Phnom Kulen Waterfall Tours from Siem Reap
The sacred mountain 48 km north of Siem Reap: 40 tours in two formats, a day trip at 30 to 60 EUR or an Angkor package at 120 to 250 EUR, and a park ticket that some include and some leave out.
A day at Phnom Kulen typically costs 30 to 60 EUR across 20 tours. Two to five days that fold Kulen into the Angkor temples cost 120 to 250 EUR across another 20. Behind those two ranges sits one mountain, about 48 km north of Siem Reap, with three places on a single ticket: a pair of waterfalls, a riverbed carved with lingas, and a reclining Buddha. This page is about the mountain: what is there, what the rules are, and which of the two formats suits you. The two pages below it read the tours one at a time. Where two sources disagree, as they do on the road's closing time and the width of the falls, the text gives both.
Two questions settle most bookings. Is the park ticket in the price, and do you want Kulen as a day of its own or as one day inside a temple trip? The first decides what you pay at the end, the second which page to open. The listings state both unevenly, so this page spends its words there. Two things we could not establish: how good any single guide is, and what the ticket money pays for, since no source we read says. The Cambodia page compares Kulen with the other falls, and each of the two format pages below reads its 20 listings one by one, with a price chart and the inclusions that the card leaves out.
Choose a destination in Phnom Kulen
-
Phnom Kulen Waterfall Day Tours
20 Phnom Kulen waterfall day tours from Siem Reap, under 30 to more than 120 EUR: which include the park ticket, what a day looks like by the clock, and what…
20 experiences -
Angkor & Kulen Multi-Day Tours
20 Angkor and Kulen multi-day tours compared, from under 120 to more than 250 EUR for two to five days: where Kulen falls in the plan, and what the price…
20 experiences
Waterfalls Travel Experiences in Phnom Kulen
2-Day Angkor Sunrise, Kulen Waterfall, Beng Mealea and Kampong Phluk Tour with Meals
Admission tickets, breakfast, lunch and hotel pickup on both days are included, from Angkor Wat at sunrise to a Kulen swim and Kampong Phluk's stilt houses.
2-Day Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei and Kulen Mountain Tour with Sunset Stop
A guide can book front-row seats for a buffet dinner with traditional shows at Kulen II, and parking and private air-conditioned transport are included.
2-Day Angkor Wat Sunrise and Kulen Waterfall Tour with Picnic Lunch and Kulen Ticket
The Kulen Mountain ticket, breakfast on day one and a picnic lunch at the waterfall on day two are covered, for groups of up to 10 travelers per booking.
2-Day Angkor Wat Sunrise, Phnom Kulen, Kampong Phluk and Tonle Sap Tour by Private Vehicle
A vaccinated guide and driver run this private-vehicle route with a 4:40 am Angkor Wat sunrise, the Kulen waterfall and a boat tour of Kampong Phluk village.
2-Day Shared Tour of Angkor Sunrise, Baphuon, Kulen Cliff, Beng Mealea and Kampong Phluk
All admission tickets, breakfast and a picnic lunch at the Kulen waterfall are in the price of this shared two-day tour, with hotel pickup on both days.
3-Day Angkor Small and Grand Circuit, Kulen Waterfall and Roluos Group Temples Tour
Day three goes from Angkor Wat sunrise to the Roluos Group temples, with licensed guide, driver, tolls and parking fees included in a private vehicle.
3-Day Angkor Temples, Banteay Srei, Kulen Waterfall and Tonle Sap Tour by Private Vehicle
Private air-conditioned transport and parking are included, and each of the three days runs from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, starting and ending in Siem Reap Center.
3-Day Angkor Temples, Phnom Kulen, Beng Mealea and Tonle Sap Tour with Two Lunches
Two lunches with drinks and an English-speaking guide are included, and the sunrise start at 4:30 am is followed by Banteay Srei and the Grand Circuit.
