Phnom Kulen National Park, commonly referred to at Phnom Kulen or Kulen Mountain, is a large conservation area located about 50 kilometers from Siem Reap city. The park is home to 9th-century statues, a 16th-century pagoda, and massive waterfalls. It is a great way to see historical sights as well a Cambodia’s beautiful flora and fauna.
Foreign nationals must pay the Phnom Kulen National Park entrance fee to vist the park. It is important to note that this entrance fee is different than your ticket to the temples. Phnom Kulen is not controlled by the Apsara Authority (which manages Angkor Wat and all the other temples), so you need to buy a completely different ticket to visit Phnom Kulen.
Where can I pay the Phnom Kulen entrance fee?
There are three ways to pay for the Phnom Kulen national park entrance fee. The first is at a hotel in Siem Reap called City Angkor Hotel. It is located on Road 6 about halfway to the airport. The national park has a small office in the hotel, and you can purchase your ticket directly from them. Another way to buy your ticket is through your hotel or tour companies. Most hotels and local agencies will sell Kulen Mountain tickets. Contact your guesthouse or hotel who can facilitate the purchase. The final place is at the mountain itself. Local police sell the tickets. So, if you are in a rush, you can wait until you arrive to pay the entrance fee.
How much does it cost?
The official entrance fee to Phnom Kulen national park is 20 USD. This is the published rate at hotels and local tour companies. It is also what you will pay if you purchase your ticket at Phnom Kulen itself. That being said it is possible to get a discount on your ticket. If you have a Cambodian national purchase the ticket at City Angkor Hotel you will typically get a discount of 3 – 7 USD. You can also try to haggle with tour agencies and get a similar discount. While it is great to save money, please be cautious handing over cash to people you do not know. Always accompany the person buying your ticket and wait outside the hotel to make sure it is authentic.
How can I pay?
Unlike Angkor Wat (which now accepts all major credit cards) the Phnom Kulen National Park entrance fee can only be paid in US Dollars or Cambodian Riel. If you need to pay by credit card your best option is to visit a tour company that accepts payment by card. There are several large agencies near Pub Street that can do this. You can also visit Sopheak Na Travel which is popular with expats and has multiple payment methods.
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