Preah Monivong National Park

Preah Monivong National Park, commonly known as Bokor National Park, is a protected area in southern Cambodia in Kampot province that includes the Bokor Plateau and Phnom Bokor. It was established to conserve montane forests, wildlife and watershed values while also encompassing colonial-era hill station ruins.

The park contains evergreen and montane forest, rivers, waterfalls and cliffs, and includes the abandoned French-era Bokor Hill Station structures near the summit which draw visitors for history and scenery. Wildlife in the park includes forest mammals, birds and amphibians typical of the Cardamom-Phrathat range.

The park was designated in the late 20th century to protect the plateau and its biodiversity while also managing visitor access to culturally significant ruins. Conservation and tourism management aim to balance protection of habitats with visitor services along established roads and trails.

Preah Monivong National Park sits inland from the Gulf of Thailand in southern Cambodia, a short drive southwest of the provincial town of Kampot and rising to the Phnom Bokor summit, which provides cooler climate and views over lowland coastal plains.

• Highlights: The park includes a mix of evergreen and montane forests and contains colonial-era ruins on Phnom Bokor that are popular day-visit destinations from Kampot.

What to See#

• Bokor Hill Station: Bokor Hill Station, a cluster of French colonial-era buildings and ruins near the Phnom Bokor summit that include an old casino and abandoned hotel from the early 20th century.
• Popokvil Waterfall: A series of waterfalls and wetland features on the slopes of the massif that are accessible from park roads and short trails during the wet season.
• Phnom Bokor summit: The forested summit area of Phnom Bokor which provides high-elevation evergreen forest and panoramic views over coastal plains.

Preah Monivong National Park (Bokor area) is reached by road from the coastal town of Kampot. From Kampot town take the paved winding Bokor Mountain Road up into the park; most visitors drive, hire a taxi/driver, or join a day tour from Kampot. There is no regular long‑distance public transport that goes directly into the park, so plan for a private transfer from Kampot.

• Go early in the morning on weekdays to catch clearer views on Bokor Mountain, cooler temperatures and far fewer tour groups than later in the day.
• Approach the park from Kampot and arrange transport (tuk‑tuk or private driver) in advance - public options are limited and the hill road can be slow, so prearranged pickup avoids long waits at the main gate.
• Don't just stop at the hill station ruins: continue a short way to Popokvil and other waterfalls and the less-visited forest tracks where birdlife and cooler microclimates are most noticeable.