Kampot is a small, easygoing riverside town in southern Cambodia, about 5 km (3 miles) inland from the Gulf of Thailand, where faded French colonial shophouses line the banks of the Praek Tuek Chhu river beneath the forested slopes of Bokor Mountain. It is one of the country’s favorite places to slow down: days here mean sunset boat trips on the river, kayaking and paddleboarding, cycling through rice fields and salt flats, visiting the cave temple of Phnom Chhnork and the farms that grow Kampot pepper, prized by chefs around the world and protected as a geographical indication. Above town, Bokor National Park holds the eerie ruins of a 1920s French hill station, waterfalls and cool, misty viewpoints, and 25 km (16 miles) away, the old seaside resort of Kep serves fresh crab cooked with green pepper at its waterfront crab market. Kampot is at its best from November to April, when it is dry; the wet season, from May to October, brings heavy afternoon rain, green landscapes and low prices.
Right now in Kampot
- Wed24–29°C75–84°F16 mm rain
- Thu24–30°C75–85°F22 mm rain
- Fri24–28°C75–83°F6 mm rain
- Sat 10 Oct Pchum Ben (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ផុំបិណ្ឌ)
- Sun 11 Oct Pchum Ben (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ផុំបិណ្ឌ)
- Mon 12 Oct Pchum Ben (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ផុំបិណ្ឌ)
Top tours in Kampot
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Kampot at a glance
- Best for: a relaxed riverside town, colonial architecture, pepper farms, Bokor Mountain, river trips and kayaking, and crab in Kep.
- How long: 3–4 days for Kampot, Bokor and Kep.
- Best time: November to April, when it is dry; August is the wettest month.
- Getting there: about 3 hours by bus or minivan from Phnom Penh, about 2 hours from Sihanoukville, and about 1.5 hours from the Vietnamese border at Prek Chak–Xa Xia; slow trains run from Phnom Penh, mainly on weekends.
- Getting around: walking and cycling in town, tuk-tuks and scooters for the countryside, and boats on the river.
- Fees to know: a small fee is charged for some sights, such as Phnom Chhnork; Bokor’s road and viewpoints are free to drive.
- Before you go: the e-visa, the e-Arrival card, money and general safety are in our Cambodia travel guide.
Kampot’s areas and where to stay
Kampot is compact. The old town lies on the east bank of the river, between the old bridge and the new bridge, and guesthouses and riverside lodges spread upstream on both banks.
The old town
Around the Durian Roundabout, the old market and the riverside promenade, the colonial shophouses hold cafés, restaurants, bars, bookshops, guesthouses and small boutique hotels, all within walking distance.
The riverside upstream
North of town, on both banks of the river, bungalow resorts and guesthouses with wooden decks, kayaks and paddleboards sit among gardens and palms, a short tuk-tuk ride from the center; they are quiet and ideal for swimming and river activities.
Kep
About 25 km (16 miles) southeast, Kep is a small seaside town of modernist villas from the 1960s, many in ruins, now mixed with boutique resorts set in gardens on the hillsides above the bay. It is quieter than Kampot and the place to stay for seafood and sunsets.
Where to stay in Kampot
- Old town: guesthouses and boutique hotels in colonial buildings.
- Riverside: bungalow resorts with river access and relaxed atmosphere.
- Bokor Mountain: a large resort hotel and casino on the summit, for cool nights.
- Kep: boutique resorts and guesthouses near the sea.
Rooms fill on Cambodian holidays and weekends, when visitors arrive from Phnom Penh.
Top things to see in Kampot
The river and the old town
The Praek Tuek Chhu river is Kampot’s centerpiece. Stroll along the promenade at sunset, when Bokor turns pink, and cross the old bridge, rebuilt after wartime damage. The old town’s shophouses and colonial buildings, the old market and the former governor’s residence reward a slow walk, and the town’s statue of a giant durian marks the main roundabout.
