE MAP
We have now included all one of the best issues to do in Mondulkiri on the map beneath together with the totally different bus stops and all our really helpful locations to remain.
Tips on how to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the listing of places, then click on on the places to show additional data. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to avoid wasting to your Google Maps.
WHY GO TO MONDULKIRI?
There are three nice causes to go to Mondulkiri.
Wildlife – Though Cambodia is slicing down its forests at an alarming charge, the province of Mondulkiri accommodates a number of giant wildlife sanctuaries. Right here you possibly can swim with elephants and witness endangered gibbons swing by the bushes whereas trekking by the jungle.
Waterfalls – The three rivers that meander by Mondulkiri tumble over magnificent waterfalls. Some are significantly dramatic, offering majestic places to swim.
Indigenous Individuals – Mondulkiri is generally populated by an indigenous group referred to as the Bunong. Assembly the folks and understanding their lifestyle is a captivating perception into Cambodia’s numerous tradition.
THINGS TO DO IN MONDULKIRI
1. ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE
It was just a few years in the past that Cambodia’s elephant sanctuaries had a foul repute for mistreating elephants. However issues have modified.
Vacationers have demanded higher welfare for the animals and the sanctuaries have responded. At the moment respected sanctuaries are a real refuge for beforehand mistreated elephants, whereas additionally offering an unforgettable expertise for guests.
There are two good however totally different elephant experiences in Mondulkiri Province.
1.1 MONDULKIRI PROJECT
Managed by the Cambodia Rescue Organisation, the Mondulkiri Mission has 4 elephants they’ve saved from logging or using. These beforehand captive elephants are habituated to people, and the Mondulkiri Mission is a really hands-on expertise.
Within the morning you hand-feed the elephants bananas, and within the afternoon you possibly can swim with them within the river. The elephants are free to roam inside the forest, however with fixed meals on provide they don’t head far, so there’s little or no climbing to see them.
Funds from vacationer visits are used to assist the indigenous Bunong group, shield the forest from logging, and buy different abused elephants.
Bookings – The 1-day elephant journey prices $50 and consists of pickup and drop-off from most centrally situated guesthouses.
1.2 ELEPHANT VALLEY PROJECT
This elephant expertise is much less hands-on and dearer, however it’s in a extra pure surroundings. There is no such thing as a hand-feeding or swimming with the elephants. As a substitute, their 10 retired and rehabilitated elephants roam over 1,500 hectares of forest.
Excursions contain climbing out to see the elephants and watch them as they graze, play and wander by the forest. The size of hike is determined by the place the elephants are, however sightings are assured.
Elephant Valley Mission Costs –
- Half-day journeys – $47.50 (requires about 3-4 kilometres of climbing).
- Full day journeys – $100 (consists of lunch and requires about 5-8 kilometres of climbing.
- Do Gooder Expertise – $65 (features a half day elephant expertise and half-day volunteering.)
The Elephant Valley Mission is run by a Cambodian NGO and over 50% of funds raised go to causes outdoors of elephant care. They’ve helped to guard 300,000 hectares of forest and assist over 2,000 indigenous residents.
Bookings – Elephant Valley Mission
2. JUNGLE TREK
Mondulkiri is surrounded by wildlife sanctuaries which attempt to stability the wants of the indigenous folks with these of the wildlife. It’s a relentless battle between defending animal habitats in opposition to unlawful logging which sells wooden in Vietnam, but in addition helps develop farmland.
Though Cambodia has minimize down a number of forest, there are nonetheless some glorious pockets of nature. One of many largest is the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary and an incredible factor to do in Mondulkiri is to hitch a guided trek.
The sanctuary is residence to the very best variety of species in any protected space in Cambodia. Inside its boundaries are 350 hen species, 1 / 4 of the nation’s wild elephants, and primates together with monkeys, lesser apes and lorises.
Normally, these animals are onerous to see, and a trek is generally about experiencing the forest and studying concerning the Bunong folks. Most excursions embrace climbing by the forest, visiting a Bunong village, consuming a standard Bunong lunch and swimming in a waterfall.
Mondulkiri Mission presents a preferred 1.5- or 2-day tour. After spending the primary day with the elephants, you sleep in hammocks in a single day, after which full a half or full-day hike.
