Activities and Attractions on Bokor Mountain
Lots to do on Bokor Mountain, if you can find it.
Our best activity, is just the drive up (and down) on a scooter. (small 100cc automatic motorcycle). Lots of turns, great road, occasional wildlife, and the view to the ground as you ascend up 1KM. Downtown Kampot… Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam… and a big ocean. If it’s raining, as it often is, you’ll see over 1,000 waterfalls on your way up. And also, watching the clouds cross the street like a train going by, and then driving through them.
* A few kilometers before the top, you’ll want to stop at the Yea Mao Statue. While you’re driving up, you won’t miss it. It’s the only thing on the mountain you can see from the ground on the drive around Kampot. There’s free parking, and a one minute walk up to one of the biggest statues in Cambodia.
* At the top of the Mountain, just past the guard gate, there’s a small Wat, , with carvings on the walls and ceiling. Worth a 5 minute stop.
* From the guard gate, if you turn right, the first turn on the left takes you to Tent camping on a lake. Paddle boats are available.
* If you don’t turn, you’ll come to the Bokor Hydroponics Farm. Lots of veggies grow really well in the cooler mountain air. You can go through some of the farm, and buy whatever is available that day.
* Past the hydroponics farm, is the Popokvil Waterfall. Completely unknown how they got a waterfall at the very top of the mountain, but they did. A 50 cent entry fee, and you get a free bottle of drinking water, from the waterfall water.
* From the guard station at the top, if you turn left, you’ll first come to the Thansur Bokor Highland Resort Hotel and Casino. Of course there’s a casino here open 24/7. In the lobby, there’re a few restaurants, lobby bar, massage, kids’ play area, and shelter (if you just came up in the rain on a motorcycle). Amazingly, there’s no swimming pool, but it would be too cold anyway.
* In back of the Thansur Hotel, is Wat Sampov Bram. A beautiful collection of buildings, rock formations, and wonderful views of Cambodia and Vietnam. A good half hour or more stop, exploring and viewing (either you’re in or above the clouds, or you can see Southern Vietnam and Cambodia). And a Khmer restaurant serving simple meals and drinks.
* From the guard tower at the top of the Mountain, if you turn left and stay to the left, past the Thansur Hotel, you’ll find Le Bokor Palace. A luxury hotel. Inside is a bar and restaurant. Right before you get there is the Old Church. An abandoned Church worth a 5 minute stop.
* Right past the hotel hotel where the road ends, is one of the original Bokor Buildings, and another great viewing spot behind. If you’re lucky, you can watch clouds climb over the mountain here, and even jump into one.
* The 100 Rice fields in the back of Bokor Mountain is worth a stop. Natural and tourist made rock formations, a waterfall, and pitcher plants. It’s either free, or $1 to go back. A long and usually quiet road. Near the end, you can go out in the fields and look at the Pitcher Plants. Quite impressive. And you won’t be able to miss the rock formations on the sides of the road. Stop and eat lunch. Just don’t let them see you..
* Until we go up again next week, these are all the activities on Bokor Mountain.
