Mondulkiri is a province in the remote northeastern highlands of Cambodia, known for its elephant sanctuaries, dense forests, waterfalls, and Bunong Indigenous communities. It’s Cambodia’s largest province by land area, and one of its least visited.
Elephant Sanctuaries
Mondulkiri is home to the country’s largest remaining wild and captive elephant population, and several sanctuaries operating here follow genuine welfare standards: no riding, no bullhooks, and elephants free to forage in their own territory.
The Mondulkiri Project, founded in 2014, is one of the most established of these. It offers four tour lengths — 1-day, 1.5-day, 2-day, and 3-day — combining elephant encounters with jungle trekking led by Bunong guides.
Natural Beauty and Wildlife
The province’s rugged terrain includes dense forests, rolling hills, and some of Cambodia’s most impressive waterfalls, with Bou Sraa the best known. Several protected areas — including the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Keo Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area — provide habitat for elephants, gibbons, and other endangered wildlife.
Bunong Culture
Mondulkiri is also known for its Indigenous communities, particularly the Bunong, who have lived in this region for generations. Visitors can learn about traditional farming practices, forest knowledge, and the long-standing relationship between the Bunong and the province’s elephants, often through guided treks and homestays.
Coffee and Ecotourism
Mondulkiri’s cool climate and red volcanic soil make it one of Cambodia’s best coffee-growing regions, with several farms open to visitors. Combined with its highland scenery and slower pace of life, the province has become a growing ecotourism destination for travellers looking for something different from Cambodia’s more visited lowland cities.
Overall, Mondulkiri offers a genuinely different side of Cambodia — cooler, quieter, and built around nature and community rather than temples or nightlife.
Looking for a full list of things to do once you arrive? See our complete guide to what to do in Mondulkiri.
