Kampot Town is the capital of Kampot province. A lot of Kampots all in one place. A quiet town, best known as the starting point for trips to Bokor Mountain and it's riverside scene. Kampot is a great escape from the larger cities and towns in Cambodia. Located near the ocean, close to Vietnam, you can travel to SihanoukVille and Phnom Penh in a few hours, and to Vietnam in only an hour. Also, the original seaside resort of Cambodia, Kep, is a short drive away.
Kampot located on both sides of the Kampot River also know as Teuk Chhou or Prek Thom, and connected by 3 bridges (o.k... one is a railway bridge), the East side of Kampot is where most of the restaurants, guesthouses, and market are located. Along the riverfront, on both sides, are several hotels, guesthouses and restaurants with Western and Khmer (Cambodian) hosts. The riverfront is fairly quiet and quite picturesque.
Walk around town, rent a bicycle, or rent a small motorcycle to get around. Also, you can ride motorcycle taxis and tuk tuks (a cart pulled by a motorcycle) for 12 to 50 cents to most places in town.
Some attractions downtown, besides the riverfront, are the central market, small caves with Buddhist shrines, and the football stadium. Towards the ocean on the East side is the port of Kampot and many Cham Muslim communities and schools. Across the river is Kampot's Wat or Buddhist Temple which is open to tourists. Past the Wat are Kampot's salt fields, and further out of town are Kampot's famous Black Pepper and Durian farms. Along the riverfront, mostly South of downtown's bridges, are several guesthouses and restaurants, right on the river.
Kampot located on both sides of the Kampot River also know as Teuk Chhou or Prek Thom, and connected by 3 bridges (o.k... one is a railway bridge), the East side of Kampot is where most of the restaurants, guesthouses, and market are located. Along the riverfront, on both sides, are several hotels, guesthouses and restaurants with Western and Khmer (Cambodian) hosts. The riverfront is fairly quiet and quite picturesque.
Walk around town, rent a bicycle, or rent a small motorcycle to get around. Also, you can ride motorcycle taxis and tuk tuks (a cart pulled by a motorcycle) for 12 to 50 cents to most places in town.
Some attractions downtown, besides the riverfront, are the central market, small caves with Buddhist shrines, and the football stadium. Towards the ocean on the East side is the port of Kampot and many Cham Muslim communities and schools. Across the river is Kampot's Wat or Buddhist Temple which is open to tourists. Past the Wat are Kampot's salt fields, and further out of town are Kampot's famous Black Pepper and Durian farms. Along the riverfront, mostly South of downtown's bridges, are several guesthouses and restaurants, right on the river.
Around Kampot
Across the River (West Side) the first big road to the right from either bridge, takes you to the Kampot Zoo (about 20 minute ride and $5 entrance fee), lions, tigers and bears (and maybe some monkeys), and the Kampot River rapids, Teuk Chhou, an informal park for eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing in the water. Take your own motorcycle or get a motorcycle taxi or Tuk Tuk for about $5-7 round trip.
Canoeing, Kayaking, and guided river tours are possible on the river. Check out Kampot Tours and Transport for some suggestions.
Kampot is also known worldwide for it's Pepper Plantations (Pepper website) (black, green, red and white table pepper) and locally for Durian farms (a giant, pointy fruit, weighing up to 12 kilograms). The Pepper from Kampot is the only food product in Cambodia exported worldwide, and will soon have the Origin Specific label "Kampot Pepper". Pepper farm tours are a popular activity here.
Kep is a quiet town, located on hills overlooking the the beaches and islands. Not much to do here, however the scenery is fantastic. Largely unpopulated, Kep was Cambodia's original seaside resort town.
Bokor Mountain is a popular destination because of the rough ride up the dirt track to the top, the views of Southern Cambodia and Vietnam, and the cool temperatures; not to mention the abandoned casino and summer palace of the former King. Most people stay at one of Kampot's Hotels for the night before and after a trip to Bokor. (Note: Bokor is mostly closed for the next couple years for construction of a new road and resort on top of the mountain).
SihanoukVille is Cambodia's largest beach resort. A couple hundred small guesthouses, as well as a few top quality resorts on the beach. SihanoukVille is Cambodia's second largest city.
Most tourist to Kep combine their trip to one of Southern Cambodia's other coastal towns.
Bokor Mountain is a popular destination because of the rough ride up the dirt track to the top, the views of Southern Cambodia and Vietnam, and the cool temperatures; not to mention the abandoned casino and summer palace of the former King. Most people stay at one of Kampot's Hotels for the night before and after a trip to Bokor. (Note: Bokor is mostly closed for the next couple years for construction of a new road and resort on top of the mountain).
SihanoukVille is Cambodia's largest beach resort. A couple hundred small guesthouses, as well as a few top quality resorts on the beach. SihanoukVille is Cambodia's second largest city.
Map to Kampot
Kampot Districts
- Angkor Chey
- Banteay Meas
- Chhuk
- Chum Kiri
- Dang Tong
- Kampong Trach
- Kampot
- Kampong Bay
