Has anyone been up on Bokor Mountain lately?
I seem to remember someone saying the road has been closed due to construction work now that Sok Kong is re-establishing a resort there.
I guess its a rumor (like the one that you must enter the park in the morning to make sure you come back before dark) but would like to be told if someone knows otherwise.
Road up Bokor Mountain Open?
Been there 3 weeks ago and the road was more worse then around 3 years ago. Though, since my drivings skills went up, now it was a piece of cake ;)
For everything less then a 250 CC Dirtbike, it's a challenge.
No major roadworks detected, though some parts might need some maintenance to allow minivans go up to the casino.
Road to the Waterfall is more or less blocked because of marode bridges. You might consider walking over these bridges, though I would not advise to go over it with any moving object. Just walk the last couple of 100 meters.
For everything less then a 250 CC Dirtbike, it's a challenge.
No major roadworks detected, though some parts might need some maintenance to allow minivans go up to the casino.
Road to the Waterfall is more or less blocked because of marode bridges. You might consider walking over these bridges, though I would not advise to go over it with any moving object. Just walk the last couple of 100 meters.
Its now about 2 weeks that I went to Bokor and, with relief, I can report that the road is at least as bad as it used to be. However, I did notice that they started widening the road at the bottom of the mountain and it looks like a major upgrade is under way. So go now and enjoy the bad road once again before its too late.
I would love to do that . . . for the first time. My last trip over there, I had to decide to take half a day going up the mountain or checking out the pepper fields to get myself a huge ass bag of Kampot pepper. I thought with my stomach first.
Don't hold your breath on that road. Lots of red tape on Bokor.
Don't hold your breath on that road. Lots of red tape on Bokor.
As an update, the road up Bokor remains closed except for group trips organized by local operators such as Sok Lim tours.
As mentioned in other topics, the road was opened to all during Chinese New Year. I had hope that the same would happen during Khmer New Year and I confirmed with a local source that this was indeed the case.
However, when I visited on 2 separate days during KNY on a dirt bike, I was not allowed up. The first time there was a crowd of about 20 men in uniforms of the PM's bodyguard unit. They acted tough and told us there was no way they would allow us up, even though my Khmer passenger made every effort to persuade them otherwise.
They said cars are allowed up during the holidays but not motorbikes or even bicycles. They also said they had orders from Phnom Penh and that this was due to people having accidents lately. We did hang out for a while and we were willing to bribe our way but no offer was made.
When we returned 2 days later, still holiday, there were only 3 uniformed men and they were similarly clear that they would not let us drive up the mountain. They also told us a few people had gotten past them hiding bicycles in a car and later cycling up the road but they were picked up shortly after, taken down and given problems. Thats what they said.
I conclude that it is likely the road will be opened to private visitors with their own vehicles again during future holidays but likely the same exclusion for motorbikes will apply.
It does not surprise me that people have accidents on this road and there must have been even more of them before the recent upgrade. It does strike me as unjust that even Cambodian's wanting to visit one of their natural and historical monuments (before it is transformed and possibly, destructed, by a 1 billion investment) are only allowed to do so if they own their own car. A motorbike, the most common mode of transportation in Cambodia, is not good enough, even for those able to afford gas prices.
As for the 1 billion investment, fewer than 4 weeks ago there was a poorly worded job posting in the Cambodia Daily for the position of master planner for the Bokor project. It strikes me as remarkable that a concession to a part of a national park was granted without not only a plan but with not even a planner in place, and that they would close the road months before they start looking for someone to come up with a plan.
As mentioned in other topics, the road was opened to all during Chinese New Year. I had hope that the same would happen during Khmer New Year and I confirmed with a local source that this was indeed the case.
However, when I visited on 2 separate days during KNY on a dirt bike, I was not allowed up. The first time there was a crowd of about 20 men in uniforms of the PM's bodyguard unit. They acted tough and told us there was no way they would allow us up, even though my Khmer passenger made every effort to persuade them otherwise.
They said cars are allowed up during the holidays but not motorbikes or even bicycles. They also said they had orders from Phnom Penh and that this was due to people having accidents lately. We did hang out for a while and we were willing to bribe our way but no offer was made.
When we returned 2 days later, still holiday, there were only 3 uniformed men and they were similarly clear that they would not let us drive up the mountain. They also told us a few people had gotten past them hiding bicycles in a car and later cycling up the road but they were picked up shortly after, taken down and given problems. Thats what they said.
