Kampot
THE QUICK VERDICT
Choose Kampot if You want a small, walkable Cambodian river town with a real food scene, the world's best pepper, and an abandoned hill-station drive on the doorstep..
- Best for
- Kampot Pepper plantation tours, Bokor National Park drive, Kep crab market lunches
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Budget anchor
- $50/day mid-range
- Skip if
- you rely on public transit
A drowsy riverside town on Cambodia's south coast where the Praek Tuek Chhu river curls past faded French shophouses and the Elephant Mountains rise abruptly inland. Kampot is the world capital of one specific thing: Kampot Pepper, a Protected Geographical Indication crop whose long-pepper, black, red, and white varieties end up on Michelin tables in Paris and Tokyo. Days are spent on plantation tours, kayaking the river, riding up to the abandoned French hill station and casino at Bokor National Park, or taking the 30-minute hop east to Kep for crab market lunches. The slowest, friendliest base in Cambodia.
Tours & Experiences
Bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Kampot
Where to Stay
Compare hotels and rentals in Kampot
📍 Points of Interest
At a Glance
- Pop.
- 47K (town) / 600K (province)
- Timezone
- Phnom Penh
- Dial
- +855
- Emergency
- 117 / 118
Kampot is the world capital of Kampot Pepper, one of Asia's first Protected Geographical Indication crops, granted full PGI status in 2010
The town sits on the Praek Tuek Chhu river about 5 km inland from the Gulf of Thailand, framed by the Damrei (Elephant) Mountains
Bokor National Park, 30 km west, contains the abandoned French hill station and Bokor Hill Casino, built in the 1920s and last fully occupied in the 1970s
Kep, the seaside crab-market town founded as a French colonial retreat in 1908, is a 30-minute drive east
Kampot's old quarter has the second-largest concentration of preserved French colonial shophouses in Cambodia after Battambang
Population of around 47,000 in town and 600,000 in the wider province — Cambodia's smallest provincial capital by city size
Top Sights
Kampot Pepper Plantations
📌Working farms 20-30 km outside town offer free guided tours covering harvesting, sun-drying, and the difference between black, red, and white pepper. La Plantation and Sothy's are the two best-known.
Bokor National Park
🌳A 1,500-metre plateau with the abandoned 1925 French hill station — Bokor Palace Hotel, ruined Catholic church, and the haunting Bokor Hill Casino. Cool 18-22°C air on the summit even in April.
Kep Crab Market
📌Kep's famous open-air seafood market 25 km east. Wooden traps haul live blue crab off the boat all morning; Kampot pepper crab is the must-order, served at picnic tables right on the water.
Phnom Chhnork Cave Temple
📌A 7th-century pre-Angkorian brick temple inside a limestone cave 8 km north of town. Local children act as informal guides for a few thousand riel.
Praek Tuek Chhu River
📌The slow river running through town. Sunset cruises with included beer, kayak rentals, and stand-up paddleboard tours all leave from the riverside.
Old French Quarter
📌A small grid south of the durian roundabout with two-storey mustard-and-ochre shophouses. Many now hold guesthouses, craft beer bars, and the Espresso Kampot coffee roaster.
Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay)
🏖️A 2 sq km low-key island 4 km off Kep with simple beach bungalows and excellent grilled seafood. Day trips from Kep pier are $7 round-trip.
Salt Fields of Kampot
🌳Vast flat salt-evaporation fields east of town between Kampot and Kep, worked by hand from December to April. Photographers love the late-afternoon light.
Off the Beaten Path
Espresso Kampot Roastery
A small specialty-coffee roastery on Old Market Street with single-origin espresso, cold-brew on tap, and the best flat white south of Phnom Penh. Beans are roasted on site weekly.
The Australian-Cambodian owner sources from Mondulkiri farms — a rare chance to drink genuinely local Cambodian specialty coffee.
