8 Wonderful things to do in Kampot, Cambodia's laidback riverside town

Where to stay in Kampot

Rikitikitavi

Hotel Old Cinema

Montagne Residence

Kampot RiverInn Boutique Hotel

If you want to stay near the city centre, Guest House Blue Buddha Hotel is a great pick. If you want to experience life a little bit slow down, Eden Eco Village is perfect for relaxing and is located on the riverside.

The price you pay to spend a night in Kampot is really low, it varies from $6 to $25 for one night and the options are endless.

Have a look at booking.com to see the current rates for hotels in Kampot.

#1 Roam around Kampot City

Kampot is a small but charming city where you will find a lot of French colonial buildings being converted into guesthouses, bars or restaurants. Walking along the Kampot River and exploring the city centre gives you a good impression of authentic Cambodia. Another good option to explore Kampot is by bike. Because of the short distances, it is easy and fun to ride around town with a bike.

One thing we also noticed is the number of statues in the city and in particular the durian statue that has its own roundabout. Durian fruit is really popular in Kampot, so they honoured it with a statue.

#3 Join a Kampot River cruise

A city divided by a river always charms us. In that case, a river cruise couldn’t miss. When you do the Bokor Hill trip, a sunset river cruise + drink is included. But it is also possible to only do a river cruise if you inform the tourist offices.

Some offices call it the Firefly cruise, but do you want our honest opinion? It’s a joke, there were literally no flies at all. Nevertheless, the cruise was quite relaxed and amusing.

#4 Go on a day trip to Kep

Nearby Kampot you will find a lazy coastal city named Kep. The city is famous for its seafood and in particular for its crab. Besides the beach, this city has no big attractions. Kep can be a great day trip but also if you want to relax for a few days while enjoying the Cambodian food. For us, it is slow travel at its finest!

#5 Take a stroll around the Kampot Markets

Similar to Battambang, there is a Night Market in Kampot. The market has been renovated and is open for business. With a lot of stalls that sell everything, it is nice wandering around. Find a souvenir, buy some clothes or enjoy the local food and drinks.

Besides the Kampot Night Market, you have the old market. It’s a traditional market that primarily provides the locals with the usual products. Have a look and wander around to see some local procedures but watch your head the ceilings are low.

#6 Visit La Plantation | Taste Kampot Pepper

When in Kampot, Cambodia you have to visit a pepper plantation. Located in between amazing hills close to the sea is the perfect environment to grow these peppers. The Kampot region is famous for its “Kampot pepper”. The pepper is the finest in the world and has been awarded the Protected Geographical Indication status. Compare this with the fact that a wine can only be named champagne if it’s from Champagne (France).

Kampot pepper stands out with its unique flavour, high quality and strong taste. Walking through the vines and learning about the peppers is fun and you will also get to taste all the different types. After a visit, your love for this spice will grow. More information can be found at the La Plantation website or book your night here at this beautiful place.

#7 Sample traditional Cambodian food

When in Kampot, you can’t go around the smell of Kampot’s famous pepper. In every restaurant, you can eat this pepper, but we highly recommend Rikitikitavi for its traditional Khmer food. The restaurant is located on the riverside and also offers rooms.

Another Guesthouse and restaurant we really enjoyed is Pepe & the Viking. It is basically on the same street and is a place where you will feel very welcome.

We also recommend the hostel and restaurant GreenHouse; it is located across the river and on the right side of the main part of town.

#8 Visit the salt fields

Another fascinating thing to visit in Kampot are the salt fields. On your way to Kep, you will find a number of rice paddies that are currently being used as salt fields. The salt production is mostly done by hand and is from around the beginning of December to April. This is when it doesn’t rain too much.

How to get to Kampot

Sihanoukville to Kampot | Transportation in Cambodia is done best by bus. But if you travel from Sihanoukville to Kampot you will find out there is no bus line between those two cities. This means you have to travel by minivan or a private taxi. A minivan will cost you $6 and a private taxi will be between $30 and $35. The ride will take around 2,5 and 3 hours depending on how good the roads are and the amount of traffic.

Phnom Penh to Kampot | Going from Phnom Penh to Kampot offers more options. You can travel by bus, taxi and even by train. The bus will cost you anywhere around $10 and takes around 4 to 5 hours. A taxi from Phnom Penh to Kampot is one of the fastest ways to travel. It cost you between $30 and $50 and takes approximately 3,5 hours.

A nice alternative is to travel by train, the journey takes almost 5 hours but costs you only $6. The fun part about travelling by train is that you get to see a lot of the beautiful countryside Cambodia has to offer. If you pick this option, book your tickets direct at the train station.