With a not-very-pleasant temperature and high humidity in the bustling city of Phnom Penh, we thought Kirirom would be the best place for a good adventure, a quiet getaway as we stepped out from a hustling life full of noise and traffic, and to disconnect ourselves and enjoy the calming nature among the restful pines during the Pchum Ben Holidays.
The National Park of Kirirom, which translates to “Mountain of Joy,” is popular for its verdant pine forests, waterfalls, wildlife, Buddhist shrines, and breathtaking vistas. It is part of the Cardamom mountain range, and it is a pristine nature reserve in southwest Cambodia. It is actually the oldest protected park in the kingdom. At its highest point, the altitude above sea level is roughly 700 meters.
Here are the activities that we did:
1. Trek to the Heaven Cliff or Thmor Loy. Our main activity in Kirirom included a lot of trekking. We hired a guide from the resort, who led us through the pine forest, up the mountain, down the hill, and back up the hill until we reached one of the breathtaking viewpoints called the Heaven Cliff, also known as Thmor Loy.
We briskly walked—4 km per hour uphill—savoring the crisp, sweet, and refreshing smell of the pine trees and, at the same time, taking in the awesome scenery along the way. We strolled past a cool stream and noticed an abundance of colorful, magnificent wildflowers scattered everywhere. The shifting sun rays penetrating through the tall pines throughout the day gave us different shades of the forest and lots of options to take a snapshot of an epic view of nature, including some selfie shots along the way. However, seeing the piles of plastic trash along the winding road saddened us.
Life is like that—sometimes we go uphill, and then we go downhill and uphill again. Although the walk down the hill is a lot easier, the stunning view and everything worthwhile are from the peak. So, no turning back; instead, we kept going.
2. Discover Ou-tasek Waterfall. We opted to discover Ou-tasek Waterfall on our own. From the resort, we walked up north, then turned left and kept walking for 45 minutes on a rocky and steep path until we reached the gate (or the security of the resort). When we arrived at the security area, the guard showed us the way to the waterfall. After that, we followed the right, climbed up the hill, and then veered left at the first trail. We stayed on the trail, and it started getting darker and darker as we went deeper into the jungle.
It was already 5 p.m., and we were still walking through the lush jungle, and I started to feel scared and anxious. We were the only ones there, and we didn’t have a guide. We walked in a single line—my husband first, our son in the middle, and me last. At first, I wanted to go back because it was already dark and I imagined bumping into some wild animals like snakes, etc. But we could feel that we were so close to the waterfall, so we kept going. The moment we spied on the Ou-tasek Waterfall from a distance and heard its water roaring as it fell down, we got so ecstatic. However, as we started to descend and got closer to the waterfall, my son and my husband were assaulted with lots of leeches. It was gross and terrifying. We saw one leech after the other. So, we decided not to descend further and went back to the main road. We sprayed some hand sanitizer on the leeches to get rid of them, and it worked! Since it rained everyday during our stay in Kirirom, we decided to ditch our trek to the other waterfalls because we did not want to be attacked by some leeches again.
3. Stay at vKirirom Pine Resort. Situated approximately 112 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh City, in Kampong Speu province, Kirirom is a beautiful hideaway resort perched atop Kirirom National Park. Its lovely pine forest and distinct nature makes it special.
We stayed in a bungalow surrounded by numerous evergreen pine trees. It was clean, spacious, and furnished with everything that we needed (fridge, toiletries, robes, etc.). The service was okay and the food was good. It offers a wide range of activities; however, we thought the price was a little high for the quality you would receive.
It was peaceful when we arrived, and our bungalow was situated away from the crowd until some locals who occupied the other bungalow had a BBQ and karaoke party until past midnight. We had trouble sleeping on the first night due to the noise. I think the best time to go there for a quiet getaway is during the weekdays or not during the public holidays, as there is an influx of visitors during the weekends and public holidays visiting on a day trip, team building, or weekend outing.
4. Catch the sunrise. Getting up early to see the sun creep over the horizon might be one of the best things you can do for yourself. Watching the sunrise is one of my favorite things to do because it usually attracts far fewer people. Being outdoors and enjoying the serene environment makes me happy. There’s nothing quite like spending time outside alone or with a few people and only listening to the blowing wind and chirping birds.
5. Read by the pool. It was a beautiful day out there. I was reading a good book, “Emma” by Jane Austen, while soothing classical music was playing in the background and the gorgeous morning sun was peeking through the dense evergreen pine trees. It was truly magical—reading while feeling the magic in the air, the power in the breeze, and the energy of nature!
6. Splash and stretch. The swimming pool called out to us to splash around in as we enjoyed the sunrise and morning breeze outside. Since nobody was swimming, we opted to hit the pool, soak in, and stretch before we left on another adventure.
7. Walk around. We enjoy going for walks, whether we are in a large city or a small village. I suppose I could say that we are avid walkers. Thus, after resting and getting settled in our bungalow, we decided to take a stroll and learn more about the 10,000-hectare resort. Walking around and taking in the fresh air and beautiful, lush surroundings was a lot of fun and such a fantastic boost to the spirits.
8. Explore more off-the-beaten-path. We found our itchy feet trekking in the tropical forest and exploring off-the-beaten-path places. It’s about the places that can offer us a touch of the wild and keep us grounded at all times.
Little Lilly Meets the World 