Pepper farms
Pepper has been grown in Kampot province for centuries; it received Cambodian geographical indication status in 2010 and protected geographical indication status in the European Union in 2016. Farms near Kampot and Kep welcome visitors to see the vines, learn how green, black, red and white pepper are produced, taste the different kinds and buy directly. Harvest season runs from about February to May.
Bokor National Park
About 40 km (25 miles) from town, a well-paved road climbs to the plateau of Bokor Mountain, at about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), in Preah Monivong Bokor National Park. The French built a hill station here in the 1920s, and its abandoned Catholic church, the shell of the old Bokor Palace Hotel and the Black Palace of King Sihanouk stand among mist and forest, alongside the hilltop Wat Sampov Pram temple, the Popokvil Waterfall (at its best in the wet season), a giant Buddha statue and newer developments, including a large hotel and casino. It is often cooler and cloudy on top; go on a clear day for views across the coast to Phu Quoc.
Phnom Chhnork
About 10 km (6 miles) east of town, a staircase climbs through limestone to a cave containing a small brick temple from the 7th century, dedicated to Shiva and older than Angkor, with stalactites hanging overhead. Local children often guide visitors through the cave and the rice fields below.
Kep and its crab market
Founded by the French in the early 1900s as a seaside resort and revived as a fashionable retreat for Phnom Penh’s elite in the 1960s, Kep was abandoned under the Khmer Rouge, and the shells of its modernist villas still stand among the trees. Today it is a quiet, green town spread along the coast. The heart of it is the crab market, where fishermen’s wives keep crabs in bamboo baskets in the shallows and restaurants on stilts cook them with fresh green pepper. Kep’s small beach is good for a sunset swim, and the trail through Kep National Park, about 8 km (5 miles) around the hill above town, has viewpoints over the sea and the islands.
More classic sights
- Salt fields: shallow evaporation pans along the road toward Kep, where salt is harvested by hand in the dry season.
- Secret Lake: a reservoir in the countryside, built under the Khmer Rouge with forced labor, now a quiet spot among rice fields.
- Teuk Chhou rapids: a local picnic and swimming spot on the river north of town.
- Kampot Provincial Museum: a small museum in a colonial building by the river.
Other things to do in Kampot
Food and drink
Kampot’s riverside cafés and restaurants serve both Khmer and international food, and the town’s specialty is anything cooked with fresh green Kampot pepper: try stir-fried squid, beef or prawns with green pepper. Don’t miss Kep crab with green pepper at the crab market, where women haul the catch out of baskets in the sea. Kampot is also famous for durian, celebrated by the roundabout statue, and for local fish sauce. Bars along the river serve cocktails and craft beer at sunset.
River trips, kayaking and paddleboarding
Sunset boat trips on the river leave from the promenade in the late afternoon; after dark, some continue to see fireflies in the mangroves. Many riverside lodges rent kayaks and paddleboards to explore upstream at your own pace. See our boat trips guide.
Cycling and countryside tours
The flat countryside around Kampot and Kep, with rice fields, pepper farms, salt pans and villages, is ideal for cycling, and guesthouses rent bicycles and scooters. Guided tours combine pepper farms, Phnom Chhnork, the Secret Lake and Kep. See our cycling guide.
Festivals and events
Kampot and Kep come alive at Khmer New Year in mid-April and on long weekends, when Phnom Penh families arrive for the river and the sea. Pepper farms are busiest at harvest time, from about February to May, and Pchum Ben, in September or October, fills the town’s pagodas with offerings. Small arts and music festivals are held in Kampot some years; check locally.
Day trips from Kampot
- Kep: the crab market, the beach, Kep National Park’s forest trail and sunset at the Sailing Club pier, about 30–40 minutes away.
- Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island): a small island with simple beach bungalows, about 20 minutes by boat from Kep.
- Bokor National Park: the hill station ruins, temple and waterfall, a half or full day.
- Phnom Chhnork and Phnom Sorsia: cave temples among rice fields and limestone hills.
