Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountains)
Nature & parks
General venue
A recommended place without a particular LGBTQ+ positioning.
The place at a glance
About 50 km from Siem Reap, Phnom Kulen is a sacred mountain within a national park. Its main sights include waterfalls surrounded by tropical forest, the River of a Thousand Lingas with carvings in its rocky bed, and the reclining Buddha at Preah Ang Thom. It's a day trip combining nature, history and pilgrimage sites.
What we loved
We reached Phnom Kulen by scooter, following a suggested route that added about an hour to the journey. In the end, the ride itself was our favourite part: endless palm trees, lush landscapes, lakes and beautiful reflections on the water. The mountain itself left us a little underwhelmed. We'd imagined more walking, but visiting mainly involves riding from one sight to the next. And because the river was so full during the rainy season, we unfortunately couldn't see the lingas carved into its rocky bed. Such a shame!
Our tip
We'd still recommend taking the old road to Phnom Kulen: the scenery makes the detour worthwhile. Near the end, the paved road gives way to a dirt track, but we found it perfectly manageable by scooter. Also budget USD 20 per person for admission.
Read the article: Siem Reap, we came for the temples and stayed for the nightlife