Temple stonework in Cambodia
Sacred mountain

Phnom Kulen National Park

A day away from the temples, with a swim in it

National parks and natureType
In short

Phnom Kulen is the sandstone plateau north-east of Angkor where Jayavarman II declared himself universal monarch in 802 CE - the moment conventionally treated as the founding of the Khmer Empire. It holds a waterfall, a large reclining Buddha carved into the summit rock, and the riverbed carvings of a thousand lingas.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Adventure
At a glance

Visiting

Where
About 50 km north-east of Siem Reap, 90 minutes by road
Ticket
A separate fee applies and is NOT covered by the Angkor Pass
Time needed
A full day
Best season
Waterfall is strongest from about July to November
Note
The access road is one-way by time of day; a driver who knows it matters

Questions travellers ask

Is it covered by the Angkor Pass?
No. Phnom Kulen charges separately - budget for it.
Can you swim?
Yes, at the waterfall. Dress modestly; this is a sacred mountain and Cambodian families are there too.
Nearby

Also in Siem Reap

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Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world by land area, built in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, about 6 km north of Siem Reap
Ticket
Angkor Pass - 1 day US$37, 3 days US$62, 7 days US$72 (Angkor Enterprise, checked September 2026)
Read more
Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

The Bayon sits at the exact centre of Angkor Thom and is the temple everyone recognises from the enormous serene faces carved into its towers. Built…

Where
Centre of Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more
The jungle temple

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is the Angkor temple deliberately left partly unrestored, so the silk-cotton and strangler fig roots that grew through its galleries are still holding the…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, east of Angkor Thom
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more
Pink sandstone

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is a small 10th-century Hindu temple about 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group, dedicated to Shiva and built from pink sandstone that…

Where
About 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more