Siem Reap: Phnom Kulen National Park & Beng Mealea Private Tour
Description
Embark on a full-day private tour to Phnom Kulen National Park to experience the natural and cultural wonders of this sacred mountain. Learn about the rich history and culture of the ancient Khmer Empire, which was founded in Phnom Kulen. Your first stop will be the Reclining Buddha statue, the largest in Cambodia. This impressive statue is carved into the mountainside and is a popular pilgrimage site for Cambodians. After paying your respects, continue to the River of a Thousand Lingas, phallic symbols that represent the Hindu god Shiva. And heading to the park's waterfalls. After visiting the park, we'll head to a local restaurant for a delicious lunch. Then, get ready for an adventure! We're off to explore Beng Mealea, a truly spectacular temple and is shrouded in mystery. Nature has reclaimed much of this incredible site, making it feel like you're on an Indiana Jones expedition. Built in the 12th century, Beng Mealea is huge! It's similar in design to Angkor Wat.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the natural and cultural wonders of Phnom Kulen National Park on a private tour. See the largest reclining Buddha statue, River of a Thousand Lingas, and a park's waterfalls. -Discover the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire at Phnom Kulen National Park. -See the largest reclining Buddha statue in Cambodia carved into the mountainside. -Learn about the rich history and culture of the ancient Khmer Empire. -Explore the River of a Thousand Lingas and see the carvings of Lingas. -Take a refreshing dip in the park's waterfalls and admire the natural beauty.
A spectacular sight to behold, Beng Mealea, located about 68km northeast of Siem Reap, is one of the most mysterious temples at Angkor, as nature has well and truly run riot. Exploring this Titanic of temples, built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat, is the ultimate Indiana Jones experience. Built in the 12th century under Suryavarman II, Beng Mealea is enclosed by a massive moat measuring 1.2km by 900m.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup included from any hotels / address in Siem Reap. Please wait in the hotel lobby from 3 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(7)
We had a fantastic day exploring Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea! Phnom Kulen was beautiful, especially the waterfall, and the Reclining Buddha. Beng Mealea was the perfect way to end the day—it felt like a real jungle adventure with ancient ruins surrounded by nature. Our guide, Sunleang was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable. The tour was well organized, the local lunch was delicious, and we never felt rushed. Highly recommend this tour if you're looking to see more of Siem Reap beyond Angkor Wat!
Dear Thunna, Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you had a fantastic day exploring Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea. We're also happy that Sunleang helped make your experience even more enjoyable with his guidance and knowledge. Thank you for your recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to Cambodia for another great adventure in the future!
Fantastic experience. Would highly recommend. Guide was very knowledgeable. We had a great day. Thank you.
Dear Brian, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had a fantastic experience and enjoyed your day with us. It’s great to know our guide made a positive impression with their knowledge. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future! Sincerely, Pineapple Cambodia Tours,
After having such a great time with Pineapple Cambodia at Angkor, we immediately booked them again for a day trip to Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea. Our family of five loves adventure, and our day trip to Phnom Kulen National Park and the incredible Beng Mealea Temple with Pineapple Cambodia was a total highlight. We were so happy to have our guide Paren and driver Thunna again—they are truly the best in the business! The journey to these more remote sites is long, but Thunna's excellent driving made it feel seamless. His van was a comfortable and cool oasis, and we always knew we were in safe hands. At Phnom Kulen, Paren was the perfect guide, showing us the most beautiful spots at the waterfall and explaining the significance of the sacred carvings in the riverbed. Then, at Beng Mealea—the ultimate "Indiana Jones" temple—he helped us explore the vast, overgrown ruins with confidence and excitement. He was patient with our kids and took the most amazing photos for us. We can't recommend this team enough. They make every step of the journey an amazing part of the overall experience. If you are looking for an authentic, engaging, and unforgettable adventure, you must book with Pineapple Cambodia and ask for Paren and Thunna.