4-Day Angkor Circuits, Phnom Kulen, Roluos, Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temple Tour
A licensed guide, driver, parking and road tolls are included, and the last day is a long drive to the quiet, remote temples of Koh Ker and Beng Mealea.
4-Day Angkor Wat, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, Kulen Waterfall and Kampong Phluk Tour
Day one goes to remote Koh Ker and Beng Mealea, before Angkor Thom, Kulen and sunrise at Angkor Wat, in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a guide.
5-Day Angkor Temples, Roluos, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea and Kulen Waterfall Tour with Guide
The fifth day goes to Phnom Kulen, after a long drive to quiet Koh Ker and Beng Mealea on day three, with a licensed guide, tolls and parking covered.
Kulen Mountain and Kampong Phluk Day Tour with Grilled Chicken Picnic and Boat Sunset
Grilled chicken picnic by the falls, a boat through the flooded mangroves of Kampong Phluk and sunset on Tonlé Sap. Mountain and boat passes are extra.
Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea and Kampong Phluk Full-Day Tour, Entrance Fees Not Included
Free hotel pickup, a picnic lunch by the waterfall and unlimited chilled water, with park, temple and village entrance fees paid separately. Back by 6:30 pm.
Kulen Mountain Day Tour with Quarry, 1000 Lingas, Waterfall Swim, Park Entry and Lunch
Quarry stop, the 1000 Lingas river and a swim of up to 90 minutes, with the park entrance fee and a set lunch covered. Minivan for up to 13 travelers.
Kulen Mountain Waterfall Tour with Palm Sugar Village, All Tickets and Picnic Lunch
Palm sugar village, 1000 Lingas river and a swim at the falls, with all admission tickets and a grilled chicken picnic lunch. Soft drinks are not included.
Kulen Waterfall and 1000 Lingas Small-Group Day Tour, Up to 6 Guests, Lunch Included
Fees, lunch and an English-speaking guide are covered on this Kulen trip for up to 6 travelers, with a long swim stop. Landmine Museum entry is not included.
Kulen Waterfall, Beng Mealea and Kompong Phluk Small-Group Day Tour with Tickets
All admission tickets are covered on this ten-hour day, with a picnic lunch by the waterfall and a vegetarian option on request. Back in Siem Reap by 6:30 pm.
Phnom Kulen Day Tour by US Army Jeep from Siem Reap with Guide, Snack and Lunch
A US Army Jeep with guide covers back roads, a palm sugar village, the 1000 Lingas river and a waterfall swim, with snack and lunch. Park ticket extra.
Phnom Kulen Day Trip with Two-Tier Waterfall, River of 1000 Lingas and Khmer Village Visit
Snacks, water, a local English-speaking guide and a village stop with seasonal palm wine and sugar tastings. Lunch and the Kulen entrance fee are extra.
Phnom Kulen Dirt Bike Day Tour from Siem Reap, Honda XR 250R with Gear, Ticket and Lunch
Full-face helmet, gloves, a Honda XR 250R, the Phnom Kulen ticket and a local lunch are covered. Moderate fitness is needed and travel insurance is extra.
Phnom Kulen Jungle Trek from Siem Reap, Three-Hour Hike from Preah Ang Choub Pagoda
A three-hour trek from Preah Ang Choub pagoda with a licensed guide in seven languages, a private vehicle and all site admissions. Lunch and tips are extra.
Phnom Kulen National Park Tour with English or Japanese Guide, 1000 Lingas and Waterfall
Licensed English or Japanese-speaking guide, hotel transfers by air-conditioned van or bus and a return stop at a palm sugar workshop. Entrance fees are extra.
Phnom Kulen Small-Group Tour with 1000 Lingas River and Reclining Buddha, Max 12
Groups of up to 12 travelers share an air-conditioned van from Siem Reap, with a guide and bottled water. The waterfall entrance fee is paid separately.
Phnom Kulen Waterfall and 1000 Lingas Day Tour with Snacks, Fresh Fruit and Village Stop
Snacks, fresh fruit, bottled water and small towels are included, along with a stop in Preah Dak village. Lunch, tips and the Kulen entrance fee are extra.