Magic Sponge Pizza
A long-running guesthouse-pizzeria with a wood-fired oven in the back garden, $4 happy-hour cocktails, and a pool table. Open until late.
Has anchored the Kampot backpacker scene since 2012 — the unofficial town living room.
Kampot Pie & Ice Cream Palace
Chunky homemade pies, strong filter coffee, and a rotation of small-batch ice creams in flavours like Kampot pepper, durian, and palm sugar.
Quirky breakfast spot beloved by long-staying expats; the pepper ice cream is genuinely interesting.
Sunset Sail with Captain Chim
A 90-minute sunset cruise upriver on a converted wooden fishing boat, with included Angkor draft beer and onboard fireflies after dark.
The tributary up to the firefly-lit mangroves runs only when the dry-season tide is right; small boats catch flashes of phosphorescence in the water.
Climate & Best Time to Go
Kampot has a tropical monsoon climate moderated slightly by the sea breeze and the cool air falling off the Bokor plateau. The dry season from November to March is the best window. Temperatures stay between roughly 22°C and 32°C year-round, but humidity and afternoon storms ramp up sharply in the wet months.
Cool Dry Season
November - February72-88°F
22-31°C
The peak window, with cool mornings, warm dry days, and sea-breeze evenings. The salt fields are at their busiest and Bokor Mountain at its clearest.
Hot Dry Season
March - April75-93°F
24-34°C
Hot but bearable on the coast — the river and sea help. Drives up to Bokor are a welcome 18-22°C escape.
Wet Season
May - October75-90°F
24-32°C
Strong late-afternoon storms and high humidity. Pepper plantations are at their lushest and there is a brief wet-season harvest. Bokor is often shrouded in cloud.
Best Time to Visit
November through March. Cool dry mornings, warm sea-breeze afternoons, clear views from the Bokor summit, and the salt fields in full operation. February is the single best month if you want crowd-free Bokor and sunny days.
Cool Dry Season (November - February)
Crowds: Moderate — busiest time of year but still smallPeak window. Reliable sun, low humidity, and the most comfortable temperatures of the year. Weekend crowds from Phnom Penh fill the boutique riverside hotels.
Pros
- + Clearest weather of the year
- + Bokor summit clear most days
- + Salt fields in operation
- + Best sunset cruises
Cons
- − Higher hotel prices
- − Top boutique hotels book out for weekends
- − Pepper plantations busy with day-trippers
Hot Dry Season (March - April)
Crowds: Low except during Khmer New YearWarmer with hazier light, but still pleasant on the coast. Bokor stays a welcome 18-22°C even when Kampot pushes 34°C.
Pros
- + Cheaper rooms
- + Bokor day trips offer real heat relief
- + Pepper harvest peak in March
- + Mango season
Cons
- − Hot midday
- − Hazy light affects photography
- − Some businesses close for Khmer New Year mid-April
Wet Season (May - October)
Crowds: LowFrequent late-afternoon storms but green countryside and dramatic Bokor cloudscapes. The wet-season pepper harvest happens in August.
Pros
- + Lowest hotel prices
- + Vivid green plantations
- + Fewer tourists everywhere
- + Wet-season pepper harvest in August
Cons
- − Daily afternoon downpours
- − Bokor often cloud-bound
- − Salt fields out of operation
- − Mosquitoes more active
🎉 Festivals & Events
Kampot Pepper Harvest (peak)
February - MarchThe main dry-season harvest. Plantations are open every day with fresh green pepper available, and you can watch the sun-drying process turning it black.
Sea Festival (Bon Maha Sangkran)
December (rotates between coastal towns)A national festival celebrating Cambodia's coastline; Kampot has hosted in past years with concerts, food stalls, and boat parades.
Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey)
April 13-16The country's biggest holiday. Many local businesses close for 2-3 days; expect water-throwing on the streets.
Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
November (full moon)A national festival for the Tonle Sap reversal. Kampot stays calmer than Phnom Penh — a good time to visit if you want to skip the capital crowds.