- Sihanoukville and the islands: about 2 hours west, for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. See our Sihanoukville guide.
Nearby destinations
- Phu Quoc47 km
- Sihanoukville73 km
- Phnom Penh136 km
- Can Tho154 km
- Ko Chang259 km
- Ho Chi Minh City278 km
Getting there and getting around
By road
Buses and minivans link Kampot with Phnom Penh (about 3 hours), Sihanoukville (about 2 hours), Kep (about 30–40 minutes) and Siem Reap (by long-distance or night bus). Taxis and private cars can be booked through guesthouses.
By train
Royal Railway’s line from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville passes through Kampot, with slow, scenic trains mainly on weekends; the station is a short tuk-tuk ride from town. Check the current timetable before planning.
From Vietnam
The Prek Chak–Xa Xia border crossing, near the Vietnamese town of Ha Tien, is about 1–1.5 hours from Kampot and 45 minutes from Kep; minivans run between Kampot and Ha Tien, from where ferries continue to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island. Check that your visa is accepted at this crossing. See our Vietnam guide.
Around Kampot
The town is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. Tuk-tuks wait around the roundabout and riverfront for trips to the countryside, Kep and Bokor; agree on the price first. Scooters are widely rented, but the Bokor road is long, steep and winding.
When to go and how long to stay
Kampot is hot all year, with highs of 30–34 °C (86–93 °F). The dry season from November to April is the best time, with sunny days and calm seas around Kep; March to May is the hottest period. The wet season, from May to October, brings heavy afternoon downpours, with August the wettest month; the countryside is green, waterfalls on Bokor flow strongly and prices fall, but the mountain is often shrouded in cloud. The table uses long-term averages for Kampot from Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, as published by the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service, covering 1982 to 2024 rather than the standard 1991–2020 period: average daily highs and lows and total rain.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (71 °F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | Dry, sunny and pleasant; peak season |
| February | 32 °C (89 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | Dry; pepper harvest begins |
| March | 32 °C (89 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | Hot; good for Kep and the coast |
| April | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | Hot; Khmer New Year crowds |
| May | 34 °C (92 °F) / 25 °C (76 °F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | The hottest month; rains begin |
| June | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) | Afternoon storms; green season |
| July | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) | Wet; Bokor often in cloud |
| August | 31 °C (87 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 381 mm (15.0 in) | The wettest month |
| September | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 220 mm (8.6 in) | Wet; waterfalls full |
| October | 31 °C (87 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | Wet; Pchum Ben in some years |
| November | 31 °C (87 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | 128 mm (5.0 in) | Drying out; season begins |
| December | 30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | Dry and pleasant |
Kampot receives about 1,900 mm (75 in) of rain a year, nearly all from April to November.
Three days in Kampot
Day one, walk the old town and riverside, then take a sunset boat trip. Day two, drive up Bokor Mountain in the morning for the hill station ruins, the temple and the waterfall, and relax by the river in the afternoon. Day three, a countryside loop to a pepper farm, Phnom Chhnork and the salt fields, ending with crab at the Kep crab market.
Four days or more
Add a night in Kep with a trip to Rabbit Island, kayaking upstream, or continue to the islands off Sihanoukville or across the border to Ha Tien and Phu Quoc.
What a trip to Kampot costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 4,050 riel to the US dollar. Many prices are quoted in dollars.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Sunset river cruise | 20,000–40,000 KHR (about US$5–10) |
| Kayak or paddleboard rental, half day | 20,000–40,000 KHR (about US$5–10) |
| Tuk-tuk countryside tour, full day | 80,000–120,000 KHR (about US$20–30) |
| Tuk-tuk or taxi to Bokor, return | 100,000–160,000 KHR (about US$25–40) |
| Crab with green pepper at the Kep crab market | 32,000–60,000 KHR (about US$8–15) |
| Khmer dish at a local restaurant | 12,000–24,000 KHR (about US$3–6) |
| Scooter rental, per day | 20,000–32,000 KHR (about US$5–8) |
| Riverside bungalow double, per night | 60,000–200,000 KHR (about US$15–50) |
| Boutique hotel double in Kampot or Kep | 200,000–500,000 KHR (about US$50–125) |
Practical tips for Kampot
- Go up Bokor early on a clear day: clouds often roll in by midday, especially in the wet season.
