A Hidden Gem | 7 Reasons to Visit Kampot Riverside Town

Is Kampot Worth Visiting?

Absolutely!

Cambodia is one of the most affordable countries to visit in Southeast Asia, offering great food, stunning islands, and fascinating countryside to explore. Once you arrive, you might not want to leave! Kampot, is a hidden gem. A charming and laid-back town nestled along a tranquil river, is the perfect destination for relaxation, adventure, and culture.

7 Fantastic Things to Do in Kampot

1. Enjoy the Sleepiness: Embrace Kampot’s slow pace of life. Cycle through wide streets, lounge in a hammock by the river, or simply soak in the town’s tranquil vibe.
2. Take a Day Trip to Kep and Rabbit Island: Explore Kep’s famous crab market and butterfly-filled national park, then hop on a boat to serene Rabbit Island for a peaceful escape.
3. Enjoy Kampot’s River: Kayak, paddleboard, or take a sunset cruise along the Praek Tuek Chhu River. It’s the perfect way to soak in Kampot’s natural beauty.
4. Sample the Delicious Food: From street food like baguettes and sugarcane juice to cooking classes, Kampot is a paradise for food lovers.
5. Visit the Salt Fields: Discover how salt is harvested in the unique fields just outside town. It’s a fascinating glimpse into local life.
6. Visit a Kampot Pepper Farm: Learn about Kampot’s world-famous pepper at a local plantation. See how green berries are sun-dried to make black pepper and red peppercorns are processed into white pepper.
7. Take a Yoga Class: Unwind with a yoga session at Banteay Srey, a riverside spa with stunning views. It’s a peaceful way to recharge and connect with nature.

Kampot is not just about lounging with a drink in hand—it’s a vibrant town with something for everyone. Whether you’re into outdoor adventures, art, tattoos, or live music, Kampot will keep you busy. As one of Cambodia’s top foodie destinations, it’s a must-visit gem that combines relaxation, adventure, and culture.

Where is Kampot?

Map

Kampot ( ក្រុងកំពត) is located in the southern part of Cambodia on the Praek Tuek Chhu River. Once the capital of the Circonscription Résidentielle de Kampot was under French rule. Kampot has kept many of its old colonial buildings.

It is also famous for its high-quality pepper, which is exported worldwide. It is also known for its fish sauce and durian.

The government and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art have been preparing documents to nominate the Old Town of Kampot for admission to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.  Along with the Old Town of Battambang and the Old Town of Kratie.

Planning your trip here?

From Phnom Penh to Kampot

• Bus: Minibuses take 3-5 hours ($12). Giant Ibis is a reliable option with free Wi-Fi and power outlets.

• Train: A scenic 4-hour, 40-minute journey ($7). Departures are at 7:00 AM daily. Train schedule

• Taxi: Costs $35-80, depending on the season and booking method.

From Sihanoukville to Kampot

• Bus: Minivans take 2.5 hours ($7).

• Train: A quick 1-hour, 40-minute ride ($7). Departures are at 2:00 PM daily. Train schedule

• Taxi: Costs $45-65, depending on the season.

From Kep to Kampot

• Tuk-tuk: $10-15 one way (30 minutes).

• Motorbike: $5 per day.

• Taxi: $20 for a 45-minute journey.

Nearest Airport

Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS) is the closest, with flights from Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, and Kuala Lumpur.

When is best to visit Kampot

• High Season (November-January): Pleasant weather, but busier and slightly more expensive.

• Hot Season (March-May): The hottest time of the year, just before the rainy season.

• Monsoon Season (July-November): Heavy rains, especially in September, but fewer tourists and lush green landscapes.

7 Wonderful Things to Do in Kampot, Cambodia

1 – Enjoy the Sleepiness

Kampot’s sleepiness is part of its charm as there is minimal traffic It is easy to get around. The streets are wide so they are perfect for riding a bicycle. Life is slow here and with being slow comes lazing in hammocks or swimming in the river.

The charming and sometimes old architecture is a mix of French colonial and Chinese-style buildings. Shutters of fading blue and green catch your eye. Pink bougainvillaea blossoms on trees, it feels the town with splendour.

Kampot is the perfect place for digital nomads with many places offering free WIFI if you buy food or drinks at the establishment. As there are several expats living here you can find amazing restaurants with all varieties of food, cool cafes, and even some of your comforts from home.

2 – Take a Day Trip to Kep and Rabbit Island

Kep is another sleepy town but on the coast being only 30 minutes from Kampot it is easy to get to. Kep is known for its crab market and butterfly-filled Kep National Park. Also, it has some luxury places to stay away from the hustle and bustle of Kampot.

From Kep, you can take a 30-minute boat ride for about $25 for the whole boat to Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay). Which is a tranquil place to spend the day or a night or two. But there is no electricity during the day. It is a true getaway as you bask in the glow of the sunset while holding a cocktail.

You can also catch the crab shuttle from Kampot if you prefer to just go straight to the island.

3 – Enjoy Kampot’s River

Exploring and having fun on Kampot’s river is one of the best Kampot activities. You can choose your adventure, whether that is spending lazy afternoons in a peaceful riverside location, kayaking down the river, stand-up paddle boarding, or swimming. Champa Lodge rents out kayaks and paddleboards starting from $3 an hour.

If you feel like watching the sunset from a boat you can take a sunset and firefly river cruise ($5). Also, many guesthouses can arrange guided trips on a wooden longtail boat if you want to go at your own pace.

4 – Sample the delicious food

You can find everything from burgers, pizzas, chicken and even pies. Many street sellers also sell baguettes, freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, sweet potato cakes, and steamed corn on the cob.

You could also take a cooking class that will let you sample the local market so you can learn how to cook Khmer cuisine.

5 – Visit the Salt Fields

There is also plenty to do in Kampot’s surrounding countryside and the countryside starts just minutes outside town. To explore, you can take a guided tour or hire a motorbike. Potholed tarmac turns to orange dirt and concrete houses become bamboo shacks or stilted wooden huts. It is a land of rice paddies, palm trees, water buffalo and humped white cows, waving children and salt field workers.

Kampot is the land of salt and pepper. The salt fields are just outside of town and one of the most interesting places to visit in Kampot. Saltwater is brought from the sea 5km away into prepared clay fields and left to evaporate until salt crystals form.

6 – Visit a Kampot Pepper Farm

Further afield towards the beach town, Kep are pepper plantations that produce some of the best pepper in the world. The green berries are sun-dried to make black pepper, while the riper red peppercorns are boiled to remove the skin leaving the white pepper seed inside.

7 – Take a Yoga Class

Visit the women’s only spa Banteay Srey, a refuge and training centre for young women from difficult backgrounds to help them improve their lives. It is the perfect location for yoga—an open-sided upper level of a wooden house with views of the garden and river. It is great value at $5 and takes place every day at 9.00 am. They also have a little oasis spa which is a lovely place to get a massage or treatment, have lunch in the vegetarian cafe, and relax on their comfortable riverside deck.

Takeaway

Kampot is a hidden gem that offers a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and culture. Whether you’re exploring the countryside, savoring local flavors, or simply soaking in the laid-back vibe, Kampot is a must-visit destination in Cambodia.