Safety Breakdown
Moderate
out of 100
Kampot is one of the safest towns in Cambodia for travellers. Petty crime is rare by regional standards, the small old-quarter footprint is easy to navigate at night, and locals are used to long-staying foreigners. The biggest hazards are road traffic on the route to Bokor and on rented motorbikes.
Things to Know
- •The road up Bokor Mountain is steep and twisting; rent a 125cc bike only if you have real off-road riding experience
- •Always wear a helmet — provincial police now enforce on-the-spot fines
- •Watch for stray dogs and bicycles when walking riverside paths after dark
- •Use registered tuk-tuks via guesthouses or PassApp; freelance prices to Kep can be inflated
- •Avoid swimming directly in the Praek Tuek Chhu after heavy rains — runoff is significant
- •Drink only bottled or filtered water; ice in tourist cafes is generally safe
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
Police
117
Fire
118
Ambulance
119
Tourist Police (Kampot)
012 942 484
Costs & Currency
Where the money goes
USD per dayBackpacker = hostel dorm + street food + public transit. Mid-range = 3-star hotel + neighbourhood restaurants + transit cards. Luxury = 4/5-star + fine dining + taxis. How we calibrate these numbers →
Quick cost estimate
Customize per category →Estimates based on regional averages. Flight prices vary by season and airline.
budget
$18-30
Backpacker dorm, market and street meals, walking and shared tuk-tuks, free pepper-plantation visit
mid-range
$40-80
Riverside boutique room, restaurant dinners, full-day tuk-tuk plantation circuit, sunset cruise
luxury
$150-300
High-end resort stay (Le Bout du Monde, Villa Vedici), private guide, day trip to Bokor with car, fine dining at La Plantation
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| AccommodationHostel dorm bed | $5-9 | $5-9 |
| AccommodationBoutique guesthouse (double) | $25-60 | $25-60 |
| AccommodationResort or villa | $120-220 | $120-220 |
| FoodMarket noodle soup | 6,000 KHR | $1.50 |
| FoodLocal restaurant meal | $3-6 | $3-6 |
| FoodWestern or fusion restaurant | $7-12 | $7-12 |
| FoodKampot pepper crab in Kep (1 kg) | $15-22 | $15-22 |
| FoodDraft Cambodia beer | $0.50-1.50 | $0.50-1.50 |
| TransportTuk-tuk in town | $1-3 | $1-3 |
| TransportFull-day plantation circuit | $25-35 | $25-35 |
| TransportMotorbike rental (per day) | $5-8 | $5-8 |
| AttractionsBokor National Park entry | $2 | $2 |
| AttractionsPhnom Chhnork cave (kid guide tip) | 4,000-8,000 KHR | $1-2 |
| AttractionsSunset river cruise | $5-8 | $5-8 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •Pepper-plantation tours are free — you only spend if you buy pepper at the shop afterwards
- •Ride a $5 motorbike to Kep instead of paying $10-15 for a tuk-tuk
- •Eat at the food stalls inside the old market for under $2
- •Sunset cruises with included beer at $5-8 are some of Cambodia's best value
- •Bokor National Park entry is just $2 — drive your own bike to save the $25 group tour
- •Many guesthouses include free bicycle use with the room
- •Rabbit Island day trips are $7 round-trip from Kep pier; pack your own snacks
US Dollar / Cambodian Riel
Code: USD / KHR
Kampot, like the rest of Cambodia, runs on a dual-currency system. USD handles anything over $1, riel (about 4,100 KHR per USD) is used for change. ABA and ACLEDA ATMs in the old quarter dispense both. Bring clean post-2006 USD bills.
Payment Methods
Cash USD dominates; a few of the larger boutique hotels and plantations accept card. ABA Pay QR codes are widely scanned by locals if you set up an account. Carry small denominations for tuk-tuks and street food.
