Kirirom National Park
Ranked #1,841 in Travel & Places, #65,748 overall
Kirirom: The Mountain of Joy
Kirirom or Mountain of Joy is Cambodia's first officially designated national park and what an exciting start to protecting the countries natural history. Located 112 km from Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, in the province of Kampong Speu, it takes in over 35,000 hectares of the Elephant Mountains. Today, development is starting to improve tourist infrastructure and make the place a meeting and conference destination.
On weekends, Kirirom has become a really upbeat picnic destination for many Cambodians as they begin to rediscover their country. Best of all at 2,215 ft. above sea level, it is cooler than the city or even the neighboring farm lands so it is a treat for everyone. As you poke about, you'll find the ruins of the Royal summer palace, destroyed during the Khmer Rouge, but still giving a sense of the influence they have on the country.
Images of Kirirom
Great waterfalls
The flow from the waterfalls
Kirirom Visit
Have you visited Kirirom
Bring this camera to Kirirom
Nature scenes will be your focus
A camera that not only takes pictures but also videos that are clear. This camera has wide angle lens which is good for taking nature scenes. In Kirirom, you have scenic views from on top that are worth remembering and also water falls and winding pathways through the forest.
Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD
Amazon Price: $144.00 (as of 06/02/2012)![]()
This camera is worth bringing for a trip to the park as it has a wide angle lens and will definitely take nature scenes. With a good camera, you will get good pictures that you will enjoy yourself and will be happy to share with your friends.
Kirirom's Trails and Waterfalls
Take the traditional ox-carts

Happy Mountain makes you want to take a walk in its many trails and footpaths through the pine forests. Some of these paths are quite steep so you have to be fit. You can also take the traditional ox-cart rides which is an amazing antidote to rushing about in Phnom Penh.
Kirirom has several small lakes and waterfalls where you can cool yourself off and even swim a bit, making friends with the local kids. If you are really lucky you might spot some of the park inhabitants such as asian elephant, deer, gaur, banteng, leopard, spotted linsang, pileated gibbon and tiger. Most of these are still alive because they are too smart to come anywhere near people, but slowly the park is building a less threatening environment.
Videos on Kirirom
Watch these
Kirirom Hiking
Meet Mr. Black Bear

For the more adventurous, consider hooking up with a ranger who will guide you through a two-hour hike up to Phnom Dat Chivit (End of the World Mountain) where an abrupt cliff-face offers an unbroken view of the Elephant Mountains and Cardamom Mountains to the west. It is often possible to see wildlife on this trail, including black bears scavenging the pine trees for honey.
Kirirom is part of Cambodia's southwestern cluster of protected areas which include Phnom Bokor, Preah Sihanouk and Kep national Park. It is on the way to the beaches of Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh or from Thailand through the Koh Kong border. If your idea of a great trek is the great outdoors there is a real treat waiting throughout this area.
What you will need for these hikes
Make sure you have these walking shoes
Eco Tourism Program in Kirirom
Community Based Eco-Tourism

There is a community based eco-tourism program set just beyond the park boundaries. They can arrange for a guide or homestays for you or you can sample traditional Khmer food in their small restaurantsThere are two I have found but I have not yet had a chance to stay as we went there with Cambodian friends. But I've heard great things and its one of the best ways to really see/taste/smell a culture.
Chambok Community-based Ecotourism (012 355272; ccben_cam@yahoo.com;
Mlup Baitong (023-214409; mlup@online.com.kh), a percentage of the proceeds is pumped back into the local community.
Do you support eco-tourism programs?
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More about eco-tourism in Cambodia
Read some of the developments
- Soulful tunes from the canopy
- Cambodia's first gibbon eco-tourism venture has been established. A ranger and research outpost in Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area, which adjoins Virachey National Park in Ratanakkiri province, will be base camp for adventurous travellers hoping ...
- Floating Lodge puts you on the beautiful waters of the Cambodian jungle
- However, with the recent introduction of roads, lodging and an emphasis on ecotourism, the Koh Kong region has officially arrived on the travel scene. Four Rivers stretches outward in both directions along a bend in the river.
- Cambodia's Most Dangerous Job?
- In Cambodia, companies and landowners can choose whether or not to clear areas used for commercial purposes such as agriculture, mining or ecotourism. With improved access to previously difficult to reach areas comes increased economic interest in ...
- Northeast new focus for tourism
- The Ministry of Tourism will shift its focus to ecotourism development in the Kingdom's northeast after efforts to promote travel to Cambodia's coastline proved successful. Whereas Tourism Minister Thong Kong had once asked officials to focus on ...
Bring a video camera
Add to the documentation on Kirirom
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Best time to visit Kirirom National Park
Just after the rainy season

Kirirom is not the happiest of mountains during rainy season (May to October ) so the best time is just after that while Cambodia is still cool. From November on, you will be rewarded with gushing water falls and the great greenness of the hills.
The park facilities are constantly improving and there are several resorts in the area. You are better off to have your own transport as it is quite isolated from the public routes. There are tour operators thin Phnom Penh at will be happy to arrange trips for you based on your own requirements. Of course if you are 20 and ready for adventure, go for it. Local buses are an experience of a lifetime and you really will meet some of the world's friendliest people.
Take this poll on Kirirom adventure
Adventure tours

The Visitor's Center at Kirirom National Park
Attractive Displays

The visitors center in the park is small but full of interesting things. The manager does her best to show off what the park offers.
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Parks as Part of our Lives
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More things for your travel to Kirirom
The sun could be strong
Here are the angels who blessed this lens
And made it special
Please leave your comments
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AnthonyAltorenna
Apr 14, 2012 @ 9:16 pm | delete
- Beautiful! This looks like an awesome eco-tourism destination where people and nature can co-exist.
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aesta1
Apr 15, 2012 @ 5:54 am | delete
- Yes, it is. The walk offers one not from Asia many of nature's interesting species.
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indiavacationplans
Jan 19, 2012 @ 5:56 am | delete
- Great guide for family vacations. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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aesta1
Apr 15, 2012 @ 5:54 am | delete
- A wholesome family experience.
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thailand_ecotourism
Sep 21, 2011 @ 9:11 am | delete
- very nice... i will try to visit the park soon
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aesta1
Sep 21, 2011 @ 7:26 pm | delete
- Hope so...it is not far from you.
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nort43
Mar 25, 2011 @ 4:59 am | delete
- What a great lens. I can almost feel the place. You never run out of new expweriencess if your eyes and ears are open. Well done.
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aesta1
Jan 1, 2012 @ 5:47 am | delete
- Open your eyes and ears...right.
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---Chazz
Mar 11, 2011 @ 11:15 am | delete
- What a beautiful spot. Just added it to my bucket list. Hope to be able to visit some day.
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aesta1
Jan 1, 2012 @ 5:48 am | delete
- Good. Come and visit.
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- Load More
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by aesta1
I remembered my first trip to Kirirom. The local consultants invited all the international consultants for a picnic. I have not heard of this park bef... more »
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