Phnom Sampeau

Phnom Sampeau in local language translates to 'Ship mountain,' named due to its shape resembling a ship. During the Khmer Rouge rule between 1975 and 1979, approximately 3 millions of innocent were massacred by torture and thrown to death through the skylight above. Remnants of war, including a part of an aircraft wing present below, is oriented towards Phnom Krapau or The Crocodile Mountain, which was the strategic location of the Khmer Rouge during the war. Later, the pagoda at the top also served as a prison and torture centre during the Pol Pot-led era. Today, you can find many temple complexes and several viewpoints at the summit, famous for the sunset.

The Killing Caves of Phnom Sampeau, located halfway up the hill is now a place of pilgrimage. This cave consists of a giant statue of reclining golden Buddha at the centre. There is a memorial of human remains - hundreds of bones and skulls encased in a glass box, a haunting reminder of the dark past. Nearby, there is another memorial - a rusty cage made of chicken wire and cyclone fencing. The descent from this cave offers beautiful views of the greenery, including dramatic cliff edges, vines and views of the nearby hills in the horizon.

At the base of the hill,  there is a 15-meter high statue of Buddha carved out of a cliff, which remains incomplete due to the lack of funds. On the way up to the top, you'll come across big groups of macaques that feed on the nearby plantations. Avoid offering food or seeking their attention as they can get aggressive.

Beside Phnom Sampeau, there are several other groups of mountains including Phnom Krapeu, Phnom Trung Moan and Phnom Neang Romsay Sok, the mountain is famous for its legend on Romsay Sok.