Phnom Prich Sanctury

Phnom Krorvanh

    Phnom Prich Sanctuary, Mondulkiri is one the popular tourist attractions in Mondulkiri. The sanctuary is located amidst the Eastern Plains which is known for the sprawling rain forests and beautiful rivers. Thousands of tourists and nature lovers visit Phnom Prich Sanctuary, Mondulkiri to experience the idyllic scenic landscape.

Phnom Prich Sanctuary in Mondulkiri is a part of the initiative undertake by the Cambodian Government to conserve the diverse flora and fauna in the country. The sanctuary forms part of the 1 million hectare of land in the Eastern Plains. The WWF has also helped the government in the undertaking.

The Phnom Prich Sanctuary is home to some of the endangered species in the country. There are wide varieties of mammals, birds and reptiles. Some of the protected species in the sanctuary are tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, jungle cat, and deer and so on. Some bird species include sarus, crane and giant ibises. The sanctuary provides a wonderful habitat for these animals.

Various trips are undertaken to the Phnom Prich Sanctuary, Mondulkiri. There are also provisions for camping in the forest. There are single day as well as half day trips available. Travelers can take useful information on the sanctuary from the tourist center and the travel agencies.

Sen Monorum Waterfall

    Sen Monorum Waterfall is located at Sen Monorum District in five-kilometer distance from the provincial town by red soil trail, Along either sides of the trail, there are industrial plantations like rubber, coffee and cashew as well. The local people usually meet each other at Sen Monorum waterfall during the holidays and national festivals because it closed to the provincial town. Sen Monorum waterfall has three stages:
- First stage: The waterfall has slow speed, one-meter height and 2-4 meter diameter.
- Second stage: During the rainy season, the waterfall has strong speed, 6-7 meter height and 8-meter diameter. During the dry season, the waterfall has 7-9 meter height and 4-5 meter diameter. At the waterfall, there is a large space of resting and enjoying.
- Third stage: Locates at one- kilometer distance from the second stage. The waterfall has 1.5-meter height only.Getting to Sen Monorom is difficult, adding to its off-the-beaten-path allure. From Phnom Penh, it takes about 10 hours. The first half of the trip, to Snuol, is on smooth, paved roads. Once you pass Snuol, however, civilisation ends, and the road becomes a veritable roller coaster ride of bumps and potholes, your vehicle permanently cloaked in a cloud of red dust for the final five hours of the journey.

Sen Monorom's atmosphere is distinct from the moment you arrive. It is one of the quietest towns in Cambodia -- just a few dirt roads and one roundabout set at the centre of a patchwork quilt of grassy rolling hills. The town is but a blip on the radar and you could pass it in barely the blink of an eye.

Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri provinces are both set on a plateau, giving them a distinct climate and flora from the rest of the country. Note that just as the environment is oddly unique for Cambodia -- with rolling, grassy hills and valley rivers -- so are the very mild temperatures. In the cool season, you'll appreciate having a jacket.

While many may have an image in their mind of Mondulkiri being a heavily forested nature-lovers paradise, this is sadly not the case. Firstly, the high altitude and cooler weather makes the landscape more akin to England than the tropics, with low shrubs, deciduous forests, and vast, open fields spreading across the rolling hills.
Also, this province and Rattanakiri to the north were logged to a devastating degree over the last two decades -- mainly with the cooperation of Vietnamese and Taiwanese logging interests and the complicity of Cambodian government officials with well-greased palms.

While there has been significant regrowth, visitors expecting untouched wilderness may be disappointed. The talk is that the commercial flights that once flew from Phnom Penh to Sen Monorom were cancelled because so much of the illegal logging could be seen from the air.Despite this substantial damage, Mondulkiri's beauty is still very much intact, with patches of forest, picturesque plains lined with wide, open dirt roads, streams and waterfalls, and minority villages whose traditional ways of life remains intact.

Locates at Sen Monorum District in five-kilometer distance from the provincial town by red soil trail, Along either sides of the trail, there are industrial plantations like rubber, coffee and cashew as well. The local people usually meet each other at Sen Monorum waterfall during the holidays and national festivals because it closed to the provincial town.