- Buy pepper at the farms: and check that it is genuine Kampot pepper with the geographical indication label.
- Bring cash: ATMs are in town, but farms, boats and many small places take cash only.
- Take a light jacket for Bokor: it can be 10 °C (18 °F) cooler on top than in town.
- Use guesthouse bikes: cycling is the best way to see the countryside.
- Book weekends ahead: visitors from Phnom Penh fill Kampot and Kep on Saturdays and holidays.
Safety
Kampot is relaxed and safe, and the main risks are on the roads and the water. The road up Bokor is long, steep and winding, often wet and foggy, and scooter accidents are common; ride only if experienced, wear a helmet and avoid riding in heavy rain or after dark. The river has currents, especially in the wet season; swim near lodges and wear a life jacket when kayaking or paddleboarding. Heavy rain from July to October can flood low roads. Petty theft, including bag snatching, occurs occasionally; secure valuables. Some rural areas of Cambodia still contain unexploded ordnance; keep to paths when exploring caves and hills. Stick to sealed, branded drinks because of the risk of methanol poisoning. In an emergency, call 117 for police and 119 for an ambulance.
What to pack for Kampot
Light clothes and a light jacket for Bokor, clothes covering shoulders and knees for temples, swimwear, sandals and water shoes, sunscreen and a hat, insect repellent for evenings by the river, and a rain jacket from May to October. Cambodia uses 230 V, with sockets for flat (type A) and round (type C) two-pin plugs. See our rain jackets, water shoes and travel adapters guides.
Kampot travel FAQ
Is Kampot worth visiting?
Yes, for its relaxed riverside atmosphere, colonial architecture, pepper farms, Bokor Mountain and nearby Kep.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
By bus or minivan in about 3 hours, by private car, or by slow train on weekends.
How far is Kep from Kampot?
About 25 km (16 miles), 30–40 minutes by tuk-tuk, scooter or minivan.
Can I visit pepper farms in Kampot?
Yes. Several farms near Kampot and Kep offer free or inexpensive tours and tastings, and sell pepper directly.
What is there to see on Bokor Mountain?
The ruins of a 1920s French hill station, including a church and the old Bokor Palace Hotel, the Black Palace, Wat Sampov Pram, the Popokvil Waterfall and views of the coast.
What is the best time to visit Kampot?
November to April, when it is dry. August is the wettest month, and Bokor is often in cloud in the wet season.
How many days do I need in Kampot?
Three to four days for the town, Bokor, a countryside tour and Kep.
Can I cross into Vietnam from Kampot?
Yes, at the Prek Chak–Xa Xia crossing near Ha Tien, about 1–1.5 hours away; check that your visa is valid for this crossing.
Is Kampot pepper protected?
Yes. It has Cambodian geographical indication status (2010) and is a protected geographical indication in the European Union (2016).
Can you swim in the Kampot River?
Yes, at riverside lodges and Teuk Chhou, but currents can be strong in the wet season; wear a life jacket when kayaking.
Plan your trip
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🇰🇭 Useful Khmer phrases for Kampot
All 38 Khmer phrases: restaurant, hotel, emergencies, romance (printable) →
Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. The e-Arrival card: Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration; exchange rate: the National Bank of Cambodia; climate averages (1982–2024): Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology via the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service. Road safety, river currents, unexploded ordnance and methanol are from the UK government’s factual safety pages. Pepper’s geographical indication dates, Bokor’s history and altitude, Phnom Chhnork’s age, the Secret Lake, distances, travel times, the border crossing and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and schedules change, so check locally before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Cambodia travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)