Phnom Kulen Waterfall & 1000 Linga River from Siem Reap

Two hours north of Siem Reap, a mountain holds Cambodia's oldest pilgrimage sites

You're picked up from your hotel and driven north through rural Cambodia to Phnom Kulen Mountain, where you visit the Reclining Buddha temple carved into sandstone, walk along the sacred River of 1000 Lingas with its intricate Hindu carvings, and swim in the waterfall pool. An English-speaking guide leads the small group, bottled water is provided, and the van is air-conditioned, which matters on a nine-hour day in the heat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Kulen Mountain sacred sites

• Hotel pick up between 7:30 am and 8:30 am
• Drive 2 hours to Kulen Mountain
• Visit Reclining Buddha temple on hilltop
• Explore River of 1000 Lingas carvings
• See rock carvings of Hindu deities
• Relax at Phnom Kulen Waterfalls
• Swim in waterfall pool

The experience

"The Lingas, they are everywhere. You walk on them, you swim past them," our guide said as we pulled away from the hotel at 7:45 am, the air still cool in the van. He wasn't exaggerating. Phnom Kulen Mountain, 50 kilometers north of Siem Reap, is carved with thousands of these phallic symbols of the Hindu god Shiva, and the drive there (two hours through local villages and dense tropical forest) gives you time to understand why this place matters to both Hindus and Buddhists in Cambodia. The small-group tour keeps numbers manageable, which means you're not jostling for space at the temple steps or the riverbank.

The first stop is the Reclining Buddha, a massive sandstone carving on top of a hill that you reach by climbing a flight of steps. It's the biggest one in Cambodia, and standing in front of it, carved directly into the rock face, you feel the weight of centuries of pilgrims doing the same thing. After that comes the River of 1000 Lingas, where the riverbed itself is the artwork. Hundreds of these carved symbols run along the water, and you can see rock carvings of Hindu deities tucked into the stones. It's not a museum. It's a living sacred site, and the river still flows through it.

By midday you reach Phnom Kulen Waterfalls, where the energy shifts. The waterfall tumbles down rocks into a pool, and you get time to wade in, cool off, and actually swim if you want to. It's the kind of moment where the day stops being about ticking off sites and becomes about sitting in the water, watching the spray. The whole experience takes about nine hours door-to-door, including the drive, and you're back at your hotel by late afternoon.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from your Siem Reap accommodation, round-trip transport in a shared air-conditioned van, an English-speaking guide for the full nine hours, bottled water throughout the day, and entry to all three sites: the Reclining Buddha temple, the River of 1000 Lingas, and Phnom Kulen Waterfalls, where you have time to swim.

Options for this experience

2 options

Groups of 11 people or moreUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00Private tours; pickup is included

English-language small group tourUp to 10 people · 08:30Shared group tours; please be ready from 7:30 am until pickup before 8:30 am. The Phnom Kulen National Park ticket is not included. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 5h–7h, runs every day, 5 start times, from US$ 59 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Green Era Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Cambodia's most sacred mountain and its pilgrimage sites without arranging transport or a private guide: the small-group format and fixed schedule handle both, leaving you to focus on the sites themselves.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional240 verified traveler reviews

5 ★222

4 ★14

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the drive from Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen?

Approximately two hours each way in an air-conditioned van through local villages and tropical forest.

What time does the tour start and when does pickup happen?

Hotel pickup runs from 7:30 am to 8:30 am, and the tour departs at 8:30 am.

Can you swim at the waterfall?

Yes, you have time to wade and swim in the waterfall pool to cool off.

What is included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, shared air-conditioned van, English-speaking guide, and bottled water.

Is the Reclining Buddha easy to reach?

It's located on top of a hill and reached by climbing a flight of steps, so moderate physical fitness is recommended.

What are the Lingas?

Lingas are phallic symbols representing the Hindu god Shiva, carved into the riverbed and rocks throughout the sacred site.

Is this tour not recommended for anyone?

It is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to the steps and physical activity involved.