10 of the Best Things to do in Kampot, Cambodia

Coming upon Kampot in the south of Cambodia was such a pleasant surprise.  Originally having planned to travel from Phnom Penh to  Koh Rong (Cambodia’s premiere island), with dreary weather ahead I made a detour to Kampot to stay in a bungalow on the river and just… relax.

And relax I did!

This region of Cambodia is absolutely beautiful and it’s contains the perfect mix of excitement and relaxation.  It’s a destination that should surely be added to any Cambodia itinerary and can be explored in as little as two days.  Here are 10 of the best things to do in Kampot, Cambodia.

 

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How to Get to Kampot

Bus travel through Cambodia is easy and depending where you’re coming from in Cambodia you can easily take one (or two) buses to reach Kampot.  Like I mentioned earlier, I traveled from Phnom Penh to Kampot, an easy, three-hour ride south.  When searching for buses in Cambodia, I prefer to use Bookaway or 12Go to compare different options and prices.

Other popular routes to reach Kampot include…

• Sihanoukville to Kampot – 3.5 hours
• Siem Reap to Kampot – 7.5 hours
• Battambang to Kampot – 7 hours (you will need to book two buses for this journey from Battambang to Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh to Kampot)

Please note, traveling by bus will take longer than a typical car ride.  You can expect to add 1-2 hours of time onto your trip, and more time if you have to change buses.

 

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING TO KAMPOT FROM PHNOM PENH, DON’T MISS:

• 1 Day Phnom Penh Itinerary

 

BOOK YOUR BUS TICKET TO KAMPOT HERE

 

Where to Stay in Kampot

Kampot has so many incredible boutique hotels and bungalows on the river.  If you’re visiting Kampot I think the first question to ask yourself is if you want to stay on the river – which is a bit further from town and more secluded.  Or do you want to stay in town near all of the action?

I chose a bungalow on the river – Kampot Riverfront Boutique – and couldn’t have enjoyed it more.  With kayaks and paddleboards included; plus the option to rent a motorbike daily, it was the perfect stay – secluded yet accessible.

If you’d rather stay in town, I recommend Hotel Old Cinema.  It’s an old cinema that has been transformed into a hotel – in the heart of Kampot.  The design of the hotel is beautiful, plus you can also enjoy the pool on hot days.

My last recommendation would be to stay at one of the four bungalows located on the pepper farm – Ville de La Plantation.  La Plantation is a beautiful property and much more remote than the other two hotels mentioned.  If you want a serene getaway on a property that has an incredible restaurant, a private pool, and mountain views, I urge you to check out Ville de La Plantation.

 

When to Visit Kampot

The best time to visit Kampot is during dry season which lasts from November-May.  The hottest month in Cambodia is April and the coolest is in January.  Peak travel season lasts from January-March, so if you want to avoid the crowds and increased hotel prices, I’d avoid those months.

I visited Kampot in October and did experience scattered thunderstorms, but it was never bad enough that it ruined my trip.  The upside was that there were very few tourists so I had my choosing of hotels and the hotel prices were affordable.

 

Things to See & do in Kampot

 

1.  Check into a Relaxing Stay on the River

I’m partial to checking into a bungalow and just relaxing for a few days.  Kampot is very peaceful with the Praek Tuek Chhu River running through town and the Elephant Mountain Range in the backdrop.  This makes for a peaceful atmosphere with the opportunity to participate in fun water activities.

I stayed at Kampot Riverfront Boutique and would highly recommend it.  With a hammock, swing, river access, outdoor seating, kayaks, and paddleboards, it’s a great place to stay and experience nature.

 

2.  Day Trip to Kep

Kep is a small beach town located about 45-minutes southeast from Kampot.  Kep is known for its delicious seafood, with the star of the show being crab.  The crab here is so good, even if you don’t care about hanging out at the beach, Kep is worth the visit just for a crab lunch.

If you want to spend an entire day in Kep, get started early so that you can enjoy time at the beach!  As for things to do in Kep, when you arrive I suggest heading straight to the Kep Crab Market to see locals making food, selling seafood, and just hanging around.  It’s one of the more interesting markets I’ve visited in Southeast Asia.  Of note, you can buy crab here and then ask a street vendor to cook it for you instead of eating at a restaurant.  (This is a great option for budget travelers who still want to try the local cuisine).  However, I highly suggest heading to Holy Crab for lunch.

Holy Crab is located just a few steps from the Crab Market and well worth the visit.  The amok crab – a Khmer speciality – is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.  And if you’re traveling with someone else, I also recommend the pepper crab dish which is a Kep specialty.

To end the day head to Kep Beach where you can pay $5 to rent an umbrella and chair or a hammock.  If you want both a chair and a hammock you’ll have to cough up $10.

To get to Kep from Kampot I would recommend renting a motorbike for the day.  This should cost you around $4-$8 – not including gas.  Kep isn’t very walkable so you will need some form of transportation to get around.  Another option would be to hire a private tuktuk driver for the day.

 

3.  Visit a Pepper Farm

Looking back at my time in Cambodia, visiting a Kampot pepper farm is probably my favorite memory of all of my Cambodian travels.  La Plantation is a pepper farm located about 40-minutes east of Kampot in the countryside and it’s surrounded by beautiful palm trees, mountain views, and just complete remoteness.

Kampot is famous for pepper so it’s fun to be able to tour a farm and learn about what it takes to grow pepper and taste the different types of pepper (yes, there’s different types of pepper, something I didn’t know before this!).  At La Plantation the pepper tour is free but I highly recommend staying for lunch.  The food at the restaurant is delicious!  (You can also spend the night at one of the four bungalows that have recently been built).

