The Best Things to do in Kampot, Cambodia: My Top 5 Favorite Activities

Kampot was unexpectedly one of my favorite places in Cambodia. This quiet river side town has a local charm and stunning nature. While I enjoy exploring a city, I prefer to seek out smaller towns with charisma and personality, and Kampot offers just that.

From a passer byer, Kampot might not seem like there is much to it, but after a few days of exploring, you will find pepper farms, purposeful community organizations, nature, history and kind local people. Tourism in Kampot is still relatively small compared to cities like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, but it does offer unique experiences that you are sure to love from your trip to Cambodia. Below I will share with you my top five favorite things I did in Kampot, Cambodia!

Where to Stay: Monkey Republic Kampot

During my time in Kampot, I stayed at Monkey Republic Kampot. This social guesthouse is located in a quiet neighborhood just outside the town center, and offers affordable private and dorm room options. I stayed in a spacious private room for just $15 a night with a comfortable queen bed, ensuite bathroom, flat screen TV, and a mini fridge. Monkey Republic also has an onsite yoga studio, restaurant, bar, and hosts frequent social and community events. Their reception staff was very helpful in providing information about the area and helping us book tours around Kampot and transportation to our next destination, Koh Rong.

1. Kampot Dog Sanctuary

Kampot Dog Sanctuary rescues dogs from abusive circumstances all over Cambodia, giving them food, shelter, medical care, and eventually rehoming them to loving families. The founder, Joe, is an Australian citizen with a heart of gold and a passion for saving dogs. While living in Cambodia, Joe noticed many stray dogs in terrible physical condition and became aware of dogs being taken off the street and sold into the dog meat trade. His solution was to create the Kampot Dog Sanctuary and provide as many dogs as he can with a second chance.

Kampot Dog Sanctuary is open to visitors and is home to their riverside bar, High Tide Kampot. You can meet the dogs, chat with the rescue team, and meet locals and other travelers while enjoying a beverage and the view of the river. We spent hours drinking beer, petting the dogs and chatting with Joe about the realities of dog rescue in Cambodia and the amazing work KDS is doing to give these dogs a better life. You can learn more about Kampot Dog Sanctuary and how to get involved and support their mission here.

2. Pepper Farm Tour at Bo Tree Farm

Cambodia is famous for farming the best quality pepper in the word, where pepper plants thrive because of the tropical warm climate and heavy rainfall. Kampot is at the heart of the country’s pepper farming industry. I took a free tour of Bo Tree Farm, a Khmer and Scottish run pepper farm. The farm is a 30 minute tuk-tuk from the city center, and I recommend organizing your tuk-tuk through Bo Tree’s store, The Kampot Pepper Shop , so they can ensure you are paying a fair price. After a scenic drive through the countryside, you will be greeted by a friendly volunteer who takes you on a free tour of the farm. During the tour you will learn about the different types of pepper and the process of growing and harvesting pepper. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see the harvest! Harvest season is January-June, with peak harvest season in March and April.

After the tour you can taste a variety of pepper products. We tried pepper tea and pepper ice cream! To my surprise, I really enjoyed the pepper ice cream. The farm also has vacuum sealed pepper for purchase if you want to take a souvenir home from your time in the pepper capital of the world!

3. Kayak the Green Cathedral

Located on the Praek Tuek Chhu River, Kampot is home to beautiful nature and lush green water ways that are open for exploring on kayak or stand up paddle board. I explored a popular river loop, the Green Cathedral, on a kayak. The Green Cathedral is a relaxed and beginner friendly one hour river loop through a lush green canopy of palms. You can book a guided scenic tour or explore on kayaks independently. I chose to explore independently by taking a 10 minute tuk tuk ride from the city center to Kayaking Green Cathedral where you can rent kayaks for $8 per day. I recommend going a couple hours before sunset and enjoying golden hour on the river. There are lots of restaurants and bars you can stop and check out along the loop if you want to take a break and enjoy the scenery. We were even invited to have a beer with a few local Khmer people, another example of the kind and hospitable people of Cambodia.

I highly recommend kayaking the Green Cathedral if you’re visiting Kampot and looking for a peaceful way to experience the region’s natural beauty. The gentle river loop is suitable for beginners, with stunning scenery and a magical canopy of palms. Whether you choose a guided tour or rent a kayak and explore at your own pace, it’s a memorable way to get off the beaten path and see the nature of Cambodia.