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Phnom Kulen: what the mountain is
Phnom Kulen is a sandstone massif that peaks near 500 m, on a plateau around 400 m high. It lies about 48 km north of Siem Reap and 30 km north of Angkor Wat. Stone for Angkorian buildings was cut here. In the Angkorian era the mountain was called Mahendraparvata, the mountain of Great Indra, and one listing glosses the modern name as the Lychee Mountain.
Most Kulen tours spend the morning on the mountain and eat lunch at the waterfall. The fall is where the day stops.
Preah Ang Thom and the lingas
Carved stone on a mountain of quarries
The mountain is a pilgrimage site before it is a swimming spot. Preah Ang Thom is a 16th-century monastery with a reclining Buddha about 8 m in size, carved from a sandstone boulder and reached by a modern staircase. Down in the river, listings describe about 500 m of riverbed carved with lingas and yoni, and a large carving of Vishnu.
Names get mixed up. The lingas on the plateau are on the Kulen ticket. Kbal Spean, a carved riverbed covered by the Angkor Pass, is a different place that some sources call by the same name. If a listing mentions Kbal Spean, ask which one it means.
Two falls, and the water decides which one you get
Wikipedia describes two main falls. The first is 4 to 5 m high and 20 to 25 m wide, over a shallow pond. The second is 15 to 20 m high and 10 to 15 m wide, and it drops into a pool that guests swim in. Listings repeat the figures and add that both change with the rain. The order of stops differs by operator, and the waterfall tends to come last or near last, with lunch beside it.
The second fall
Water that changes with the month
The pool under the second fall is where most listings send guests to swim and eat. In the wet months it carries far more water. A listing for a three-day private tour warns of little water from March to July, and an operator guide calls the lower fall in full flood extremely strong.
Neither source gives a measured flow, so treat both as descriptions.
How Phnom Kulen became sacred
Dates from Wikipedia, with the traditional date of the declaration marked as such.
The origins
-
802
Jayavarman II proclaims independence
By tradition, the king declares independence from Java here and founds the line that built Angkor. The Java of the story is debated.
-
804
The linga cult
Wikipedia dates the king's cult of the linga to 804. The carved riverbed is tied to it.
The growth
-
16th century
Preah Ang Thom
The Buddhist monastery that holds the reclining Buddha, carved from a sandstone boulder, dates to the 16th century.
Today
-
2020
UNESCO tentative list
Phnom Kulen is added to Cambodia's Tentative List on 27 March 2020, a step before any nomination.
The rules that decide your day
Kulen is not part of the Angkor complex and is not run by the Angkor authority. The table puts the two tickets side by side, since confusing them is the commonest error in the listings we read.
| Item | Phnom Kulen ticket | Angkor Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Per person, one day; set by the park, so check the current tariff | Priced for 1, 3 or 7 days; check the Angkor ticket office |
| Covers | The falls, the carved riverbed, Preah Ang Thom | The Angkor temples, Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean |
| Payment | Cash | Ask at the Angkor ticket office |
| Where to buy | The gate on the mountain road, a park office in a Siem Reap hotel, or through a hotel or agency | The Angkor ticket office, or angkorenterprise.gov.kh |
The park office is inside the City Angkor Hotel on National Road 6 (Airport Road), and one operator says tickets there are discounted, without giving the price. At the gate on the mountain road you pay the full price. Operators' own listings reflect the split: of the 20 day tours, at least 6 say in the title that the ticket is included and 3 that it is not; for the rest, read the inclusions line.
The one-way road
The main road up the mountain is one-way. Cars may go up between 7:00 and 11:00. After 11:00 the road closes while the last vehicles finish the climb, and it reopens for the descent at about 11:45. That is one operator's account. Another operator's page puts the cut-off at 11:30, so plan on 11:00. That is the shape of a Kulen day. Tours collect guests between 7:30 and 9:30, one listing gives 9:30 as the latest departure, and listings put the drive at 1.5 to 2 hours each way. In the wet season, a four-wheel drive is needed, according to the operator guides.
