Bokor Hill Station
32 kilometers and 1,101 meters up from road 3 near Kampot, is the Bokor Mountain Hill Station. Originally a small resort town, it is now an abandoned ghost town and National Park (except for the many tourist and Park personnel). Most famous for the abandoned Casino at the top of the mountain, there is also a church, buildings for the former king, and either a view of fog or a view of Southern Cambodia and Vietnam's island Phu Quoc.
There are stories of wild animals on the mountain, including lions and tigers and bears, and elephants, but if you actually see them, please let us know.
Getting up the Mountain
From Kampot, take the road to route 4 about 40 kilometers. On the right side, you will see a large plaque welcoming you to Bokor National Park. Just up the road is a ranger station where they collect a $5 entrance fee.
You can take a dirt bike (or a 100cc small bike, not recommended) up to the top. Drive slow, (especially coming back down). If you don't have your own bike, big dirt bikes can be rented in Kampot for less than $12/day. The drive up is not smooth or fast, but quite nice. You may want to bring some warm clothes as the temperatures, especially at night are much cooler, and there often fog or rain at the top.
You can also get a ride in a pickup truck (either inside or in the back) for a day trip, including lunch for $12 to $25. Most tours leave from downtown Kampot.
There are some sights to see on the way up, such as the waterfalls, and the old King's "staff" accommodations, so you might want to take a few rest breaks along the way. You should also bring something to eat and drink, which is really helpful if your vehicle breaks down.
Once on top, there are some accommodations for about $5, or you can stay for free if you make your own accommodations.
The trip can be made in a day from Phnom Penh or Sihanouk Ville, but its a lot of traveling to do in one day.