Tipping Guide
Not historically expected. 5-10 percent or rounding up is generous in tourist-focused places.
Not needed for short rides. For a full-day plantation circuit, $3-5 on top of the $25-35 fare.
$1 per bag for porters; $1 per night for housekeeping at boutique stays.
Tours are usually free with a hope that you buy pepper at the on-site shop; an extra $1-2 to a particularly good guide is welcome.
$1-2 per person to the captain on a $5-7 boat is standard.
How to Get There
✈️ Airports
Phnom Penh International Airport(PNH)
160 km northNo direct airport bus. Take Giant Ibis, Mekong Express, or Virak Buntham (3-4 hours, $8-15) from Phnom Penh's central terminals. Private taxi from PNH airport is $80-100.
✈️ Search flights to PNHSihanouk International Airport(KOS)
110 km westRide-hailing or shared taxi to central Sihanoukville (~$15) then onward bus to Kampot ($6-10, 2 hours). A growing alternative now that several Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur services have launched.
✈️ Search flights to KOS🚌 Bus Terminals
Various company offices in old quarter
Giant Ibis (premium), Mekong Express, Virak Buntham, and Champa Tourist depart from offices on Riverside Road. Phnom Penh (3-4h, $8-15), Sihanoukville (2h, $6-10), Ha Tien crossing for Vietnam (2h plus border, $10-15).
Getting Around
Kampot has no public bus or rail service inside the town. Tuk-tuks, motos, rented motorbikes, and bicycles cover everything. The compact old-quarter footprint means most travellers walk in the centre and rent a bike or motorbike for plantation and Bokor day trips.
Tuk-Tuk
$1-3 in town; $25-35 for a full-day circuit covering plantations, salt fields, and a cave templeStandard carriage tuk-tuks for in-town hops and full-day countryside circuits. Most guesthouses can arrange a half-day pepper-plantation-and-cave tour.
Best for: Day trips when you do not want to drive yourself
PassApp / Grab
$1-2 moto, $1.50-3 tuk-tukPassApp is the more reliable app in Kampot for tuk-tuks and motos with fixed fares. Grab coverage is patchier than in Phnom Penh.
Best for: Quick rides without negotiation; useful at night
Motorbike Rental
$5-8 per day (semi-auto); $10-15 (manual)A 110-125cc semi-automatic from any guesthouse opens up the entire province — pepper farms, the cave temples, the salt fields, and the Bokor road if you have experience.
Best for: Independent day trips around the province
Bicycle Rental
$1-2 per dayTown bikes from $1-2 per day. The flat riverside roads and salt fields make for an easy bike day; the Bokor climb is not realistic.
Best for: Old-quarter sightseeing and short flat rides
Walkability
The old quarter is roughly five blocks square and very pedestrian-friendly, with most cafes, bars, and guesthouses inside an easy 10-minute walk. Sidewalks are narrow but traffic is sleepy by Cambodian standards. The riverfront promenade is the standard sunset stroll.
Travel Connections
Kep
A drowsy seaside town built around the famous crab market, with Kep National Park hikes and Rabbit Island day trips. A common half-day from Kampot.
Phnom Penh
Cambodia's capital with the Royal Palace, S-21 museum, and Choeung Ek. The natural overland gateway to Kampot.
Sihanoukville
Cambodia's main coastal city and ferry gateway to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. The town itself has changed dramatically with casino development.
Ha Tien (Vietnam)
Direct bus crosses the Prek Chak / Xa Xia border into the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. From Ha Tien, ferries run to Phu Quoc.
