Things You Must Try When Visiting Kampong Speu, Cambodia
Cambodia is a great place filled with many historical sites and beautiful natural terrains for a tourist to explore and immerse in. When planning a trip to Cambodia, it is easy to miss some of its other attractions among its most popular ones that are present on every trip to the country.
So, keep reading to learn about one of these attractions, which is the province of Kampong Speu, and why you should plan a visit to this town during your trip to Cambodia.
Introduction to Kampong Speu
Kampong Speu is a province located in the city of Chhbar Mon located about 48 km away from Phnom Penh. It is a destination filled with many natural and cultural attractions that tourists can visit. The province has a topography consisting of many mountains and lowland rice fields. It is also home to Phnom Aural, which is the highest peak in Cambodia.
There are many wonderful places in the province of Kampong Speu. The province serves as one of the largest producers of rice in Cambodia thanks to its fertile soil and diverse landscape. This biodiversity allows tourists to observe how agricultural activities are performed in Cambodia.
The province is also filled with many lush forests, waterfalls, and natural spots for tourists to take a break from city life and immerse themselves in nature’s beauty. Tourists looking for a place to do activities like hiking, bird watching and camping will find the province of Kampong Speu an ideal spot.
Kampong Speu has heavily invested in promoting ecotourism and has become an emerging hub for ecotourism. Nature enthusiasts from all over the world are very interested in the pristine condition of the bio-diverse environment of the province of Kampong Speu. The Chambok Ecotourism Area offers tourists an opportunity to interact with the locals and participate in community-led activities while contributing towards conservation efforts.
Popular Places to Visit in Kampong Speu
Kampong Speu has a lot of attractions for visitors of all types to enjoy themselves with. Here are some of the places you must visit during your trip to Kampong Speu:
Kirirom National Park
Kirirom National Park consists of dense forests, beautiful waterfalls, and other natural points of interest. This along with its winding hiking trails makes this place an excellent choice for activities like bird watching, camping, and observing the rich and diverse wildlife living within the park’s borders.
Chambok
Chambok is the central hub for Ecotourism in Kampong Speu. It provides tourists with the opportunity to participate in traditional activities and learn about rural life in Cambodia. It also consists of a 40-meter tall waterfall, natural trails, and bat caves for adventurous tourists to enjoy themselves with.
Another important aspect to mention about a journey to Chambok is that the revenue from tourism earned here goes to helping the local community’s well-being and care. This makes it a great option to make a positive contribution while enjoying your tour in Cambodia.
Phnom Aural
Phnom Aural is the highest peak in Cambodia at around 1813 meters tall. This place is a must-visit for adventurous tourists looking for a challenging trek due to its lofty stature. The trek will consist of going through various beautiful mountain forests and terrains which also makes it a great spot for nature enthusiasts as well.
A journey to the peak of Phnom Aural will not only provide you with a sense of accomplishment but also will be an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Ampe Phnom
Ampe Phnom is a popular riverbank in Kampong Speu, located along the Preaek Thnot River. This nature spot is ideal for a leisure day and organizing a picnic along the riverbank. Tourists are also allowed to swim in the river and can take a rest at one of the many bamboo huts situated along the river bank.
The rows of large shady trees surrounding the walking paths of this spot make it a very ideal place for those who wish to take a casual walk alongside the river.
Wat Kiri Sela Temple
Wat Kiri Sela is a very popular Buddhist temple located near the base of Phnom Kompong Trach. This temple provides a nice place for people to engage in Buddhist traditions and culture. The temple is also surrounded with caves filled with stalactite formations along with many statutes and shrines dedicated to Buddha.
Visitors can also enjoy a great view of the neighbouring countryside and natural flora from this temple.
Te Teuk Pus Hot Spring
Hot spring spots are very rare in Cambodia, but luckily, one is very close to Kampong Speu, which is Te Teuk Pus Hot Springs. Located west of the province at a distance of 60 km away, this is a great tourist rest spot to enjoy a nice hot spring surrounded by tall natural grass.
Kirirom Hillside Resort
Located near the Kirirom National Park, this is the most popular resort in all of Kampong Speu featuring all types of services like:
- Private restaurant
- Tennis courts
- Swimming pools for both outside and inside
- Horse Riding
- Sauna and Steam Rooms
- Pool Tables
This resort will ensure that you have a resting spot close to the Kirirom National Park ready to serve all your needs before and after your long trip of exploring the natural environment of the Kirirom National Park.
How to Travel To Kampong Speu
There are mainly 3 means of transport that tourists can use for a visit to Kampong Speu. All of them are road transports starting from Phnom Penh and include:
Motorcycle
Using a motorcycle to arrive in Kampong Speu will take about an hour of travel through Highway 4 going towards Sihanoukville. A motorcycle ride can make the journey a little faster when you are around Phnom Penh as road conditions and traffic are common issues around this area.
Bus Travel
Many busses travel between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville giving you wide options to choose from. Buses travel every hour between the morning and midday and depending on your preferred destination, you can choose to travel a bit further into the province.
Shared Taxi
Shared taxis are rare to find for travel between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville and can be found in the early morning only.
Conclusion
Cambodia is a great place for planning a trip outside of normal city areas. The country has a very rich and diverse environment filled with many beautiful nature spots and monuments for tourists to visit and immerse themselves in. They also have a diverse group of historical sites which allow the tourists to learn and engage with local traditions and cultural activities of the country.
That being said, many travel plans to Cambodia often miss the province of Kampong Speu, which is worth visiting. This province is one of the largest suppliers of rice in the country and is home to its largest peak along with having an emerging eco-tourist hub thanks to its bio-diverse and pristine condition environment.
So, if you are planning a visit to Cambodia, we highly recommend that you make room for a visit to the province of Kampong Speu as it will be a very memorable and enjoyable experience that you will not get anywhere else. Make sure that you apply for Cambodia visa online to get a tourist E-visa while planning for the trip.
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Cambodia possesses plenty for everyone, whether they are seeking thrills, peacefulness, or creativity. You will never run out of things to do or feel uninterested in this enticing country because there is so lot to explore and do. Learn more at Tourist Guide to Activities and Things to Do in Cambodia.
Check Eligibility for Cambodia e-Visa and apply for Cambodia e-Visa 5 days prior to your scheduled flight to Cambodia. Icelandic citizens, Mexican citizens, Polish citizens and Portuguese citizens are eligible to apply online for Cambodia e-Visa.