Overview
Pursat (Khmer: ខេត្តពោធិសាត់ – Khet Pursat) is the fourth biggest province of Cambodia. The province is located in the western part of the country and borders clockwise from the north with Battambang, the Tonle Sap Lake, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Koh Kong, and Thailand. Pursat offers a perfect access to both the Tonle Sap (just 35km far) and the Cardamom Mountains (right to the West).
The provincial capital of Pursat is also called Pursat town. The city is located right in the middle between the Tonle Sap and the Cardamom Mountains on the riverbanks of the Stung Pursat. There isn’t that much to do in that small town, so most of the tourists coming here are more or less on their way to Battambang or Phnom Penh.
For the time being, Pursat receives few travellers and the two main attractions, the Cardamoms and the Tonle Sap require a little initiative on the tourist’s part to visit. Pursat is predominantly accessible by the National Highway No 5 form Phnom Penh (174km) and Battambang (106km). There is also an old slowly train working between Phnom Penh and Battambang, which stops outside (2km) from Pursat.
The Tonle Sap : In Pursat you will have an opportunity to see one of the remarkedly touristy floating villages with less time and money. In fact, there are many floating villages in the province only accessible from the lake, Peach Kantil, Kbal Taol, and Prek Kr, However you can see Kampong Luong for the cost of the day-rate for a moto ($6-8)
Central Cardamoms : Pursat is a great place where you can adventure in ecological wonder, the massive Cardamom Mountains range. You can access Cardamoms moutain from Pursat is not too difficult as there is a road from Pursat to Veal Veng district, a small village between the Samkos and Aural Wildlife Sanctuaries. The journey is really worth it when you have drive even dont see much tourist. There’s no organized transport from Pursat to this place, but if you ask around you should eventually get satisfactory results.