Pahlung Village

    Pahlung Village It's possible to go on an elephant trek at this small village. It's a good idea to come out here the day before (possibly on your way to Bousra Waterfall) to organize it so they have the animal ready to go the next morning, instead of out working in the jungle. You can take a half- or full day trip in the surrounding area. It?s good to wear long pants and bring some mosquito repellent, drinking water and food.

To get there, just head north from Sen Monorom. When you get to the fork in the road, go right. The village is about 8 km from town. People in the small houses on the right can fetch the elephant guy for you. If you go by moto-taxi, the driver can help with the translation of arranging the tour. The guy at the town tourist office, if you can ever find him there and he?s not sleeping. Can also set the tour up for you. But he takes a cut. Figure around US$ 15 for a half day or US $ 30 for a full-day tour.

Pahlung Village, Mondulkiri is one of the well known tourist attractions in Mondulkiri. It is just an hour?s drive from the main town center. The scenic rustic setting of Pahlung Village, Mondulkiri along with diverse regional culture draws thousands of tourists and travelers.

Pahlung Village in Mondulkiri is also one of the popular centers of excursion in Cambodia. Travelers can undertake an elephant trekking trip to the village. The village is on the route to the Bousra Waterfalls. The route is wonderful and takes place through winding tracks, sprawling rainforests and idyllic waterfalls. The village is located in the northern part of Senmonorom.

There are various ways to go to Pahlung Village. Apart from elephant treks, travelers can also hire shuttle cars and taxis to the village. The small village is full of scenic spots. Travelers can have a feel of the local rustic setting in the village. They can see the local huts and houses which are wonderfully designed. The forests which surround the village are also home to different varieties of flora and fauna.

Useful information about traveling to Pahlung Village, Mondulkiri can be obtained from the tourist office. Various travel agencies also undertake trips to the village. The tour is mostly of a single day or half day. For full day trips, there are provisions for camping in the village.

Pahlung Village is one of the well known tourist attractions in Mondulkiri. It is just an hour?s drive from the main town center. The scenic rustic setting of Pahlung Village, Mondulkiri along with diverse regional culture draws thousands of tourists and travelers.

Pahlung Village in Mondulkiri is also one of the popular centers of excursion in Cambodia. Travelers can undertake an elephant trekking trip to the village. The village is on the route to the Bousra Waterfalls. The route is wonderful and takes place through winding tracks, sprawling rainforests and idyllic waterfalls. The village is located in the northern part of Senmonorom.

There are various ways to go to Pahlung Village. Apart from elephant treks, travelers can also hire shuttle cars and taxis to the village. The small village is full of scenic spots. Travelers can have a feel of the local rustic setting in the village. They can see the local huts and houses which are wonderfully designed. The forests which surround the village are also home to different varieties of flora and fauna.

Useful information about traveling to Pahlung Village, Mondulkiri can be obtained from the tourist office. Various travel agencies also undertake trips to the village. The tour is mostly of a single day or half day. For full day trips, there are provisions for camping in the village.

Chrey Thom Waterfall

    Chrey Thom Waterfall is located at Sen Monorum District in 43-kilometer distance from the provincial town. During the dry season, the waterfall has 15 meters height and 2 meters diameter, and during the rainy season, the waterfall has 11 meters height and 8 meters diameter. The waterfall fall us near a plantation of Srolao trees and a big, branchy Chrey tree.

The provincial tourist service is working with the local authority to prepare this site as a tourist destination in place of Busra waterfall, which is inaccessible during rainy season.The Chrey Thom Waterfall is situated in Poules and Pouchhob Villages, Dakdam Commune, Oreang District; 20 km away from the provincial town. It can be accessed by the red pebble path.
There are more than 208 families living in the Chrey Thom area of 303.555 ha, whose main occupations are farming.
The resort provides plenty of opportunities for picnicking, hiking, swimming, especially for visiting an ethnic village and purchasing some souvenirs beautifully produced by ethnic groups.
Its main points of interest are a spectacular waterfall, dramatic mountainous forest, impressive undulating hills, and fresh air.

