Mondulkiri: All you need to know for an adventure in Cambodia

Mondulkiri is located in Northeastern Cambodia, sharing a border with Vietnam. The name “Mondulkiri” translates to “Meeting of the Hills” in the local language, and as soon as you arrive, you will understand why.

Unlike the flat rice fields and hot plains that cover most of Cambodia, Mondulkiri is a highland region, sitting at an average elevation of 800 meters above sea level. Here, you will see rolling hills covered in tall pine trees while driving on winding dirt roads that are famous for their bright, deep red color.

Mondulkiri is the largest province in Cambodia by land size, but it has the smallest population. It is the perfect destination for travelers who want to escape big crowds and noisy cities. The main town is called Sen Monorom. It is a small, quiet town that serves as the “base camp” for all your jungle adventures.

Because it is located in the remote wild east, traveling to Mondulkiri takes a bit of time and effort. There are no airports and no train stations in the province. The only way to get to Sen Monorom is by road.

Traveling from Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri

This is the most common route for travelers. The distance is about 380 kilometers. The journey usually takes between 5 to 7 hours, depending on your transport and how many times you stop. The road is fully paved and generally in good condition.

• Shared Minivan / Bus: This is the cheapest option. You can book a seat in a shared minivan. It is a good choice for budget backpackers, but it can be crowded and noisy.
• Private Car: This is the best and most comfortable option. With a private car, you have plenty of space for your luggage. You can also ask the driver to stop whenever you want to take photos of the beautiful scenery or grab a snack.

Traveling from Siem Reap to Mondulkiri

If you want to travel directly from the temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap to Mondulkiri, you need to prepare for a very long day. The journey takes around 10 to 12 hours. Because it is so far, there are very few direct buses.

Traveling from Kratie to Mondulkiri

Kratie is a small riverside town famous for the rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Many travelers visit Kratie first, and then go to Mondulkiri. This is a very smart route as the drive takes only about 3 to 4 hours.

Helicopter charter to Mondulkiri

If you have a higher budget and want to completely skip the long hours on the road, there is one very exclusive way to arrive: chartering a private helicopter. You can arrange a private helicopter flight directly from Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri. While this is the most expensive choice, it turns a 6-hour drive into a fast, thrilling flight of just over an hour.

Walk with elephants at an ethical sanctuary in Mondulkiri

For a very long time, Mondulkiri has been famous for its elephants. In the past, local people used elephants for heavy work, like carrying wood. Today, things have changed: ethical tourism is the new standard in Mondulkiri and you cannot ride elephants here.

There are excellent organizations here, such as the Elephant Valley Project (EVP) and the Mondulkiri Project. They rent large areas of the forest so rescued and retired elephants can live peacefully.

A typical full-day tour starts in the morning. A guide will pick you up in Sen Monorom and drive you to the edge of the jungle. From there, you hike down into a green valley. You will learn about the individual elephants: their names, their sad histories, and their funny personalities.

You do not force the elephants to do anything. You will watch them use their trunks to pull down bamboo to eat. At lunchtime, you might sit on a hill and watch the elephants play in the mud and wash themselves in the river.

Feel the power of Bousra Waterfall

Mondulkiri is famous for having many waterfalls, but Bousra Waterfall is the biggest, the most famous, and the most beautiful of them all. It is located about 43 kilometers away from the main town of Sen Monorom.

Bousra has three different levels (tiers)

• The first drop is about 15 meters high. The water falls into a large, safe pool. In the dry season, this is a popular place for local Cambodian families to swim and have a picnic.
• The second level is the most impressive part. The water drops a massive 20 to 25 meters down a straight rock wall. The power of the water creates a cool, white mist that floats in the air.
• The third level is deep in the dangerous jungle and cannot be visited by normal tourists.

Practical Tip: The entrance fee is around $2.50. Be careful when walking near the waterfall, as the wet rocks are very slippery.

Track endangered primates at Jahoo Gibbon Camp

If you are a serious animal lover, you must visit the Jahoo Gibbon Camp. This is a special eco-tourism project located inside the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. The main goal here is to protect the Southern Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbon, a very rare type of monkey that is in danger of disappearing forever.

This activity is for people who like to wake up early. You will wake up while it is still dark outside. As the sun starts to rise, you walk quietly into the dark jungle with a local Bunong guide. Then you will hear the morning “song” of the gibbons. That is how they communicate with their families across the forest. Gibbons live high up in the trees, you have to look up into the branches. Seeing a family of golden-cheeked gibbons swinging easily from tree to tree in the morning light is a magical memory.

Practical Tip: Because they want to protect the animals, only a small number of tourists can visit Jahoo each day. You must book this experience early.

Look at the “Ocean of Trees” (Samuth Cher)

To truly understand how big and wild Mondulkiri is, you need to see it from above. Samuth Cher is a famous viewpoint located near Phnom Doh Kromom Pagoda. The name translates to “Ocean of Trees” in English.

When you stand at the top of this hill, you get a 360-degree view. You will not see any tall buildings or busy roads. Instead, you look down at a huge, endless forest that covers the mountains. Because the wind blows the top of the trees, it really looks like a green ocean with waves.

Practical Tip: This is one of the best places in Cambodia for photography. Try to visit early in the morning when white fog covers the trees, or in the late afternoon when the sun makes the forest glow with a soft golden light.

Connect with the Bunong villages

To really understand Mondulkiri, you should learn about the people who have lived here the longest. The Bunong indigenous people have a very unique way of life that is closely connected to the forest and the seasons.

You can arrange a short tour to visit a traditional Bunong village. When you arrive, you will notice their special houses. Traditional Bunong homes do not have standard walls; instead, the roof is made of dry grass and comes all the way down to the ground to keep the cold wind out.

Inside the house, there is usually a small fire burning in the middle for cooking and warmth. You will also see many large, antique clay jars. The Bunong people use these jars to make traditional rice wine. When there is a special festival or a wedding, everyone drinks the rice wine together through long bamboo straws.

Taste the famous local Mondulkiri coffee

Because Mondulkiri has rich, red volcanic soil and a cool climate, it is the best place in Cambodia to grow coffee. If you love coffee, you will be very happy here.

The coffee beans grown in Mondulkiri have a very strong, rich, and slightly chocolatey taste. In Cambodia, traditional coffee is made with a slow drip filter. It is usually served with a lot of sweet condensed milk and ice. It is very sweet and very strong, giving you plenty of energy for your tours.

Practical tips: You can spend a lazy morning sitting in a cafe in Sen Monorom.