Discover Cambodia Peaks and Forests: Summit Phnom Aoral 1813m, Highest peak of Cambodia.

This is the second commitment for 2015 after my second summit of Phnom Tbeng in May. The idea was pop up by the time when I was trekking on Phnom Tbeng, I was thinking about challenge myself and raise the bar despite the fact that I'm not a regular trekker.

Terrain View of Aoral Mountain, Google Maps

Phnom Aural is the tallest peak in Cambodia. It is 1,813 meters tall. It is in the eastern part of the Cardamom Mountains. This mountain in located in Aoral District, Kampong Speu Province.

I started to dream about achieving this goal week after week in late May. After trying a few week search for the local contact person either local villager or local ranger who can guide us to the top of Phnom Aoral, I realized that it's a big challenge to get only the contact number and name of these guys. I have tried different approaches from contact many trekkers who has summit Phnom Aoral to the local conservation NGOs (FFI, WildAid, Conservation International..etc), finally I have a few contact point yet it useless as it's not the right person who I'm looking for.

In parallel, I have announced the date of our trip on June 18 to 20 on my Facebook account hoping to gather any potential hiker and trekker who interested to join the trip with me. And they can help me to find the local contact. I have around 10 people who are interested to join the trip yet finally we only have 4 people in the team, those are Me, San, Lay and Kimchhay.

Fortunately, one week before the set date, I have tried to reach my friend at National Assembly of Cambodia and she has gave me the list of staff of ministry of environment in Kampong Speu province, boom I got it and I have arrange the trip with the guy. The agreement on the price was $20 per ranger per day, Oh yeah, it was within our expectation. I have spread the good news for the team and ask them to be prepared by share them the checklist and how to deal with the leech sharing by Mr. Samorn who has experienced in Areng, Koh Kong.

Day 1:

After finish our breakfast and chitchat, we departure from Kampuchea Krom Blvd, Phnom Penh around 8:20 by old van which usual transport goods with no AC, It's a 50km drive.

We arrive at taxi station in Kompong Speu around 9:50 then we catch new taxi to Katuot roundabout in Aoral district it took us 1 hour to get there via road 44. I've been amazed by the landscape along the way.

We arrive at the ministry of environment and wait for the ranger, a few minutes later he come with his own motorbike and other 3 motor taxi drivers. Unexpectedly he ask for the price $100 for each motor taxi and the ranger himself charge $40 per day. After negotiation during the lunch, we have reached agreement with the price. We leave Katout around 12:50 by 4 motorbikes toward Spien Dek, you can see some view and video as below:

By 13:15, We have arrived at the starting point of bumpy and floody road which will eventually lead us to Srea Kan village and ultimately the foot of the mountain. After a few minute rides, the sky is darker and darker and it started to rain.

The road is very difficult and worst during the raining season, here are some photos

In this video below you can see Phnom Aoral from the road, it look scary during the raining season.

When we get deeper and deeper, the road is more tougher for us. We need to ride through the forest and cross a few rivers.

After 3 hours ride, at around 16:30 we have reach the foot of the mountain. Without further delay, our team have prepared their stuff and anti leech by spraying the mosquito spray and mosquito repellent. It still raining and we start the trekking.

Relax a few minute before moving on

My shirt is getting wet by the rain and my sweat.

Selfie even despite the tiredness

Around 17:27, we have met Mykhailo, a mountaineer from Ukraine. The ranger told us that this is his second summit of Phnom Aoral, he walks very fast like mountain ghost. I have take this opportunity to interview him about his impression of Phnom Aoral. He's one among three people, we have met during the trekking to the summit of Phnom Aoral within these three days.

At 17:40, we reach base camp 1 (Domnak Barang, follow this link for the GPS coordination https://goo.gl/maps/WSKGG , we have to sleep here for the first night. As the it's getting darker, we haven't had chance to take a shower. We have instant noodle for our dinner.

This is our 1000 stars hotel for tonight

Our Kitchen on Phnom Aoral

It a 5 minutes walk to the water stream, where we take water for our soup

Ranger makes fire for us to boil water and cook our instant noodle

When I take off my shoes, I found something strange happen.

After dinner and chit chat, we're all fall asleep. The sound of the night is very natural. We all wake up after midnight as the temperature drop and it's bloody cold.

Day 2:

We wake up at 6:00 and have instant noodle for our breakfast. After that we have pack our stuff and continue our trekking at 7:30 to base camp 2 (Domnak Ta Ey Sey).

I have a new friend visit me in early morning.

This is our luxury hotel.

I have instant noodle again for breakfast, Phnom Aoral

pack our stuff before continue to base camp 2

I would say this is the most challenge part of the trip as the slope is deep (up to 55 degree angle) with bamboo forest along the way up the hill. It also the most rewarding part of the trip as you can see the bird-eyes view of landscapes from 760 meters.

Look fun when first start

You can see how deep it is

We reached there around 7:53. After the short break and enjoy the view, we continue our journey with another half tough way up to base camp 2.

Here is the reward for me

After the tough slop, we continue the trip with flat surface. Around 9:52, we take a rest at "Elephant route" where ranger believe that this route was traced by elephant in the past. We can see that there are some big stone around there.

It was 3 hours ascend, At 10:50 we reach old base camp 2 and we continue another 20 minutes to base camp 2 (Domnak Ta Ey Sey), where we going to spend our night. It was a bit exhausted yet we have made it to base camp 2, great job.

Our ranger make fire and we go together to bring water for cooking rice and food, which took us around 15 minutes walk to reach source of water. We're cooking under the rain. When the food was ready, we enjoy it together, please enjoy with us with the photo below:

After a quick lunch, we have prepared only necessary gadgets (Flashlight, Water and some snack) which we need to bring to the top of the mountain. The final ascent start from 14:30.

The ascent was not that tough as from base camp 1 to base camp 2, yet the weather was cold, foggy, wet and very slippery. I had not have chance to take much photo from here.

Where elder believe that Ta Ey Sey stay here

After 2 hours hike, at 16:30, we arrived at the top of Cambodia (Summit of Phnom Aoral). It's foggy and cold. I shout out that "Yeah, We made it".

Look fragile stone yet it is one stone

Group Photo for achieved "Summit Phnom Aoral"

Buddha Stupas in the pogoda

At 17:15, we started to descent as the sky getting darker and the rain started to rain, it's was the quick descent with running down the hill.

After 1:15min quick descent, we arrive at the base camp 2 around 18:30 and it's dark already.

After we make sure we don't have leech, we go to bed. What a tired day, yet we've made it. My battery are all gone, therefore no photo and video at night.

Day 3:
Wake up in the morning around 8:20, after having breakfast and pack our stuff we start to descent to the foot of the mountain.