Chrey Thom Waterfall is one of the loveliest Tourist Attractions in Mondulkiri. Tourists love spending a day at the site of this beautiful waterfall only for its natural beauty. Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri is a natural waterfall and is surrounded by lush green woods.
The travelers are amazed to see the plantation of Sro Lou around the Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri. Another spectacle around the Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri Is the huge brandy tree of Chrey which is standing there for quite a long time. The best part is that this waterfall can be visited both in the summers and the rainy season. Unlike the Boo Sra waterfall which becomes inaccessible in the monsoon, the Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri has tourists coming to it throughout the year.
The territorial authority of Mondulkiri along with the provincial tourist office has made special arrangements and taken measures to develop the site of Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri , for keeping the spot accessible throughout the year. While visiting the Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri , the travelers can also visit another beautiful fall known a the Rum Near Waterfall which is also located .

Bou Sra Waterfall

    Busra waterfall is located in Pich Chenda district about 43 kilometers northeast of Mondulkiri provincial town, Sen Monorom. Busra is considered by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in Mondulkiri. The waterfall is divided into three stages:

    * First Stage: The waterfall fall is 8 to 12 meters high and 15 meters wide in rainy season and 10 to 15 meters wide in dry season.
    * Second Stage: The waterfall fall is 15 to 20 meters high and 20 meters wide in rainy season and 18 to 25 meters high and 13 meters wide in dry season. The second stage is 150 meters from the first stage.
    * Third Stage: The speed of waterfall is faster than the second stage. This stage cannot be reached because it is in the thick forest. There are no marked paths and dangerous wildlife inhabits the area.

The double-drop waterfall is very popular with the locals who use it as a bathing and picnic spot. Its top level is around 10m in height, and the lower level drops down 25m to the gorge. It is in a scenic and pristine setting and offers great photo ops. Nearby is the ethnic Phnong village called Pichinda which has a small guesthouse. Some snacks are available at the falls, but bring food if you would like something more substantial.
Then we head northeast to Bou Sra. We never rode north on this road before and I am surprised that right behind the first hill it is getting rougher than most we have seen yesterday. We cross a small river on an improvised bridge and are charged 500 Riel each by a bunch of kids.

After that the road is getting somewhat smoother but still requires a lot of attention. There are deep grooves in the road, most likely left behind my heavy cars. Once you get into one of those it leaves you with only very few options other than just following it hoping not to get stuck. Yet the ground is solid and provides good grip for the tires. We keep going and after some time we do not see settlements anymore. The forest is relatively dense and in some places impenetrable. Both of us have to restart the bike a number of times and while we proceed with moderate speed it remains a challenge in many places to maneuver those relatively heavy bikes.

The way I start this bike many times is I put it on the stand, climb on the moto and start it from this relatively comfortable position, before I flap the stand and go. However, I realize that the stand is about to break off and can hardly support the bike anymore. The ?road? is getting tougher; there are many rocks and countless obstacles, sometimes forcing us to ride next to the road. And hills are pretty steep in some instances. Overall we move quite slowly. After about 40 minutes we have a break. I try to figure how Pongro is riding down those hills and ask him. I learn that he controls the speed entirely with the clutch.

I am about to suggest using a lower gear. To demonstrate how he does it he takes the clutch clever and holds it tight. Oddly, at precisely this moment the clutch cable breaks. I does not take us long to realize that it is impossible to ride this bike without clutch. Ironically, today is the first day we go without the heavy set of tools and spare parts we usually carry and which includes a clutch cable.
Pongro is still confident that we can manage to fix the bike here. Once in while people pass on small, old Honda's, sometimes badly overloaded but always very skillfully finding the way between all those rocks. We learn that the way to Bou Sra is still longer than the way back to Sen Monorom. Furthermore the road is getting tougher from here. And it is very unlikely we find somebody there who can fix the bike.
One of those guys stops for some time and Pongro borrows some tools and wire in order to try fixing the moto. The Phnong guy joins and for some time they try hard. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that this won't work out.