3. JAHOO GIBBON EXPERIENCE
The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is residence to 25% of the world’s yellow-cheeked crested gibbons. These magnificent-looking lesser apes, stay excessive up within the bushes, swinging from department to department to seek out meals.
Jahoo is a group ecotourism enterprise owned by the native Bunong group. They mix analysis on the gibbons with sustainable improvement utilizing a mixture of cash from wildlife experiences and donations.
For vacationers they supply a possibility to see these exceptional and endangered animals.
Excursions start earlier than daybreak and contain a brief stroll into the forest. After a brief wait, the gibbons start to sing. It’s a exceptional sound that reverberates all through the cover.
The guides then observe down the gibbons and also you spend two hours following them by the forest. One of many household of gibbons has change into habituated to people, and from December to March seeing them is sort of assured (98%).
Nonetheless, they’re nonetheless excessive up within the bushes, so discovering that good viewpoint might be tough. Binoculars are provided.
The Bunong guides prepare dinner a standard lunch in a chunk of bamboo over a fireplace, which is a spotlight of the expertise.
Within the afternoon you trek deeper into the forest the place you would possibly spot the critically endangered, black-shanked douc langur. We obtained fortunate and noticed 4 of them in addition to one other household of gibbons.
IS IT WORTH IT?
It’s a singular wildlife expertise, which is fairly costly if you happen to’re by yourself, however turns into progressively cheaper as your group will get greater.
In 2024 the costs for the day trek had been as follows:
- $350 for 1 individual.
- $350 for two folks.
- $360 for 3 folks.
- $460 for 4,5 or 6 folks.
So, when you’ve got a bunch of three or extra, the value turns into way more cheap. A considerable a part of the ticket value goes in the direction of gibbon analysis and the Bunong group.
Ebook – Jahoo Gibbon Expertise
In a single day Stays – It’s additionally attainable to spend the night time in one in every of their three huts and go on an evening stroll into the forest on the lookout for all types of creepy crawlies.
4. TUK-TUK TOUR TO BOU SRA WATERFALL
Bour Sra is essentially the most spectacular waterfall in Mondulkiri Province. Dropping in two levels, the highest cascade is about 10 metres excessive and 15 metres vast, the underside cascade is 20 metres excessive and 20 metres vast.
There are swimming pools to swim in and a café and restaurant on website. The waterfall can get busy with locals, particularly on the weekend.
A tuk-tuk tour from Sen Monorom is a well-liked solution to see Bou Sra. Excursions cease at a pepper and occasional plantations on the way in which to Bou Sra with an elective cease to strive regionally grown tea overlooking the hills.
The ultimate cease is the Sea Forest, a viewpoint with bars overlooking the encircling panorama.
Value – The tuk-tuk prices about $35. Ask your guesthouse to organise an English-speaking driver keen to elucidate the sights. It’s an additional $2.50 US for entrance to the waterfall and 50 cents for the Sea Forest.
How lengthy – It’s round a 1-hour drive from Sen Monorom to Bou Sra and about 1 hour, 20 minutes to get again with stops. Excursions final 4-7 hours relying on how a lot you do and the way lengthy you cease for. The tuk-tuk driver will usually hold issues versatile for you.
5. SWIM AT LENG KHIN WATERFALL
Should you fancy avoiding the crowds of Bou Sra, then head to Leng Khin. This 22-28-metre-high waterfall (relying on the season) drops right into a cavernous gully making a pool that’s glorious for a dip.
The waterfall is a 45-minute drive from Sen Monorom after which a 1-kilometre uphill hike. On the hike you’ll go one other smaller cascade referred to as Leng Orng. Its only one metre excessive however has a fairly pool for swimming and picket tables for a picnic.
6. EXPLORE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MARKET
Tucked off the principle highway in Sen Monorom is the Indigenous Individuals’s Markets. This native market, stretched alongside both aspect of the road, is a vibrant hub the place indigenous communities collect to promote and commerce items.
There are conventional crafts, textiles, and all kinds of recent produce. It’s finest to go to within the early morning. Deliver your digicam because it’s probably the most photogenic places in Mondulkiri.
