Cambodia is full of landscapes off the beaten track just waiting to be explored. From its rugged jungle and gently sloping mountains to its seemingly endless rice fields, there is space for all kinds of long and short walks. Looking for gentle routes for trekking in Cambodia on your Cambodia tour? Well, you’re in luck! We have compiled a list of the best trails in Cambodia based on distance and difficulty for you to choose.
A trekking trail in Mondulkiri, Cambodia
Choosing the right route for you can be difficult. Not only should you be aware of your physical abilities, but you must also be flexible with your time. Indeed, some trekking circuits require that you customize your tour in advance. If you want to face the big beasts of the mountains, you will need a few days!
1. Kalai Jungle Trek
Immersing yourself into the nature in Kalai Jungle Trek
If you are looking for an easy hike or just want to wallow in nature, Kalai Jungle Trek is an ideal choice. It is a 16-kilometer loop trail with little traffic located near Kalay, province of Rotanah Kiri in Cambodia. This trial will offer you the opportunity to observe wildlife and participate in several activities.
This region is home to the Kreung people and a Kalai Jungle Trek. It will be great to immerse yourself in their vibrant culture. Flowing waters and the song of birds abound in this trek in the forest that will suddenly delight any nature lover.
- Distance: 16 km
- Difficulty level: Easy
2. Ream National Park
It is one of the most popular routes for trekking beginners in Cambodia. The trek is a distance of 7 km and is considered “easy”. This natural park is located 18 km south of Sihanoukville. Created in 1993, it has an area of 210 km2, including 150 km2 on land and 60 km2 of marine habitat. The national park contains beaches, mangrove forests, tropical jungles and more than 150 species of birds.
- Distance: 7 km
- Difficulty level: Easy
3. Yak Loum Volcanic Lake
Trekking around Yak Loum Volcanic Lake
This beautiful lake is located in the 4000-year-old volcanic crater. It is almost perfectly round – 720 meters in diameter and has a depth of about 50 meters. Around the crater lake is a lush rainforest with a variety of exotic birds. This volcanic lake is a magnificent trekking trail around its border.
- Distance: 3 km
- Difficulty level: Easy
4. Kirirom National Park
A 2-hour drive from the center of Phnom Penh, you will enter the lush, elevated park of Kirirom. The park is famous for its unique pine forest. It forms the upper course of numerous streams supplying the city of Kampong Speu. This national park has very interesting trekking trails.
The region is little known and not very popular. You will not be disturbed by the crowd during your excursions in the sumptuous pine forests of the park. Kirirom Park covers 35,000 hectares and its name means “mountain of Joy”. It was one of the favorite holiday destinations of King Sihanouk. Moreover, as in many other places of interest in Cambodia, you can see the ruins of one of his old villas.
- Duration: from a few hours to a few days
- Difficulty: Easy
5. Kep National Park
The majestic Kep National Park
Created in 1993, the Kep national park is a protected nature reserve and also one of the trekking trails to discover in Cambodia. This park covers an area of approximately 50 km2 and peaks at 286 m above sea level. An 8 km loop trail, of an easy level, allows you to walk around it in 2 or 3 hours. Steeper, well-marked cross-country trails climb under the forest canopy and lead to a series of viewpoints, including the Sunset Rock, at an altitude of 182 m
- Distance: 8 km
- Difficulty level: Easy
6. Phnom Kulen
Located about 50 kilometers from Siem Reap, Phnom Kulen is one of the great sacred mountains of Cambodia. Its mountain is also known to be an important pilgrimage site for the Khmer population.
The mythical mountain of Phnom Kulen is a region where it is possible to hike. You will find at the bottom of the forest the immense sculpted rocks of Sra Damrei. You will have the chance to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and discover Khmer’s beliefs and legends during the hike. The course will offer you an incomparable view strewn with hills and valleys. Home to many ancient temples, pagodas and abandoned sandstone quarries to explore, it is certainly one of the best destinations not to be missed for history buffs.
Trekking and discovering the best of Phnom Kulen
If you want a guided tour, we recommend that you choose Kulen Nature Trails. This is a group of locals who organize their tours to protect the national park and its diversity, as well as provide the community with a sustainable income. This group offers a range of tours, including day trips from Siem Reap.
- Duration: The hikes generally last from 3 to 4 hours and the visits last approximately 1 day
- Difficulty level: Easy-moderate
7. Virachey National Park
Virachey National Park is a very large park that is located in the northeast of Cambodia. The park is located in the most remote region of the country in the jungle of Ratanakiri. Spanning 3,325 km2 in Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north and Stung Treng province to the west, this park has never been fully explored; this makes for an excellent trekking environment as the region offers everything from undiscovered trails to easy walking routes.
Virachey has one of the most organized ecotourism programs in Cambodia, so each trek must be organized by the Ecotourism Information Center in Virachey National Park, located in Banlung.
- Duration: 2 to 8 days
- Difficulty level: Easy-moderate
8. Mondulkiri Province
Located in the northeast of the country, nature lovers can only be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes. This province has other significant assets off the beaten track that will make your trek in Cambodia unforgettable.
This eco-tourist region of Cambodia will delight outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, animal lovers, the curious and travelers wishing to move away from mass tourism. Visitors will be able to explore the Bousra waterfall where it is possible to swim and even zip line with a spectacular view of the forest and the mountain. It is in this jungle that daily trekking departures are organized. Between jungle, hilly landscapes and ethnic minorities, trekking in Mondulkiri is a very special experience away from the major tourist boulevards of Cambodia.
- Duration: 2 to 4 days
- Difficulty level: Easy-difficult
9. River of 1000 Lingas
Admire the gorgeous River of 1000 Lingas
Another must-see trek is the river of a thousand lingas. A place for history buffs, this mountain path reaches the flowing waters of sparkling rain. Revered as a holy place and steeped in a rich Hindu tradition, this trek includes fascinating citadels and temples along the way. Once you reach the top of the jungle-covered mountain path after about 1 hour, you will be rewarded with this known river. Once you are taken to the old river, you can cool off in the waterfall.
- Distance: 6 km
- Difficulty level: Moderate
10. Cardamom Mountains
Notice to all lovers of hardcore adventures! This destination is definitely for you! Extending over 20,000 km² in the southwest of Cambodia, the Cardamom range of mountains stretches along the border with Thailand. This region is home to the second-largest virgin rainforest in Southeast Asia and remains an almost unexplored region. The isolation of the region allowed many Cambodians to escape the bloody Khmer Rouge regime between 1976 and 1979. It is one of the best trekking trails in Cambodia!
Do not forget to chase the sunset at the foot of Cardamom Mountains
Laterite tracks, mountain paths, breathtaking landscapes, grandiose waterfalls, the region is also home to rich and varied flora and fauna. The jungle is home to at least 59 endangered species, including tigers, Asian elephants, bears, as well as many endemic species.
If you are trekking in Cardamom, it is recommended to get a guide. This hike goes deep into the jungle where there are no defined trails and machetes may be required for large sections of the trail.
- Duration: from 3 to 7 days
- Difficulty level: Difficult-very difficult
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