Located in the south of Cambodia, not far from Phnom Penh, Kirirom National Park is Cambodia’s oldest national park, established as a personal refuge for King Sihanouk in 1945 and turned into a public park in 1997.
Kirirom has great walking trails through picturesque countryside that includes a variety of wildlife and a number of impressive waterfalls, one of which cascades over 100 feet.
Kirirom means “mountain of joy”, though the park is officially known as Preah Suramarith Kossmak. Most of the 80,000 acre park sits at over 2,000 feet above sea level and features a variety of trails that meander through shady pine forest. There are many little lakes and waterfalls in Kirirom National Park, and along with its trails there is an abundance of wildlife, including sun bears, tigers, and the pleated gibbon.
Just outside of the entrance to Kirirom National Park is chambok-community-based-ecotourism [I really dont know what happened to this page!], the first tourism initiative of the Cambodian Community Based Ecotourism Network (CCBEN). The park or one of the CCBEN affiliated home-stays can help you arrange either trekking or riding an ox-cart ride through rural villages and countryside.
The renovated visitor’s center teaches all about Kirirom National Park through its attractive displays. You will also find several food vendors in the park selling all types of Cambodian goodies, in addition to facilities for picnicking.
Getting There
To get to Kirirom National Park, you may get off a bus from Phnom Penh to Koh Kong at the turnoff to National Road No.46, where you will then need to hire a motodop taxi to take you up to the park.
The easiest way to get there is by private taxi, though the price might be high for solo travelers or those on a tight budget. Renting a motorbike in Phnom Penh is actually a good option for getting to and exploring the park if you are confident of your driving skills; just make sure the bike is in good condition both when you rent it and when you leave.
Need to Know
- What is It? Cambodia’s first designated national park.
- When to Go Year-round, although you may want to avoid the summer southwestern monsoon.
- Nearest Town Kampong Speu is the main town of the province. The park is 72 miles (117 km) southwest of Phnom Penh on National Road No. 4, where the nearest international airport is located.
- Don’t Miss The unique pine forest and the park visitor center.
- Trivia The area around Kirirom National Park was used by the Khmer Rouge as a staging area during the Cambodian civil war.
- Opening hours: Daylight hours well into night stays
- Entrance fees: $5