The Best Road in Cambodia - Bokor Hill Station

We loved yesterday’s day of exploring the area on our bike and decided to stay one more day in Kampot and ride up to Bokor Hill Station, north-west of Kampot.

The casino complex that is already open was quite an eyesore on the way up.

This was a 41km ride to the top, however the road here was in better condition than roads back in Australia. After 8km, we turned into the Preah Monivong National Park, paid our 2000 Riel entrance fee and off we went. The ride up is beautiful, lots of very nice corners, perfect for a motorbike. There was not much traffic and the view quickly became quite stunning.

We had the best map but didn't find the treasure. — We had the best map but didn’t find the treasure.

Following our personal treasure map, the first stop was Yeah Mao, a huge statue of a woman, who was yearning for her husband to return so much that she went out to see to be with him and drowned.

As French as I will look- A rest up on the hill near Yeah Mao.

On the way up, we stopped at the old church and then Bokor Hill Station, which is in the process of being restored to its former glory. The view from the back here is breath-taking, with a sharp drop almost 1km down to the flat land.

There were bullet holes and holes to shoot from as well. Pretty eerie.

Apparently you're not allowed to sleep here at night. — Apparently you’re not allowed to sleep here at night.

Bokor Hill station was a luxury resort in the 20’s, where rich individuals came to gamble. It is said that if they accrued too much debt, that they would commit suicide by jumping of the back side of the building. It feels like this station is being restored to be reopened again.

It is currently being restored to its former glory.

The view from the back of Bokor Hill Station

We also stopped and went inside the casino complex already open. There was an abundance of staff, gambling tables, slot machines, bars and restaurants, but hardly a customer inside.

This is in the middle of a National Park. There is more staff in there than customers, it't like in The Shining! — This is in the middle of a National Park. There is more staff in there than customers, it’t like in The Shining!

On the way down we stopped to learn about the planned developments at Bokor plains. This was the most jaw dropping thing of the day. We are deep inside a National Park and they are planning to build a city within this park, with two massive casino complexes and hundreds of luxury villas. Only in Cambodia, the land where if you have an idea and money, anything is possible.