Entry Requirements
Cambodia is one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia to enter. Most nationalities use the e-Visa or visa-on-arrival, both valid for a 30-day single-entry stay (extendable once for another 30 days). ASEAN passport holders enter visa-free.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Citizens | Yes | 30 days (extendable once) | e-Visa $36 online or visa-on-arrival $30 cash. Passport must be valid 6 months from entry. |
| US Citizens | Yes | 30 days (extendable once) | Same process and fees as UK travellers. |
| EU Citizens | Yes | 30 days (extendable once) | e-Visa or visa-on-arrival; bring one passport photo for VOA. |
| Australian Citizens | Yes | 30 days (extendable once) | Standard tourist process; same fees. |
| Canadian Citizens | Yes | 30 days (extendable once) | e-Visa or VOA, $30/$36. |
| ASEAN Citizens | Visa-free | 14-30 days | Visa-free under ASEAN bilateral agreements. |
| Indian Citizens | Yes | 30 days | e-Visa or VOA. Hotel booking and onward ticket may be requested. |
Visa-Free Entry
Visa on Arrival
Tips
- •Kampot itself has no airport; enter via Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, or overland from Vietnam at Prek Chak / Xa Xia
- •The Prek Chak / Xa Xia land border accepts e-Visa; double-check on the official portal before arrival
- •Carry exact USD cash for visa-on-arrival ($30) and one passport photo
- •Overstays cost $10 per day, paid in cash on departure
- •The 30-day tourist visa extends once for 30 days at the Phnom Penh Immigration Department for $45
Shopping
Kampot is a small-town shopping experience built around two markets, a few craft and pepper boutiques, and the plantations themselves. The province produces some of Cambodia's best pepper, salt, palm sugar, and durian — all sold direct at fair prices.
Kampot Old Market (Psar Chas)
traditional marketA compact wet market in the old quarter with fresh seafood, vegetables, and the cheapest pepper in town. Mornings only.
Known for: Live blue crab, Kampot pepper by the kilo, palm sugar
Psar Samakki (New Market)
wholesale marketThe larger general market north of the river, where locals shop. Produce, dry goods, electronics, and a bustling food court.
Known for: Fresh produce, household goods, cheap meals
Pepper Plantation Shops
specialist retailOn-site stores at La Plantation, Sothy's, and Bo Tree sell their own black, red, white, and long peppers in vacuum-sealed bags suitable for travel.
Known for: PGI-certified Kampot pepper in all four colours, salt-and-pepper gift sets
Old Quarter craft shops
boutiqueA handful of small independent boutiques scattered along Old Market Street selling kramas, bamboo homewares, and locally made coconut soaps.
Known for: Kramas, palm-leaf baskets, Kampot pepper soap
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •PGI-certified Kampot pepper (black, red, white, and long pepper) by the 100g pack
- •Kampot sea salt, harvested by hand at the local salt fields
- •Cambodian palm sugar in small clay or coconut-shell jars
- •Kampong Trach honey from the surrounding hills
- •Hand-woven kramas in regional checks
- •Kampot durian preserves and dried fruit
- •Pepper-infused spirits and pepper-and-honey chocolates
Language & Phrases
Khmer is non-tonal and uses its own script. English is widely spoken in the old quarter and at boutique stays; older market vendors and rural pepper-farm workers speak limited English. A few Khmer phrases are warmly received.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | សួស្តី (Suostei) | soo-uh-STAY |
| Thank you | អរគុណ (Aw kun) | aw-KOON |
| Yes (m) / Yes (f) | បាទ / ចាស (Baat / Chaas) | BAHT / CHAHS |
| No | ទេ (Te) | TAY |
| How much? | ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? (Tlai ponmaan?) | TLAI pon-MAHN |
| Pepper | ម្រេច (Mreich) | m-RAYCH |
| Crab | ក្ដាម (Ktaam) | k-TAHM |
| Delicious | ឆ្ងាញ់ (Chngañ) | ch-NYANG |
| Excuse me / Sorry | សុំទោស (Som toh) | SOHM TOH |
| Where is...? | នៅឯណា? (...neuv ae na?) | ...nuh ay NAH |
| Water | ទឹក (Teuk) | TUHK |
| The bill, please | សុំគិតលុយ (Som kit luy) | SOHM kit LOO-ee |
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