Elephants and waterfalls in Mondulkiri
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Travel to Sen Monorom in Mondulkiri
Today, you’ll travel to the green province of Mondulkiri in eastern Cambodia, near the border with Vietnam. As the country’s largest but least populated province, Mondulkiri offers untouched beautiful rolling hills, lush forests, and rich biodiversity. As the journey time from Phnom Penh is around six hours, this area is often overlooked by most travellers, meaning you’ll get to experience a quiet and unspoilt part of Cambodia. You will travel by shared minibus, along forest-lined roads to a local village called Sen Monorom where you will stay in a rustic bungalow, surrounded by trees where cows and horses are free to roam around. Enjoy an afternoon listening to the peaceful sounds of nature from your bungalow’s hammock, while the kids splash about in the swimming pool.
Day 2 – Pnong village and Bou Sraa waterfall
The following day, your guide will take you to visit a local village, home to the ethnic minority of Pnong. You will be shown around their village and your family will be introduced to the people who live here. Your guide will translate so that you can learn about the traditional way of life and you may even be invited into a family’s home for a glass of rice wine. After meeting the Pnong people, your next stop will be the Bou Sraa waterfall – which is often regarded as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Cambodia. Here, you will enjoy a picnic lunch and take a dip in the waterfall to cool off. After lunch, your driver will take you back to your accommodation where you can unwind into the afternoon and then take a short walk to Sunset Point to catch the last light over the lush green landscapes of Mondulkiri.
Day 3 – Elephant Valley Project visit
The next day, you’ll visit the Elephant Valley Project, where you can observe the gentle giants roaming freely in their natural habitat and learn more about the important work being done to protect and care for them. This organisation rescues working elephants and ensures they can enjoy their “retirement” carefree. You’ll spend the day here, trekking through the forest and learning all about the residents from your knowledgeable guide. You will walk among the elephants, without touching, feeding or bathing them which minimizes human interaction and allows the elephants to exhibit their natural behaviours. As well as caring for the elephants, the Elephant Valley Project also works with the Indigenous Bunong people, providing employment opportunities, healthcare and education support.
Day 4 – Departure from Mondulkiri
The following morning, it is time to say goodbye to Mondulkiri. From here you can continue your journey to Kampong Thom – where you can stay with a local family and explore the hidden temples of Sambor Prei, discover the magic of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, or enjoy some beach time in Koh Rong. Alternatively, if you’d like to spend another night here, we can also arrange this for you.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Ziplining in Mondulkiri
Boost your adrenaline levels and go ziplining through the jungle of Mondulkiri. With zipline trails among nine different treetops, your morning will be full of excitement. The longest zipline is 300 meters, and from a height of 100 meters, you’ll have a beautiful view of the Bou Sraa waterfall. After approximately two hours of ziplining, you’ll be taken back to your accommodation.
