Siem Reap is one of the hottest travel destinations right now – for those thinking of a visit (and you definitely should be!) we have a new “must do” tour that shows off how much more their is to the area than the temples. Offering a new and exclusive hike around Kulen Mountian, Indochine Explorations has renewed my faith in philanthropic travel and that the path left travelled is worth finding…
Living in Siem Reap full time, surrounded by ancient temples and cultural sights, we can mean becoming all too accustomed to awesome sights – those of us who reside here can be a hard group to wow. I recently had the pleasure of heading out on Indochine Exploration’s Kulen Mountain Forest Discovery Trail tour on an excursion that opened my eyes to the hidden beauty lying just outside the city.
This gorgeous forest walk took us through one if the pieces of jungle on Kulen Mountain, located about an hour-and-a-half drive from Siem Reap. Kulen Mountain, or Phnom Kulen, is a national park known for its beauty but many of the tours currently offered have you travelling with the pack. With a history of working with researchers who study the areas biodiversity, Indochine has developed a unique relationship with both the natural environment and the local communities — one that they share with the public through their limited tours.
Taking you through the lush jungle, this tour boasts the potential to spot a number of different species of wildlife — from birds, squirrels and bats to bugs and silvered langurs, a monkey recently discovered in the area.
While the wildlife spotting can’t be guaranteed what is sure to impress is the landscape of the walk, which takes you through stone formations, an above ground cave and, weather permitting, onto Mushroom Rock for one of the most stunning views around. In this forest, life pushes through at every opportunity; it is impossible to imagine, photograph or describe the shades of green that the plant life produces here.
The forest walk is about 5km and takes just over two hours to complete, with mostly flat, easy going terrain. It should be noted that for those with children or limited energy levels, there is a smaller, 3 km loop that can be made.
The walk ends with a delicious lunch that is held at the river — a fast flowing body of water that changes depth depending on the season. For those who still have energy, Phnom Kulen also has a stunning waterfall, as well as a local pagoda that houses a well used fertility symbol that can be visited after the walk.
This best part about this expedition is that by taking this enchanting walk you are helping to preserve the natural beauty of Phnom Kulen. Indochine Explorations uses part of the proceeds of each trip to encourage the local communities to protect the forest from illegal logging. The company has seen success — with the villagers only an alternative to logging themselves they have taken up reporting other illegal loggers to the authorities.
We are so pleased to be able to offer this walk to our guests — a truly unique experience that enriches the local community. Get in touch with our tour consultants and have them add this must to your Siem Reap tour!