4. Take a Day Trip to Kep

Kep is a small seaside town located about 30 minutes from Kampot, known for their fresh seafood and stunning national park. I took a day trip to Kep and I recommend exploring Kep National Park and then wandering down to the Kep Crab Market to enjoy freshly caught blue swimmer crab with Kampot pepper sauce, yum!

How to Get to Kep from Kampot

Kep is about a 30 minute drive east of Kampot. I hired a private driver and local guide for $18 for the day to pick us up from our accommodation and show us around Kep. You can also go by tuk tuk by hailing one from the street or ordering through the Grab app, but I recommend booking your driver for the whole day, as it is not easy to find a ride back to Kampot from Kep.

Kep National Park

Exploring Kep National Park is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of Cambodia. With scenic viewpoints, and well-maintained hiking trails, I recommend planning on spending 2–3 hours to explore the hiking loop at a leisurely pace. Be sure to bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and start early to avoid the midday heat. Entrance fee to the park is $1 for foreign visitors and free for Cambodian citizens.

Kep Crab Market

After your hike, head to the famous Kep Crab Market, one of the town’s most popular attractions. Local fishermen bring in fresh catches throughout the day, and waterfront restaurants cook up seafood just steps from where it’s unloaded on the shores. I recommend eating in the market, where you can choose your own crab and watch it be cooked right in front of you. Make sure to get the famous Kep blue swimmer crab, known for its sweet and buttery meat. The blue swimmer crab is cooked in Kampot pepper which made for a rich and flavorful dish. This was my first time ever trying crab and I loved it!

In addition to crab, you can also try grilled, cured, or dried seafood, such as shrimp and squid. For dessert, be sure to try out num ansom chek, banana and sticky rice served in banana leaf wrap. And to wash everything down, order freshly pressed sugar cane juice with kumquat!

5. Kampot Walking Tour

I love to do a walking tour on my first day in a new place to get a lay of the land, learn about the area, and get tips for activities, restaurants, cafes, and shops. The guesthouse I stayed at, Monkey Republic, offers a free walking tour with Jason, a Canadian expat who has been living in Cambodia since 2019. He is a local guide who is passionate about Cambodian history, leads the only walking tour in Kampot and publishes the blog, Discover Kampot, previously known as What’s Hot in Kampot. There aren’t many digital records of Kampot, which is why Jason was inspired to create his blog.

On this hour long walking tour you will learn about the history of Kampot, local spirits and customs, unique attractions, and the best local bars and restaurants. What is the most impressive about this walking tour is the independent research Jason has done through conversations with local people and deep diving into physical town records. The tour is technically free, but please tip what you feel is appropriate at the end of the tour.

FAQs

Is Kampot worth visiting?

Kampot was one of the highlights of my time in Cambodia. If you are looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, this riverside town in the Cambodia country side is the place for you. While much slower pace, there is still plenty to explore and experience.

How do you get around Kampot?

The most common way to get around Kampot is by tuk tuk. You can order them through the Grab app or hail one down from the street, but be sure you agree on a price before getting in to avoid any misunderstandings. You can also rent a motorbike or bicycle through your accommodation or a local shop if you want to be more independent.

What are the best restaurants in Kampot?

My personal favorite is Epic Arts Cafe, a social enterprise cafe that provides inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities and supports education and community projects in Kampot. By eating at Epic Arts Cafe, you are directly impacting their mission to build an inclusive society. You can learn more about my favorite restaurants in Kampot here.

Does Kampot have an airport?

No Kampot does not have an airport. The closest airport to Kampot is in Sihanoukville, but is still a bumpy 3 hour drive away. The second closest airport is Phnom Penh, which is about a 3 hour drive away.

How do you get to Kampot from Phnom Penh?

Kampot does not have an airport. You can take a bus, shared or private van, or the train to Kampot from Phnom Penh. I booked a shared mini van through my hostel, Mad Monkey Phnom Penh, and it cost $8 and took about 3 hours.

How do you get to Kampot from Siem Reap?

Since Kampot does not have an airport, you can take a bus, shared or private van, or the train to Kampot from Siem Reap. It is a about an 8 hour drive. I recommend breaking up the trip by stopping in Phnom Penh for a couple nights before taking the train or a van to Kampot.