 

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4.  Kayak the Green Cathedral

The best way to get out on the water in Kampot is to head to the Green Cathedral where you can rent kayaks for around $3-$6 from one of the guesthouses (if you’re a guest of one of the guesthouses, it will be cheaper) and kayak through beautiful mangroves.  Also known as the Green Loop, the Green Cathedral is a 3 km stretch of inland waterway which is an offshoot of the Tuek Chhu River.  Kayaking the entire loop should take you around 1.5-2 hours.

 

5.  Walk Around Kampot Town

Of course when you visit Kampot I urge you to walk around the town – it’s very small and easily walkable!  Here you’ll notice outdoor markets, bars, restaurants, and beautiful old French colonial-era architecture.  It’s a true treat to walk around this beautiful, sleepy town; take some time to appreciate it!

 

6.  Eat Traditional Cambodian Food

Cambodian food (or Khmer food) is truly a delight.  (It’s actually one of the things that impressed me most with the country!).  The beef lok lak and fish amok dishes are mouth-watering.  And in Kampot, the food gets even better.  The Kampot Province specializes in both pepper and seafood – and when you combine these two things… heaven.

When you visit Kampot you can expect to choose from a variety of fresh seafood and if you see “peppered” on the menu, make sure to try it!  Two of my favorite restaurants in Kampot were Kampot Seafood & Pepper and Vanna Restaurant & Bar.

 

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7.  Eat Italian Food (Cooked by an Italian)

Now you might be thinking, “Why would I travel to Cambodia to eat Italian food?” – but hear me out!  When do you ever get to go into an Italian’s home and have them cook Italian food for you?  You can get exactly that in Kampot at Ciao.  There’s an expat from a town outside of Rome living in Kampot and cooking real Italian food from his home and you can get in on the action.  The meatballs and the two-cheese pepper sauce were both fabulous!

 

8.  Visit the Phnom Chhngok Cave

There are caves all over Southeast Asia so there’s no surprise that you’ll find a cave in Kampot.  Located near the pepper farm – La Plantation, you can venture to the Phnom Chhngok Cave.  In my opinion, this cave wasn’t anything special or anything to go out of your way for, but my boyfriend is an avid cave-goer and he seemed to like it so I figured I’d add it on the list.

When you arrive you can park your motorbike for 0.50 cents.  If you want to go down the cave – which I would suggest –  you can hire a local kid to show you around.  You don’t need to hire a kid but if you aren’t too familiar with caves, I’d recommend it.  The cave is very dark and you might get hurt scrambling down the rocks (the kids will show you exactly where to put your hands and feet).

 

9.  Rent a Motorbike to Explore Kampot & the Surrounding Area

If you’re feeling adventurous, I highly recommend renting a motorbike to explore the province.  You can rent from any guesthouse (they’ll most likely increase the price) or you can rent from T-DA Motor Bike Rental for around $5/day.

If you’re exploring on motorbike, make sure to venture to a pepper farm, explore Kep, and up to Bokor Mountain to see some interesting ruins at Bokor National Park.

 

IF MOTORBIKING ISN’T YOUR THING, INSTEAD JOIN A BIKE TOUR TO SEE THE CAMBODIAN COUNTRYSIDE!

 

10.  Drive Around the Giant Durian

Driving around the giant durian in town always put a smile on my face.  The structure pays homage to the regions fertile soil and climate which is perfect for growing durian.  And whether or not you’ve tried durian and you love it or hate it (I for one, HATE IT) – circling this giant durian in town is sure to bring a smile to your face.  It’s just so… random.

 

What to Pack for Kampot

Below you’ll find my recommendations for what to pack when you visit Kampot…

• Bug spray
• Sunscreen (face and body)
• Sunglasses
• Beach towel
• Lock (to lock belongings at the beach)
• Waterproof phone case
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Beach shoes
• Swimming suit

 

For a complete Cambodia packing list, don’t miss:

• The Ultimate Cambodia Packing List

 

FAQ

• Q:  “Is Kampot worth a visit?”

  • A:  Absolutely!  Kampot is such a gem in Cambodia, I highly recommend spending a couple of days here relaxing.

• Q:  “How long should you spend in Kampot?”

  • A:  I would say the minimum amount of time you need to truly relax and enjoy Kampot is two nights, three days.  If you have the time however, I’d recommend three nights so you can truly move slowly through the region and enjoy the beauty of Kampot.

• Q:  “Why should we visit Kampot?”

  • A:  Cambodia is incredible for so many reasons – beautiful temples, history, ancient towns, the works!  But Cambodia is also an incredible country to just sit back and relax; and Kampot is just the place to do that.  There is so much beauty in the Kampot Province that it’s a great way to not only see Cambodia, but see rural Cambodia too.  It’s a true treat to be able to visit Kampot.

 

Cambodia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know When Visiting Cambodia

 

I hope that this post has convinced you to venture to Kampot.  There are plenty of things to do in Kampot and it’s truly a gem in Cambodia.  If you have any questions about visiting, let me know in the comments below!

 

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A TRIP THROUGH CAMBODIA, DON’T MISS:

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Cambodia
• The Ultimate 10 Day Cambodia Itinerary
• A Complete Battambang Itinerary – Everything You Need to Know About Visiting
• What You Need to Know About Visiting Angkor Wat
• The Ultimate 3 Day Siem Reap Itinerary

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Kampot, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppincambodia” or under my highlights for “Cambodia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Cambodia” highlight

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