19. Bokor Hill Station

Bokor Hill Station is a mountaintop collection of buildings (hotel, casino, church, royal residence, etc.), constructed by French authorities in the early 1920s as a complement to the already popular Kep resort area. In the 1990s, a travelling author referred to Bokor as “ the eeriest place in the world,” and it lives up to that population. In its time, bokor was an elegant getaway for French officials and foreign visitors to old Indochina. But years of neglect have left ghostly ruins; vestiges of a different age, often shrouded in fog and clouds. One thing changed is the spectacular view of the coast and the cool (sometime cold) mountain air. Wild elephants and other jungle animal are occasionally seen. The small guesthouse on top costs $5 per room with good toilets and very few other services.  If you are going to stay on Bokor, bring along food as the guesthouse has little to offer. It is located 37km from Kampot. Take Route #3 west from Kampot to the well-marketed turnoff.

There is a $5 entrance fee at the ranger station about a kilometer up the road. Be wary of badly broken pavement all the way up the mountain. It is easiest in a 4WD vehicle. For experienced riders, it’s a moderate dirt bike ride. It is uncomfortable, but nonetheless possible on a small 100cc bike. Bring warm clothes.