Sen Monorom

The area around Sen Monorom is peppered with minority villages and picturesque waterfalls, making it the ideal place to spend some time.

Sen Monorom City is the capital of Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia. Sen Monorom lies at an altitude of 800 meters which makes it a little bit cooler than Phnom Penh especially during the night. This small provincial capital is about 370 km from Phnom Penh. It takes 7-8 hours from Phnom Penh but a new paved road is in the process of being built so the trip will probably be shortened.

The area around Sen Monorom is peppered with minority villages and picturesque waterfalls, making it the ideal place to spend some time. Life here takes on a slower pace than elsewhere in Cambodia and the small market in the center of town is the bustling hub of the community.

The town of Sen Monorom

History & Culture

Sen Monorom (and the Mondulkiri province in general) is inhabited by the indigenous Bunong (Pnong) people. Pnong tribesmen and tribeswomen are often seen walking along major highways. Many of the Bunong people from nearby villages come here to trade, the distinctive baskets they carry on their backs making them easy to distinguish from the immigrant lowlanders.

The city is rapidly developing and so is the tourist industry. You will not find untouched or unspoiled nature or ethnic groups. But even though you might not be the first tourist to lay your eyes on Sen Monorom it is probably one of the least visited areas in Cambodia and many of the ethnic groups still live much as they always have, but this may soon end if the tourist industry keeps growing.

Many ethnic minority villages can be visited in Mondulkiri and this is an eye-opening experience. For example, the hill tribes of Mondulkiri enjoy a different culture to those in other provinces and this is evident in the unique architecture of their homes and communal lifestyle. While accommodation options here are basic, new guesthouses are constantly opening. We recommend at least three nights in Sen Monorom to fully appreciate the hidden delights of this province.

Main attractions

Sen Monorom isn’t touristy but is home to diversity of jungle, rolling grass fields, hill tribes, waterfalls and winding dirt roads.

• Trekking route: Sen Monorom is an excellent starting point for numerous mini-adventures that explore the region. Trekking in Sen Monorom, although not yet as big as in Banlung, is becoming increasingly popular, with a variety of routes lasting from a day to a week. The best operators use Bunong guides, who intimately know the forests through which you’ll be walking. Treks generally include a mix of cultural and scenic attractions, with visits to Bunong villages and waterfalls hiking and wild swimming.
• Bou Sra Waterfall: About 45 min from central town, the two-tiered cascade waterfall is really impressive especially in the rainy season. You can follow the path that goes around the waterfalls to walk up to both waterfalls and sink in the fresh water to have a swim.

Bou Sra Waterfall

• Mondulkiri Project: Known as a trekking and elephant sanctuary, Mondulkiri Project is a non-profit venture aiming to protect forests from logging and start an elephant breeding program. Coming to one day elephant adventure tour, tourists will have chances to feed, touch, walk and swim with elephants at a waterfall in the jungle. There’s no elephant riding.

Mondulkiri Project

How to get there

From Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, vans and buses take 7 hours and 10 hours respectively to get to Sen Monorom before they hit the open road. Hence, it’s more convenient to leave at night or early morning.

The center of Sen Monorom is quite small, rustic and can be explored on foot. But you’d better get around the road by bicycle and venture off into the forest by motorbike.