Choeung Ek
Cemetery Genocide memorial site with mass graves and stupa
Outside Phnom Penh, Choeung Ek marks one of the Khmer Rouge killing fields, with a memorial stupa of skulls and interpretive displays documenting mass graves. Visitors come for education and remembrance.
Choeung Ek is a memorial and former mass grave site located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, known as one of the largest of the Khmer Rouge ‘Killing Fields.’ It commemorates victims executed and buried there during the 1975-1979 Democratic Kampuchea period.
The site includes an assembly of markers over excavated graves, interpretive signage, and a prominent glass-fronted stupa displaying skulls and bones recovered from the fields. A short walking route and an audio guide are commonly used to learn about the evidence and testimony associated with the site.
Between 1975 and 1979 Choeung Ek was used by the Khmer Rouge as a killing and burial site for people transferred from detention centers and prisons in Phnom Penh. After 1979 the site was investigated and later developed as a memorial to the victims, with a stupa housing human remains.
Choeung Ek lies to the south of central Phnom Penh, outside the city limits, on land that was formerly orchards and fields; it is accessible by road from Phnom Penh.
- Audio tour: Most visitors view the site via a short guided audio tour that explains the sequence of events and points to mass graves and the central stupa.
What to See #
- Memorial stupa: A tall, conical memorial stupa filled with human skulls and bone fragments recovered from the site, erected as a public monument to the victims.
- Excavated grave pits and exhibits: Marked mass grave areas and an on-site audio tour that records survivor and witness testimony alongside photographic exhibits and preserved prison buildings.
How to Get to Choeung Ek #
Choeung Ek (the Killing Fields) lies outside central Phnom Penh and is usually reached by taxi, tuk‑tuk or organized shuttle. The site is roughly 15 km south of central Phnom Penh and the drive typically takes about 30-45 minutes by car depending on traffic. Many visitors combine transport with a stop at the Tuol Sleng museum; there is a short walk from the parking area to the memorial stupa and interpretation center.
Tips for Visiting Choeung Ek #
- Arrive in the morning and take the official audio guide at the visitor center-its survivor testimonies and site explanations add crucial context to the mass grave stupa and grounds.
- Combine Choeung Ek with Tuol Sleng (S‑21) on the same day to understand the broader history; most visitors use a tuk‑tuk or taxi from central Phnom Penh-confirm a return pickup time because the memorial site closes in the late afternoon.
Best Time to Visit Choeung Ek #
Visit in November-February for cooler, drier weather and easier walking; mornings tend to be the calmest times to reflect.
Weather & Climate near Choeung Ek #
Choeung Ek's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 34°C. Abundant rainfall (1296 mm/year), wettest in October with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 7 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is hot, feeling like 28°C. Almost no rain and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is hot, feeling like 30°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is the hottest month, feeling like 33°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is hot, feeling like 35°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (146 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 34°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (133 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is hot, feeling like 34°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (142 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 34°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (143 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (217 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (248 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (121 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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