Mondulkiri and Bou Sra Waterfall

Cambodia'S Highland Province Of Pine Forest, Rolling Hills, Indigenous Bunong Villages, Coffee And The Two Tier Bou Sra Waterfall, With Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries That Let Visitors Walk Beside Rescued Elephants Instead Of Riding Them. Cool, Remote And Slow To Reach · Sen Monorom, Mondulkiri

Mondulkiri is Cambodia's cool highland province in the east, a land of pine-covered hills, open grassland and the indigenous Bunong people, about 380 km from Phnom Penh. The base is Sen Monorom, a small town with cafes, coffee farms and guesthouses. Bou Sra is the best-known waterfall, a two-tier cascade in forest that is full and loud in the wet season from June to October and thin in the dry months. The other draw is the elephant sanctuaries, where visitors walk with rescued elephants, feed them and watch them bathe, with no riding. These need advance booking and cost more than most Cambodian day trips. The road from Phnom Penh takes 6 to 7 hours and the last stretch is rough, so the trip suits travellers who enjoy slow journeys, cool air, coffee and rural life, and who can give it at least two nights. It is worth the detour for the elephants and a few quiet days among the pines. If you only want a quick waterfall swim, or you come in the dry season, it is not worth the long journey.

Sen Monorom and the Bou Sra waterfall, in the eastern hills of Cambodia near the Vietnamese border, about 380 km from Phnom Penh, Sen Monorom, Mondulkiri, Cambodia

Bou Sra waterfall is usually open in daylight, with an entry gate and a small stall area, so confirm hours and the ticket price locally. The site can be CLOSED or unsafe for swimming after heavy rain when the water rises fast, and the access road can be CLOSED to vehicles in storms. Elephant sanctuaries run set daily programmes, often a morning and an afternoon visit, and are CLOSED to walk-ins when the day is fully booked, so reserve ahead. Walking in the Sen Monorom pine hills and visiting Bunong villages from the road is FREE, though respectful donations to a village are welcome.

Mondulkiri and Bou Sra Waterfall on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos