Kampot Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 2-3 Days

Best Time: October to January Read More

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Also Refered As:

Krong Kampot

"A river town to explore the colonial architecture, pepper, and hills"

Kampot Tourism

Kampot is a city located in SouthWest of Cambodia and is a prominent historical and coastal town along the Gulf of Thailand. Kampot town is the capital of a province with the same name and is located on the Tuk Chhou River. Surrounded by Elephant mountains, Bokor Hills and a series of beaches and islands, Kampot is the most popular destination in Cambodia visited by tourists, after the famed Siem Reap and Phnom Penh cities.

Kampot river town is now one of the most popular destinations among the travelers exploring Cambodia. Unlike other provincial capitals of Cambodia, Kampot has excellent colonial French architecture, reflected in many buildings in the city. Kampot is also famous for many places around the city, which are unique day trip options, like Rabbit Island, Kep, Bokor and others. So people looking to cover many attractions usually base in Kampot and explore. 

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What is Kampot Famous For?

Kampot province is known for the production of different types of pepper, widely recognised around the world as Kampot Pepper. The city is the largest producer and exporter of pepper in the country. Black pepper is the most popular, followed by red, green and white pepper types. The climate and soil of this region make it ideal for mass pepper production. Kampot has more than 20 pepper plantations run by expert farming families. The river town is also known for fish sauce, production of fruits including durian, oranges and mangoes. Kampot is one of the biggest exporters of durian fruit. Being just 5 km away from the sea coast, Kampot produces sea salt obtained extracted and processed from the sea bed. The city is one of the few places in the country where sea salt is extracted.

4-Day Itinerary

  • Day 1: Take a walking tour of the city to get to know about the colonial buildings and the riverfront. Hire a motorbike or a Tuk-Tuk to explore Phnom Chhngok cave temple. Come back to the downtown to witness a quiet and vibrant sunset. Explore the night market and taste the local street delicacies for dinner.

  • Day 2: Opt for a pepper farm tour. Then check out the salt fields close to the city centre. Next, take a sunset cruise firefly tour in the evening. Dine at one of the riverfront restaurants enjoying the night views of the city.

  • Day 3: Head to Bokor National Park outside the city to explore the ruins of the casino, catholic church, Popkovil waterfalls, the giant Buddha and the viewpoints. Shop for handicrafts and souvenirs in the downtown in the evening or enjoy swimming in Kampot river, followed by a pub crawl at night.

  • Day 4: Optional day in Kampot to take day trips to Kep or Rabbit Island if you have more than three days.

Tips

  • Kampot doesn't have too many accommodations, and since the city has become very popular in recent years, hotels and guesthouses fill up very quickly, especially during the high season. So it's better to book your accommodation well ahead.
  • Kep is an excellent alternative to Kampot to find the right places to stay in case if you don't see any suitable guesthouses. Travel time between these two towns is less than 25 minutes and is comfortable to base in Kep as well.
  • Sunset cruises in Kampot river comes in different types - party cruises, dine and wine tours, quiet tours and private guided trips. It is recommended to check before booking based on your preferences.
  • Kampot has relatively fewer ATMs available, although they have increased lately. So getting cash is not very hard. But many restaurants and shops still prefer cash payments, so it is good to have some money in hand.

History

Kampot was the most important seaport town during the French occupation, due to its location close to the coast as well as to the mountains, which offers cooler weather compared to other cities in the country. Until the establishment of Sihanoukville town, Kampot was the centre of administration activities for the French. There were two sections in the city on either side of the river during this period. One side called the Kampot side with occupied by locals and the other part with the immigrant Chinese.

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What is famous about Kampot?

Kampot is known for its colonial architecture, markets, riverfront offering best views, delicious local food, pubs, bars and cafes. Kampot is also surrounded by hills which offer better weather compared to other cities. Kampot is a place to visit if you want a slice of everything - nature, history, food, mountains and Cambodian rural life.

What is not so good about Kampot?

Kampot has become touristy in recent years as a result of its growing popularity and hence is transitioning into a commercial destination from being a traditional town.

Who should visit Kampot?

Kampot is ideal for all travellers. Families, couples, people travelling with kids love the city for offering all kinds of experiences from nature to shopping.

What is the best time to visit Kampot?

The best time to visit Kampot is between October and January. The weather is not hot, and the humidity is less during these months. Boat cruises in the river and other watersports are quite popular during this time. From late February, summer sets in slowly with March to May being the hottest months. Monsoon begins in late July and lasts until September, with the city witnessing landslides and floods. 


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What is the best way to reach Kampot?

What are the things to do in Kampot?

The top things to do in Kampot are Kampot River, Popokvil Waterfall, Bat Cave, Salt Fields, Kampot Markets, Farm Link. You can see all the places to visit in Kampot here

What are the places near Kampot?

The top places near to Kampot are Kep which is 28 km from Kampot, Phnom penh which is located 104 km from Kampot, Siem reap which is located 291 km from Kampot, Koh kong which is located 125 km from Kampot, Sambor prei kuk which is located 100 km from Kampot

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