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Offered languages
- English
Ride an old military jeep up Phnom Kulen, hike to Kbal Spean's River of a Thousand Lingas, and cool off at the waterfall, on a full day trip from Siem Reap with picnic lunch included.
Head out from Siem Reap aboard a restored military jeep for the winding, roughly 50 kilometre ride up Phnom Kulen, the mountain where King Jayavarman II founded his capital of Mahendraparvata in 802 AD.
At Kbal Spean, known as the River of a Thousand Lingas for the carvings cut into its riverbed, hike uphill through the jungle past sandstone reliefs of Hindu deities including Shiva and Vishnu, reclining on the Naga Ananda. A wooden staircase leads down to the boulders below the waterfall, where a swim is possible when conditions allow.
A picnic lunch is served near the mountain, surrounded by the thousands of carved lingams that once covered this sandstone plateau.
An adventurous day that combines Cambodia's pre-Angkorian history with a genuinely different way to travel.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We pick up from only hotels inside Siem Reap, Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
Itinerary
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1Phnom Kulen National Park
We leave in the morning on board an old military jeep and your English-speaking guide and head through the endless rice fields for around 50 kilometres before we reach the entrance to the top of Mount Kulen. Semi-covered and coming with all bells and whistles just like these camouflage-coloured vehicles were once seen in a more abundant number, it is part of the journey up the mountain that just is as thrilling as reaching your destination on this day. Translated as the “The Mountain of Lychees”, it is the famous city of King Jayavarman 2 who moved his capital from Roluos group in 802, Mahindrapura The city of the gods or holy city. The sculptures and carvings on the rock in the depth of the waterfall are very well known as attractions to this site.
3 hours • Admission ticket included -
2Kbal Spean
Also known as Kbal Spean, the River of a Thousand Lingas has been given its name due to its lingas (phallic symbols) carved into the riverbed. This Angkor-era archaeological site northeast of Angkor and deep in Kulen National Park is reached with an uphill hike through the jungle passing spectacular carvings of Hindu deities including the god of Shiva and god of Vishnu. The path leads to the carved animal images at the top of the waterfall, which has a wooden staircase to allow the easy descent to the boulders at the bottom. Lunch will be served picnic-style near the mountain. Outside the ruins and the view from the top of this impressive sandstone plateau, thousands of Lingams were erected up with the statue of Vishnu reclining on the Naga Ananda and the lotus from his navel supporting a sitting Brahma statue. When time permits, the waterfall may give you a refreshing bath before we head down via the only way down.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
- Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Siem Reap. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Tonle Sap, Koh Ker, Banteay Srei and Siem Reap International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
- We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of picnic lunch en route.
- We regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users. Part of this excursion includes walking over unpaved roads and paths. This may not suit guests with walking issues.
- Bear in mind that such paths may turn slippery / muddy after a rain shower. We suggest wearing good walking shoes, preferred closed shoes, when booking this tour.
Additional info
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
- Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Siem Reap. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Tonle Sap, Koh Ker, Banteay Srei and Siem Reap International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
- We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of picnic lunch en route.
- We regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users. Part of this excursion includes walking over unpaved roads and paths. This may not suit guests with walking issues.
- Bear in mind that such paths may turn slippery / muddy after a rain shower. We suggest wearing good walking shoes, preferred closed shoes, when booking this tour.
- We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
- Please note pick-up and drop-off services may not be confirmed for customers staying at private residences, apartment complexes, or other non-registered tourism accommodations. Customers may be asked to meet at a nearby hotel for pick-up and drop off.
- Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It is the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
- Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
- It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
- In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.
- The road leading to Phnom Kulen is one-way only; the road at certain passages is too narrow to have the traffic coming from both ways.
- Regulations indicate that driving up to the mountain is permitted only before noon, and traffic will be guided back down after 1 pm.
- The jeep holds a maximum of 2 clients with a guide; for parties above two guests, we will add more jeeps but without guide assistance on the transfer.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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