Phnom Bai Chuw Hill

Phnom Bai Chuw means ‘ocean of trees’, a fitting name for a hill that looks out over a sea of treetops stretching to the horizon. The view is at its best in the last hour before sunset, when the forest glows and the crowds thin out.

The forest below is a mixture of deciduous and pine trees, the latter planted in the 1960s. Walks through it are memorable for the soft bed of pine needles underfoot. As with much of Cambodia’s back country, hire a local guide who knows the paths, since unexploded ordnance remains a real hazard away from the beaten track.

Phnom Bai Chuw sits about 6 km north of Sen Monorom, the region’s main town, and the easiest way to reach it is with a driver who knows the route. It is not a destination in its own right, but for anyone spending a night or two in Sen Monorom with a free evening, it makes a rewarding and photogenic side trip.