7. TRY BUNONG FOOD
The vast majority of Mondulkiri residents belong to an indigenous group and the most important is the Bunong. Studying about their tradition is a spotlight of visiting the province.
Lots of the excursions are owned and run by Bunong folks and embrace visits to Bunong villages. However one other good factor to do is strive their meals.
One conventional dish is Samlor Prong, a thick soup cooked in a chunk of bamboo. The soup broth is poured into an extended part of bamboo which rests over the hearth. As soon as the broth begins cooking, the opposite components, normally pork, eggplant, chillies and garlic are added.
As soon as it’s all cooked, the soup is bashed within the bamboo with one other piece of wooden and a hearty soup is poured out.
It’s scrumptious and is served on many day excursions and jungle treks.
Another choice is to move to Manel’s Guesthouse for dinner. The household has a repute for high quality conventional Bunong and infrequently host college teams the place youngsters from Phnom Penh can study their tradition.
8. PHEA’S TREATS
Simply off the principle highway in Sen Monorom, Phea’s Treats is a small café with an incredible brunch menu comprising a mixture of western and Khmer dishes.
The superb espresso is comprised of regionally grown Mondulkiri beans, and the each day made cake is a superb deal with. It’s a pleasant different to Khmer meals.
9. LAZE BY THE POOL AT PIDOMA
Pidoma is a luxurious resort on the outskirts of city. Perched within the hills it has fairly views over Sen Monorom and the encircling forest. Guests can use Pidoma’s swimming pool so long as they eat on the restaurant.
Come for lunch and relax for the afternoon. It’s an effective way to calm down after trekking within the jungle.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
HOW TO GET TO MONDULKIRI?
With no close by airport and painfully sluggish roads, Mondulkiri was as soon as a tough place to succeed in. However within the final decade, new highways and a daily bus timetable have put it on the vacationer map.
It nonetheless takes a lot of the day to succeed in, however it’s a snug journey on an air-conditioned bus or minivan. Most guests come from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or Ratanakiri.
- Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri – 6 hours quarter-hour (a number of buses a day, plus 1 night time bus).
- Siem Reap to Mondulkiri – 11 hours (2 minivans per day).
- Ratanakiri to Mondulkiri – 3 hours (1 bus each day).
There are three good bus corporations to select from: Vireak Buntham, Kim Seng Categorical, and Rithya Categorical.
We used Vireak Buntham for nearly all our bus journeys in Cambodia and so they had been glorious. Each journey was on time and the bigger buses included a espresso and lunch service.
HOW MANY DAYS IN MONDULKIRI?
We suggest spending 2 to 4 full days in Mondulkiri. Here’s a urged itinerary.
- Day 1 – Be part of one of many elephant experiences.
- Day 2 – Head to one of many waterfalls, both on a jungle trek or a tuk-tuk tour.
- Day 3 – Rise up earlier than daybreak to see and listen to the gibbons at Jahoo.
- Day 4 – Discover the indigenous folks’s market, get espresso at Phea’s Treats, and relax by the pool at Pidoma.
WHERE TO STAY IN MONDULKIRI
The very best place to remain in Mondulkiri Province is the city of Sen Monorom. There are many lodging choices from finances backpacker lodges to luxurious motels.
At each ends of the market, costs are usually very inexpensive. Guesthouses might be as little as $10, with luxurious lodging obtainable for simply $70.
Listed here are just a few suggestions from us.
OUR PICK
GUESTHOUSE | $
MANEL’S GUESTHOUSE
Wonderful worth visitor home with air-conditioned rooms run by a pleasant household who will assist organize actions. They concentrate on Khmer and Bunong cooking. It’s a 20-minute stroll or $2 tuk-tuk trip into city.
BUNGALOWS | $$
MONDULKIRI PIZZA BUNGALOWS
Air-conditioned family-run bungalows overlooking a pool with fireplace pit and swing seat. There are frequent areas for chilling out and occasional film nights. It’s a few minutes’ stroll from the centre of city.
LUXURY | $$$
PIDOMA RESORT
Luxurious 5-star resort within the hills on the outskirts of city. The outside swimming pool, restaurant, and terrace have pretty views over the countryside. There’s a selection of deluxe rooms or villas with a non-public pool.
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