Kulen Waterfall & Beng Mealea Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Visit the stunning Kulen Waterfall
- Explore the ancient 1000 Linga River
- Discover the remote Beng Mealea Temple
- Enjoy a refreshing swim in natural pools
- Experience local Cambodian culture firsthand
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Siem Reap
- English-speaking tour guide
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Itinerary
We pickup from your hotel in Siem Reap. As your tour departure at 8:30 am and we start to pickup from 7:30 am and kindly ready from 7:30 am and ready to go as soon as your tour guide arrives.
We drive 50 km northeast of Siem Reap to visit the natural day trip. Phnom Kulen (Lychee Mountain), a sandstone plateau considered sacred by the Khmers. This place is widely regarded as the birth place of the ancient Khmer Empire. Our vehicle will bring us by a steep dirt road near the top of the mountain; on the way up you will be able to admire dramatic scenery. There, you will see the ancient sculptures on the riverbed by crossing the bridge, then a stair will take you to a pagoda nestled between large rocks where you will see the biggest reclining Buddha of the country, carved in the rock. Enjoy the view of the countryside from there. The hike will continue towards the 30 meters high waterfalls where you will have a picnic lunch. This is a very popular place for Khmer people to come and enjoy their weekend with a picnic. More carvings stand in the riverbed above the waterfall. After a good and refreshing swim with the locals, (don’t forget your swimsuits).
We will continue to the temple of Beng Melea, 7 km southeast of Phnom Kulen. Beng Melea jungle temple was built during the 12th century during the reign of Suryavarman II, at about the same time as Angkor Wat of which its layout and style closely mirror. However, Beng Melea is completely ruined and largely overrun by vegetation and competes with Ta Prohm for the “lost in the jungle” ambience. It is a tangle of trees, lichen-covered stones, broken towers and galleries. Many impressive sculptures are hidden among the rubble and the vegetation. Return to your hotel after tour.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour involves moderate physical activity, including walking and swimming.
- Beng Mealea Temple is partially restored; some areas may be challenging to navigate.
- Lunch is included; inform the tour operator of any dietary restrictions in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring swimwear and a towel for the waterfall visit.
- Carry insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infant FOC not apply a seat
Traveler reviews
Amazing tour with Nak and Billy
We had the best time with Nak (our tour guide) and Billy (driver). Nak was so knowledgeable of the history of Kulen Mountain and Buddhism. He managed our tour so that we were able to avoid crowds and took the most amazing photos too! The waterfalls were absolutely breathtaking and the other sites were great to experience as well. I would definitely recommend this tour and Nak and Billy!
Day trip from Siem Reap
A very relaxing and interesting day trip wonderfully guided by Mr. Lonh! We have visited the Beng Mealea Temple, we had local food and fruit thanks to Mr. Lonh who knows very well the area. After that, we went to the water fall.. this place is amazing! On the way back we had lunch in a very good Khmer restaurant and discover how Cambodian people use the palm fruit to make sugar and other things! I highly recommend this day tour and, especially, Mr. Lonh!
Excellent
Our guide was excellent. Without his help I specially would not been able to see the beautiful things and visit the beautiful temple. I would say that our guide was one of the best and would be happy to have him show Cambodia when we visit again
Very informative tour guide and plenty of fun
This review is actually for two tours- Beng Mealea/Phnom Kulen, and half day at Kompong Phluk floating village. Our tour guide was Phearom (by coincidence) on both tours. He was very knowledgeable on both tours and really gave us an in-depth analysis of not only the sites we visited, but on the history of Cambodia, their civil war, the land mine problem, and with short stories of how it affected his own personal life. His English is fantastic and he's very nice! The tours themselves were very fun and interesting. Beng Melea temple is a must-see when it comes to the outlying temples. Do go if you get a chance to see more temples beyond Angkor Wat!