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14/07/2017

Mondolkiri Province

Mondolkiri joins the frontier province of Rattanakiri in the northeastern extreme of Cambodia, about 543km from Phnom Penh.

Despite being the largest in land area, this is the most sparsely populated province in the country‘‘Mondulkiri‘‘mean “Meeting of the Hills”. The average elevation is 800 meters and the weather is cooler than most elsewhere. The provincial capital, Sen Monrom, has been called “Switzerland of Cambodia” and serves as a perfect base for exploring this fascinating territory. The land is very rich in natural resources especially hard minerals such as gold and gems which can be found in all five districts of the province.

Known also for its forested hills and beautiful waterfalls, Mondulkiri is one of the most popular destinations for Eco-tourism in Cambodia, Only about 20 percent of the population is collectively made up of Khmer, Chinese and Muslims. More than 80 percent of the people here are the tribal minorities, the majority of which being from the Phnong tribe which is famous for their gongs and antique jars, These jars and gongs are among the most valuable possessions of indigenous communities both in traditional and spiritual as well as material terms, Tourists are invited to participate in a wine sipping tradition which dates back since the first visitors from the outside world visited the tribes many years ago and the wine is traditionally brewed from rice and stored in these precious jars which are more than a thousand years old.

Get further off the beaten tracks and explore the northeastern frontier jungle safely on the back of an elephant trekking through lust unspoilt tropical rain forest where various wild mammals, including d holes, bears, wild cattle, buffaloes, deers, elephants, gaurs, gibbons, goats, horses, leopards, monkeys, otters, rabbits, tigers and wolves roam.

This kind of trekking creates jobs for local people and supports eco-tourism and a greener mode of transportation.