How to Get to Phnom Kulen
Distance & Travel Time
Phnom Kulen National Park sits over 50 km northeast of Siem Reap. Depending on how you travel and which road you take, the journey takes roughly 1.5/ 2 hours each way. This is a mountain drive, not a highway one, so it’s worth building the travel time into your day: the road can lead you through small typical villages, rice fields, etc.
There are two ways up the mountain, and which one makes sense depends on where you’re headed and how you’re getting there.
Choosing Your Road
|
Preah Ang Thom road |
Svay Leu road |
|
|
Best for |
Preah Ang Thom, the main waterfall, and Popel |
Anlong Thom |
|
Journey |
Shorter and more direct, but steeper — a dirt road climbs up to the village |
Longer, gentler route around the mountain |
|
Checkpoints |
Park checkpoints along the way — national park entrance ticket required |
No national park entrance ticket needed if Anlong Thom is your only stop |
|
Road surface |
Mixed paved and unpaved, steep sections near the top |
Mostly easier gradient, still a rural road |
Preah Ang Thom road
This is the direct route up to the plateau’s main sites — Preah Ang Thom, the reclining Buddha, the River of a Thousand Lingas, the main waterfall, and on to Popel. It’s the quicker option distance-wise, but also the steeper one, with a dirt stretch climbing up to the village. Because it passes the park’s official checkpoints, a national park entrance ticket is required along this road (see “To Know Before Coming” for current pricing and access hours).
⚠️ You can only go up the mountain in the morning. From 12h, the circulation changes direction and the cars can only go down.
Svay Leu road
A longer way around, but a gentler drive, and the road to take if Anlong Thom is your only destination for the day. Since this route bypasses the main checkpoints, visitors heading straight to Anlong Thom don’t need a national park entrance pass to get there — only the Anlong Thom CBTC’s own trek fee applies.
Getting There by Car
Hiring a car or private taxi is the most comfortable option, especially for the steeper Preah Ang Thom road, and it means you don’t have to think about navigation, road conditions or the drive home after a full day outdoors.
- Approximate cost: around $65 USD for a round trip from Siem Reap, though prices vary by driver, vehicle and season.
- Most hotels and travel agencies in Siem Reap can arrange a car and driver for the day.
- A private car also makes it easier to combine the main road sites with a community trek in the same day, since your driver can wait or reposition while you’re on the trail.
Renting a Scooter or Moto
For confident, licensed riders, renting a scooter is the cheaper and more flexible way up the mountain.
- Approximate cost: around $12 USD per day.
- The Preah Ang Thom road includes a steep, partly unpaved climb near the village — manageable for experienced riders, but worth knowing about before you commit if you’re new to riding in Cambodia.
- The Svay Leu road toward Anlong Thom is a gentler, more forgiving ride.
- Always wear a helmet, check the bike before you leave, and carry a copy of your license — checkpoints along the Preah Ang Thom road may ask for it.
Arranging Transport Through a CBTC
If you’re visiting Anlong Thom or Popel, transportation can also be arranged directly through the Community-Based Tourism Center (CBTC) itself, as part of booking your trek. This is often the simplest option if you don’t want to manage a driver or a rental separately, and — like the trek itself — it puts your transport spend directly into the local community rather than a third party.
- Reach out to the CBTC when you book your trek to ask what’s included and whether pickup from Siem Reap is available.