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The awe-inspiring natural landscape here makes Mondulkiri Province the perfect eco-tourism destination and although this region is still a little off-the-beaten-track, there are some amazing outdoor experiences for adventurers to have here. For outdoor pursuits and the spirit of adventure, this is an unmissable Cambodian destination.
Mondulkiri Province the perfect eco-tourism destination (Cre: Asia For Holiday)
The largest but least populated province of Cambodia, Mondulkiri Province is an eastern region bordering Vietnam known for its hilly forests, waterfalls and indigenous communities.
The capital of the province is the town of Sen Monorom. Almost all tours and excursions leave from here, making it the best base to explore the area.
Today, the province has become a popular destination for travelers who enjoy exploring pristine nature and participating in experiential tours.
The capital of the province is the town of Sen Monorom (Cre: EAC News Cambodia)
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The history of this province is extremely rich and diverse, closely linked to the formation and development of the Khmer country. Before the Khmer people arrived, Mondulkiri was home to many different ethnic minorities, each with its own unique culture. Mondulkiri is located on the border of the Khmer empire, so it was less affected by wars and conflicts.
Like other provinces of Cambodia, Mondulkiri also experienced the French colonial period. The French exploited the province's natural resources, especially wood and minerals.
In recent years, Mondulkiri has focused on developing eco-tourism, attracting visitors with its pristine natural landscape and the independent culture of some ethnic minorities.
The history of this province is extremely rich and diverse (Cre: Roma Lim)
Although Cambodia is deforesting at an alarming rate, Mondulkiri province still has some large wildlife reserves. The province also boasts magnificent waterfalls. Some of these waterfalls are particularly impressive, providing spectacular spots for visitors to swim.
Additionally, this is home to an indigenous group called the Bunong. Meeting the locals and learning about their way of life offers an intriguing insight into Cambodia’s diverse culture.
Mondulkiri province still has some large wildlife reserves (Cre: Roma Lim)
From Phnom Penh International Airport, you can take a domestic flight to Mondulkiri's Sen Monorom Airport, starting your journey to this unique highland.
Or else, you can also take a bus from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap to Mondulkiri. However, the process will take a lot longer, but in return, the cost of the transfer will be reduced.
You can also take a bus from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap to this province (Cre: 12Go Asia)
From November to April is the best time of year to plan your trip to Mondulkiri. This is when Cambodia enters the dry season, with cooler weather, plenty of sunshine, and no rain, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploration.
Especially, if you want to go trekking through the jungle, you should consider traveling to Cambodia during this time. Avoid the rainy season as it can significantly affect your trip.
Avoid the rainy season as it can significantly affect your trip (Cre: roma.lim)
Famous for its waterfalls, Mondulkiri Province is a great place to explore a range of other waterfalls, many of which are easily accessible from Sen Monorom. Bousra Waterfall is about an hour from town and is a majestic sight amidst the jungle. As well as enjoying the magic of the falls, you can take a 300-meter cable car ride that passes right at the top of the falls.
Bousra Waterfall is a majestic sight amidst the jungle (Cre: roma.lim)
Mondulkiri Province is known for its population of elephants and there are a number of projects and sanctuaries in the region for rescuing and protecting them. This project not only helps the elephants but also the dedicated mahouts and elephant carers, preserving an important tradition and way of life in this part of the world.
The Mondulkiri Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to visit for trekking tours and ethical elephant experiences. The project also rescues wild animals from captivity or wildlife trafficking and provides a sanctuary to animals including monkeys, gibbons, civets, otters, porcupines and leopard cats.
The Elephant Valley Project is a great place to visit (Cre: Mongabay)
The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is home to 25% of the world’s yellow-cheeked crested gibbons. These magnificent-looking lesser apes live high up in the trees, swinging from branch to branch to find food.
Jahoo is a community ecotourism enterprise owned by the local Bunong community. They combine research on the gibbons with sustainable development using a mix of money from wildlife experiences and donations. For tourists they provide an opportunity to see these remarkable and endangered animals.
The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (Cre: Phnom Penh post)
Sen Monorom is the capital of the province and the largest town, but it has only 7,500 residents and a few guesthouses, restaurants, and shops. The people here are friendly and welcoming. Many local families have invested in guest accommodations for tourists, which is also a way for them to develop their economy.
An astonishing fact is that 80% of Mondulkiri's population consists of ten indigenous tribes, mostly Bunong people. These tribes live throughout the province and you can arrange visits to some of them, especially in the area around Sen Monorom. There aren’t many restaurants here, so you can visit the local market to buy food or explore the local cuisine.
The people here are friendly and welcoming (Cre: Roma Lim)
Being a sparsely populated province with a predominantly indigenous population, most festivals and events take place within the tribal and village communities. Some villages also celebrate Khmer New Year, which falls around April each year.
The three-day celebration is not always a traditional festival in this region, with visitors often reporting popular music playing over sound systems rather than Buddhist rituals.
Some villages also celebrate Khmer New Year (Cre: Khmer Times)
With its diversity of nature and flora and fauna, Mondulkiri offers visitors conservation actions for this place. The journey to explore this province is unique, deep in culture and has hidden beauty.
Hopefully this article will give visitors an overview of Mondulkiri and promises to be an interesting destination for you.
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