Phnom Aural

What to See on the Phnom Aural Trek

The Climb Through Bamboo Forest

The trail climbs steadily through dense bamboo and broadleaf jungle, with no real infrastructure beyond what your guide and porters carry in. This is wilderness trekking in the literal sense — expect river crossings, root-tangled paths, and long stretches without any sign of other people.

Wildlife Sanctuary Terrain

Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary protects habitat for leopards, sun bears, wild boar, and various primates, though sightings on a short trek are a matter of luck rather than expectation. Birdlife and insect sound are constant; larger mammals are shy and mostly nocturnal.

The Summit

At 1,813m, the top of Phnom Aural offers a rare unbroken view across the Cardamom range — a reward that requires genuinely earning it, usually via a pre-dawn final push from an overnight camp lower on the mountain.

How to Get to Phnom Aural

The trailhead village is Srae Kan, in Aoral district of Kampong Speu province, reached via rough unpaved roads.

• From Phnom Penh: Around 3–4 hours by car/moto to Srae Kan, where guides and the trek itself are organized
• Guides are mandatory in practice: There is minimal signage and no marked trail system — arrange a licensed local guide and porters in advance through Srae Kan or a Phnom Penh-based trekking operator

Best Time to Visit

Stick to the dry season (November–March). Wet-season trails become slick and leech-heavy, and river crossings can become genuinely hazardous.

Practical Information

• No formal entry ticket; budget for guide and porter fees instead, arranged locally
• This is a serious multi-day trek, not a casual walk — come with proper hiking gear, a tent or hammock setup, and reasonable fitness
• Mobile signal is largely absent once on the mountain
• Malaria precautions are worth discussing with a travel clinic before a multi-day Cardamom trek

Nearby Attractions

Kirirom National Park, with its gentler pine-forest trails, makes a good lower-effort contrast elsewhere in Kampong Speu province for travelers not attempting the full Aural trek.