GUNUNG · Kamboja

Phnom Aural

ភ្នំឱរ៉ាល់

Information

Elevation: 1.813 m
Country: Kamboja (KH)
Location / Range: Pegunungan Cardamom (Krâvanh), Distrik Aoral, Provinsi Kampong Speu
Mountain type: Titik tertinggi Kamboja; puncak di bagian timur Pegunungan Cardamom
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 12.0319, 104.1706
Difficulty: Berat (non-teknis): trek panjang menembus hutan bambu curam dan lembap dengan beda tinggi besar; menuntut kebugaran, bukan keahlian teknis
Best Season: November–Maret (musim kering) — hujan deras membuat jalur sangat berat dan licin
Permits & Rules: Tidak ada izin khusus, tetapi pendakian praktis wajib memakai pemandu/porter lokal karena jalur tidak bertanda dan berada di Suaka Margasatwa Phnom Aural; tidak disarankan untuk pendaki solo
Hazards: Hutan bambu lebat tanpa penanda hingga mudah tersesat, kelembapan dan panas, lintah, serangga, sungai yang bisa meluap saat hujan, dan keterpencilan tanpa fasilitas darurat

Description

Phnom Aural (about 1,813 m) is the highest mountain in Cambodia, standing in the eastern part of the Cardamom Mountains in Aoral District, Kampong Speu Province. Though modest in height compared with other Asian peaks, climbing Phnom Aural is demanding: the trail splits into two very different sections — a dusty track for the first couple of hours, then a steep, humid, dense bamboo forest that requires real fitness and often takes about five hours to push through before the summit. The climb is usually done over two days with camping, or as a three-day expedition from Phnom Penh some 150 km away. The area is part of a wild wildlife sanctuary; trekkers may glimpse forest animals and pass the wreckage of a plane from the civil-war era. Because the trail is unmarked and easy to lose, a local guide is effectively essential and solo trips are discouraged. The best time is the November–March dry season, when rain does not turn the slopes to mud and insects are fewer.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Ekspedisi tiga hari dari Phnom Penh

Berat — versi berpemandu penuh dengan logistik perkemahan

3 hari (termasuk perjalanan darat ~150 km dari Phnom Penh)

A fully-supported expedition version that departs from Phnom Penh (about 150 km, roughly a 3-hour drive to the trailhead) and packages the climb into three days. This format allows more time to push through the Cardamom forest, camp, and enjoy the wild nature of the Phnom Aural wildlife sanctuary, including the chance to spot forest animals and pass the wreckage of a civil-war-era plane. It suits climbers from outside Cambodia who want logistics and guiding fully arranged.

Source

Rute normal dari desa kaki gunung (jalan tanah + hutan bambu) — 2 hari berkemah

Berat, non-teknis — beda tinggi besar lewat hutan bambu curam dan lembap

2 hari (berkemah) atau ~8 jam nonstop pulang-pergi bagi yang sangat bugar

The main route to the summit of Phnom Aural splits into two distinct terrains. The first part is a dusty track of about two hours that is relatively easy, followed by the longest and hardest section: a steep, dense, humid bamboo forest that usually takes around five hours to push through before reaching the roughly 1,813 m summit. Because of its length and difficulty, many climbers choose to camp and complete it over two days; the very fit can do a return trip in about eight hours. A local guide is virtually essential since the trail is unmarked.

Source

Climbing Experiences

The experience of climbing Phnom Aural centers on a contrast of two terrains: a dusty track at the start, then a long, tiring, steep and humid bamboo forest to Cambodia's highest summit. Recurring themes across videos and reports: it demands real fitness, a local guide is virtually essential because the trail is unmarked, it is usually done over two days with camping or as a three-day expedition from Phnom Penh, and the best window is the November–March dry season. Some climbers highlight the wild adventure of the Cardamom Mountains — forest wildlife and even the wreckage of a civil-war-era plane.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.