Phnom Kulen is a sacred mountain located northeast of the Angkor complex in Cambodia. It takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive up to the hilltop with a height of 487 meters and a plateau that stretches 30km long. The hill was used as the ancient capital city by King Jayavarman II in AD 802 to declare himself as the god-king and announced independence from Java, giving birth to present-day Cambodia.

Itinerary:

• Start the tour at the base of Phnom Kulen, located about 50km northeast of Angkor complex.
• Drive up the mountain to reach the hilltop, which stands at 487 meters high and stretches for 30km.
• Pay a USD20 toll per foreign visitor to enter the mountain, which was opened for tourists in 1998 by a private company.
• Explore the ancient capital city of Hahendrapura, founded by King Jayavarman II in AD 802 to declare himself as god king and announced independence from Java.
• Visit the 56 Angkorian temples made of bricks and volcanic stones, most of which are in poor condition, and see the remaining intact temple base of Prasat Krau Romeas, Rong Chen, and Sras Domrei.
• Observe the thousands of phallic symbols carved along the riverbed, divided into three ports for the Hindu trinity gods, and used for baptism.
• Marvel at the 8-meter-long reclining Buddha statue, carved into a sandstone block in the 16th century, and visit the nearby trees of Cham Pa.
• Explore the site of A Thousand Lingas, featuring impressive riverbed rock carvings of innumerable scores of Yoni Lingam that sit on the bottom of a stream from which water flows year-round.
• See the giant stone animals guarding the sacred mountain at Srass Domrey or The Elephant Pond.
• Finally, visit the two stunning waterfalls on Phnom Kulen, including the four to five-meter-high and 20 to 25-diameter first waterfall, and the 15 to 20-meter-high and 10 to 15-diameter second waterfall.

Please note that this itinerary is not exhaustive and may vary depending on the specific tour operator and package you choose.

What is included :

• Round-trip pickup / drop off hotel 
• A/C Car with driver / gasoline 
• Parking fee and road tolls
• Cold bottled drinking water
• One-day vehicle transportation 

What is Not included

• Professional tour guide with a licence 
• Phnom Kulen entrance fee / other entrance fees
• Accommodation, food, and soft drinks
• Insurance