Where Kulen sits on the map
Angkor Wat is next to the town on the map, Banteay Srei lies between the town and the mountain, and Beng Mealea is to the southeast. Listings put Banteay Srei 25 to 37 km north of Angkor Wat, and one gives Beng Mealea as 66 km by road from Siem Reap.
Banteay Srei is on the way up, so day tours add it without adding a day. Beng Mealea is a detour to the other side, which is why those tours run 10 hours and pair it with the Tonle Sap lake.
When to go
The wet season runs from May to October. For Kulen the question is what you want from the mountain. The wet months give flowing water, slippery stones and a river of lingas that can sit under water. The dry months give visible carvings and a road that behaves, with less water in the falls from March. A listing recommends August to January and a local operator puts the dry months November to April on top, so November to January is where the advice overlaps.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Which Phnom Kulen tour: a day, or a package with Angkor
The chart splits the 40 tours into the two formats. Day tours cluster tightly in the 30 to 60 EUR band. Multi-day packages spread from roughly 60 to 500 EUR for the middle half, because a package is a different bundle each time: two to five days, a private car or not, temples with or without Kulen first.
| Day tours | Multi-day packages | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | 30 to 60 EUR | 120 to 250 EUR |
| Range | From under 30 to more than 120 EUR | From under 120 to more than 250 EUR |
| Length | 3 to 10 hours, median 8 | 16 to 120 hours, median 48 |
| Private | 30% | 85% |
| Lunch included | 45% | 25% |
| Operators | 14 | 11 |
| Rating | 4.93 on 5,809 reviews | 5.0 on 593 reviews |
Choose the day tours if Kulen is the point and you are happy with one early start. Choose the multi-day packages if you were going to buy Angkor temples anyway and want one operator to sequence them around the Kulen morning. A package makes sense if you would have hired a driver for several days regardless.
Two formats, two pages
Each page reads its 20 tours one at a time, with a price chart and what the listings leave out.
Mistakes to avoid at Phnom Kulen
Booking a late start is the commonest. A pickup after 9:30 risks the 11:00 closure, and the day then ends at the foot of the mountain. Next comes buying a pass for the wrong place: the Angkor Pass is not a Kulen ticket, and a Kulen tour that adds Banteay Srei needs both. Dress casually and respectfully, since it is a religious site, and bring swimwear.
Questions about Phnom Kulen
Is Phnom Kulen included in the Angkor Pass?
No. The park has its own one-day ticket, cash only. The Angkor Pass covers the temples, Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean. A day that visits Kulen and Banteay Srei needs both tickets, and listings that combine them say so.
How far is Phnom Kulen from Siem Reap?
About 48 km by Wikipedia's count. Listings give the drive as 1.5 to 2 hours each way.
Can you swim at Phnom Kulen waterfall?
Yes, in the pool below the second fall, and most listings include time for it. In the wet months the stones are slippery and the flow is strong.
How long does a Phnom Kulen tour take?
The day tours run 3 to 10 hours with a median of 8. The 3 and 5 hour listings are short for a mountain that costs about 3 hours of driving, so read what they cover. Multi-day packages run two to five days.
When is the best time to visit Phnom Kulen?
November to January suits both water and access. The wet season gives the most water, but the lingas can be under water and the road needs a four-wheel drive. A listing warns of little water from March to July.
Is Phnom Kulen worth it for the waterfall alone?
In the dry months, maybe not: the fall can run low. In the wet months it is at its fullest. The mountain is worth the day on its own terms, because the carved riverbed and the Buddha are on the same ticket as the water.
Start with the day trips
The 20 day tours range from under 30 to more than 120 EUR, and the page reads which ones include the park ticket.
Data verified on . Forty Viator tours, read 22 October 2026. Ticket and road from Kulen Revealed and listings; Angkor Pass from helloangkor.com (Feb 2026); history from Wikipedia.