Dear Joey, Thank you so much for choosing Pineapple Cambodia again after your Angkor tour and for sharing such a wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your day trip to Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea was a highlight of your family’s adventure in Cambodia. Paren and Thunna will be thrilled to know how much you appreciated their guiding and driving. They truly enjoy making each trip special, whether it’s sharing the sacred history at Phnom Kulen, ensuring comfort and safety on the journey, or helping families explore Beng Mealea’s magical ruins with ease. It’s always rewarding for us to see families experience both the adventure and the culture in such a meaningful way. We’re especially glad your kids had a fun and memorable time, too. On behalf of our whole team, thank you for recommending us so warmly. We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in Cambodia in the future! Sincerely, Pineapple Cambodia Tours,
Our trip to Cambodia was incredible, but this private tour to Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea was a true highlight. I can't say enough good things about our guide, Phally, and our driver, Vuthy. Phally was fantastic from start to finish. He was so passionate and knowledgeable, sharing stories about the ancient Khmer Empire that made the places come alive. He was also very thoughtful, always making sure we were comfortable and answering all of our questions with a friendly smile. He knew the best spots for photos and the perfect pace for the tour. And a huge shout-out to our driver, Vuthy! He was an absolute professional. The car was clean and comfortable, and he navigated the roads perfectly. We always felt safe and at ease, even on some of the more rural back roads. He was also very punctual and was always waiting for us right where he said he'd be and yes with cold waters and cold towels. The tour itself was a dream. We loved seeing the Reclining Buddha and the serene River of a Thousand Lingas at Phnom Kulen. But the real adventure was Beng Mealea. Exploring this jungle-covered temple felt like being an explorer from an old movie. It was huge, mysterious, and so much fun to climb around. This tour was well-organized, and the combination of a great guide and a safe, reliable driver made it a truly flawless experience. Highly, highly recommend!
Dear Noah, Thank you for your excellent review of your recent tour with us. We are so pleased to hear that you had a truly flawless experience with your guide, Phally, and your driver, Vuthy. We take great pride in our team, and your praise for Phally's knowledge and Vuthy's professionalism is greatly appreciated. We strive to provide well-organized and comfortable tours, and it's rewarding to know we met your expectations. We are so glad you enjoyed exploring both Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea, and we hope you will choose us again for your future travels. Sincerely, Pineapple Cambodia Tours,
An unforgettable day trip! This tour was a highlight of my trip. Phnom Kulen was a great start—the Reclining Buddha was amazing, and the waterfalls were so refreshing. The best part, though, was Beng Mealea. It's an incredible temple that feels like something out of a movie. Exploring the overgrown ruins was a real adventure. Our guide, Dom was excellent and made the day run smoothly. Highly recommend this tour if you want to see some cool sites away from the crowds! And big thanks to Ben for making a smooth tour arrangement....,
Dear Sar, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your day at Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea was a highlight of your trip. Both sites are truly special—Phnom Kulen for its spiritual and natural beauty, and Beng Mealea for its adventurous, movie-like atmosphere. We’re glad Dom helped make the experience smooth and memorable, and we’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to him. Also, thank you for appreciating Ben’s assistance with the tour arrangements. It was our pleasure to host you, and we hope to welcome you back for more adventures in Cambodia! Sincerely, Pineapple Cambodia Tours,
This was a fabulous day! Ben was a great guide, he was companionable and knowledgeable The reclining Buddha, waterfall and 1,000 lingas on the mountaintop were definitely worth the drive. The vast ruined temple we visited was more romantic in its unrestored state than any of the temples near Angkor Wat. At my request we stopped at a small quarry where stones were cut for one of the early temples. Amazing -something seen by few others. The van was clean and stocked with cold water. The driver was very competent; i hired him to take me to the airport the following day. Overall this tour is a perfect complement to two days at Angkor
Dear James, We're delighted to hear you had a fabulous day with Ben! His knowledge and companionship are truly valued. We're especially pleased you found the reclining Buddha, waterfall, 1,000 lingas, and unrestored temple so captivating. The quarry stop is indeed a hidden gem, and we're glad you enjoyed that unique insight. Thank you for choosing us! Sincerely, Pineapple Cambodia Tours,
Wonderful experience seeing the water fall despite of the rains. The tour guide was very accommodating n help and so was the driver.
Dear Natalie, Thank you so much for your wonderful review of our Phnom Kulen National Park and Waterfall tour! We are so glad that you had a great experience with us, even though the weather wasn't perfect. We are especially pleased to hear that you appreciated the following: -The accommodating and helpful tour guide -The attentive driver. We strive to provide our guests with the best possible experience, and your feedback is very important to us. We will share your kind words with our team, and they will be thrilled to know that their efforts are appreciated. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. In the meantime, please stay safe and well. Sincerely, Pineapple Cambodia Tours,