I conclude that it is likely the road will be opened to private visitors with their own vehicles again during future holidays but likely the same exclusion for motorbikes will apply.
It does not surprise me that people have accidents on this road and there must have been even more of them before the recent upgrade. It does strike me as unjust that even Cambodian's wanting to visit one of their natural and historical monuments (before it is transformed and possibly, destructed, by a 1 billion investment) are only allowed to do so if they own their own car. A motorbike, the most common mode of transportation in Cambodia, is not good enough, even for those able to afford gas prices.
As for the 1 billion investment, fewer than 4 weeks ago there was a poorly worded job posting in the Cambodia Daily for the position of master planner for the Bokor project. It strikes me as remarkable that a concession to a part of a national park was granted without not only a plan but with not even a planner in place, and that they would close the road months before they start looking for someone to come up with a plan.
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Thanks for the updateAs an update, the road up Bokor remains closed except for group trips organized by local operators such as Sok Lim tours
I cant blame the security for disallowing motorbikes up the hill while roadworks are in progress.
It was dangerous enough before that and foriegners ending up dead/badly injured is a big headache for the local authorities.
Logic would suggest that the local tour operators/drivers are familiar with the track and obstacles so thats a safer bet to get people up there.
That said, I can understand your disappointment at not being allowed to ride up there. Done it a few times myself and its a great ride.
Previously there were many Camry's going up but the modified ones with stronger springs and shock absorbers. I have also seen luxury SUVs doing it before they started improving the road.
While I was waiting at the gate, the police told visitors that they can get now to the top in about 1 hour. Previously it was at least 2 1/2 for a car so there must be great improvement in road quality. Koastal reported in another topic that he made it in 30 min. (or was it someone else?).
So, yes, I think a regular Camry can make it, though I have not actually seen the road since the improvement.
While I was waiting at the gate, the police told visitors that they can get now to the top in about 1 hour. Previously it was at least 2 1/2 for a car so there must be great improvement in road quality. Koastal reported in another topic that he made it in 30 min. (or was it someone else?).
So, yes, I think a regular Camry can make it, though I have not actually seen the road since the improvement.
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We went up the saturday before new year for the normal $5 per person fee and were the only people up there; though as above that was in a truck not by bike. Mr DR tried to enter with bikes yesterday and wasn't allowed so they switched to the truck and went in without a problem.
The road is now pretty good and I'd say wouldn't be too hard for a Camry. The first half (up to where the old fruit plantation used to be) is decent red dirt, the second half which used to be all that broken and jagged tarmac has now been filled in with sand making it a lot easier for cars. That said with the widening of the road and the improved conditions I can see more accidents as likely.. There are however a lot of signs and ticker tape marking off bends (it's a lot scarier though without all that vegetation to hide the drops and give you a false sense of security.
It was very funny to see the 'danger! No Entry!' signs to the casino though considering how many people have been in there over the years...
The road is now pretty good and I'd say wouldn't be too hard for a Camry. The first half (up to where the old fruit plantation used to be) is decent red dirt, the second half which used to be all that broken and jagged tarmac has now been filled in with sand making it a lot easier for cars. That said with the widening of the road and the improved conditions I can see more accidents as likely.. There are however a lot of signs and ticker tape marking off bends (it's a lot scarier though without all that vegetation to hide the drops and give you a false sense of security.
It was very funny to see the 'danger! No Entry!' signs to the casino though considering how many people have been in there over the years...
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There's a good article in the post about it, with a nice helicopter shot by Cat Barton. Not quite sure what is meant by this :
From : PhnomPenhPost
So they are preserving the French colonial buildings, which are mostly a bunch of crap, but knocking down the casino, which was the only one worth keeping.The importance of preservation is emphasized repeatedly by Sok Kong and his employees. The French colonial buildings will be preserved; their outer shells strengthened and the insides ripped out in line with UNESCO recommendations.
When restored, the original hotel will offer a small number of higher priced luxury rooms.
“We will knock down the casino,” Sok Kong says. The original building is to be replaced with a purpose-built, 3,000-square-foot casino so the new development can capitalize on the long-standing reputation of Bokor as a high-end gambling retreat.
From : PhnomPenhPost
Who Gives a Fuck?
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