Phnom Sankos Wildlife Sanctuary

The Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area of the Cardamom Mountains in western Cambodia, adjacent to the international border with Thailand. Located on the western part of the range, it contains mountainous terrain dominated by three discrete peaks: Cambodia's second highest peak, Phnom Samkos (1,717 m), Phnom Khmaoch (1,496 m) and Phnom Tumpor (1,250 m). The area includes an Important Bird Area.

Sandwiched between the Central Cardamoms Protected Forest and the Thai frontier, the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary (3338 sq km) is well and truly out in the sticks. It is threatened by timber laundering and agricultural concessions, but wildlife still abounds.

Boasting Cambodia’s second-highest peak, Phnom Samkos (1717m), the sanctuary’s main town is Pramoay (Veal Veng), 125km west of Pursat. This remote little outpost has three guesthouses (rooms US$5). Local moto drivers can take visitors to nearby ethnic-minority villages.

• Address: 8កម្ពុជា
• Area: 3,338 km²
• Hours: Open now
• Established: 1994