The 7 Best Things to Do in Kampot, Cambodia

Are you looking for the best things to do in Kampot, Cambodia? Here are the 7 best things to do in the pepper capital of Cambodia!

I lived in Cambodia for almost a year and visiting Kampot is a great place if you are looking for a place to relax and chill by the riverside.

Kampot is still not as touristy like Siem Reap or Sihanoukville. While most travellers go to Sihanoukville for the nightlife and parties, Kampot offers a more laid-back, easy-going atmosphere.

Kampot is located in the southern part of Cambodia and is mostly known for its pepper farming and salt fields. It is a very relaxed beach town but there are plenty of activities to do.

Some of the best things to do in Kampot include visiting the pepper farms, salt fields, exploring nearby caves, swimming in a secret lake or going on sunset fireflies boat tours.

So, here are the 7 best things to do in Kampot, Cambodia!

How to Get to Kampot By Bus

Kampot is connected by bus to all the major towns in Cambodia, including Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

The best bus to book in Cambodia is the Giant Ibis which you can pre-book online. They run day and night buses, so if you want to save some time, the night bus is an option.

The night bus is pretty comfortable considering it is a night bus. Every passenger has their own sleeping space and if you have your own sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner, you can make a pretty comfy bed for the night.

7 Best Things to Do in Kampot

1. Visit the La Plantation Pepper Farm

Before coming to Kampot (or Cambodia in general), I did not know that pepper was such a big thing in Cambodia! But pepper is one of the mostly used spices in Cambodian dishes. Due to that, pepper farming has a long history and tradition in Cambodia. 

The La Plantation Pepper Farm is one of the best places to visit in Kampot and it is only a short tuktuk/scooter ride from central Kampot. I did not know what to expect from a pepper farm but I found it was very impressive.

Once you arrive at the La Plantation Pepper Farm, they join you up with a couple of other people and then there is a volunteer guide who takes you on a tour of the pepper farm.

During the tour, you learn about pepper farming, the growing of pepper plants, harvesting and preparing pepper. The tour is free and you will also get to taste some of the different types of pepper grown here.

The whole area is quite big. Apart from the pepper farm, there is a restaurant where you can eat some delicious meals and a shop where you can buy various types of pepper. It can get hot and sunny during the day so take some sunhat/shawl and sunscreen with you.

2. Swim in the Secret Lake

The Secret Lake is near the La Plantation Pepper Farm so it is a great stop on the way to or from the pepper farm. People can also swim in the lake, although I did not go inside.

There are some restaurants around the lake where you can stop by for lunch or just to have a drink and relax. It is a very relaxed place, I liked it as the road towards the pepper farm was very dusty, so stopping here was nice to recover from all the dust.

3. Explore the Caves in Kampot

Phnom Chinook Cave

It is a beautiful cave near the Secret Lake. You can hire a guide for about USD 3-5 to take you on a tour of the cave.

The tour can be between 30 mins to 2 hours long. Inside the cave there is a shrine, and you will see some cave formations and also might encounter some bats. 

Sorsia Cave

The Sorsia Cave is located between Kampot and Kep. If you are going to Kep on a scooter, it can be worth stopping by here to check out the cave.

It can be dark inside, so it is good if you have a flashlight with you. 

4. Watch the Sunset over the Salt Fields

In Kampot, you can do the whole tour of salt and pepper. There is a salt field on Fish Island/Traeuy Kaoh where you can see the cultivation of salt between late December to mid-May.

If you arrive at the salt fields late afternoon, you can also get very nice views of the sunset over the salt fields.

To get to Fish Island, you can hire a bicycle or take a tuktuk. The salt fields are a bit far out and it can be difficult to get a taxi to take you back – so if you like cycling, it may be a better option to be able to come and go on your own.

5. Explore the Bokor National Park

The Bokor National Park is located in Kampot and was established in 1993. It’s highest peak, the Bokor Mountain is 1,081 metres high.

It is a really peaceful place to spend time in the nature and you get great views from the top. Make sure to visit when the weather is sunny, as if it is cloudy, you will not get any views. It is easy to spend a day in the national park.

There are lakes, waterfalls and temples to discover. It is best to rent a scooter for the day to go up Bokor Mountain and to get around the national park. 

6. Go on a Boat Trip to See Fireflies and the Sunset

There are a number of sunset boat trips organized in Kampot to see the sunset and fireflies. The boats usually leave around 5 pm and the trip takes about 2 hours.

Usually, you get a drink included in the price of your ticket. In addition, they also serve food on the cruise so it is a nice place to have dinner and drinks. 

7. Go on a Day Trip to Kep

Kep is very close to Kampot and you can even easily get there on a rented scooter. For a more scenic experience, you can also take a boat from Kampot to Kep.

There is a company, Crab Shuttle, that operate daily boats between Kampot and Kep. The Crab Shuttle is a fishing boat converted into a “tourist” boat and it is a fun experience.

The shuttle departs every morning at 9 am and arrive in Kep in about 1 hour 15 minutes. The price of your ticket includes a bottle of water and in addition, they also sell beer on board. Then, the crab shuttle goes back from Kep to Kampot at 3 pm. 

Hotels in Kampot

Wondering where to stay in Kampot? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:

FAQs: Best Things to Do in Kampot, Cambodia

Is Kampot worth the visit?

Yes, Kampot is definitely worth the visit. It is a chill and relaxed town in Cambodia that has not yet become too touristy yet.

It is the perfect place to relax by the riverside for a few days, explore the Bokor National Park, pepper farms or go on boat trips.

How long should you spend in Kampot?

3 days is the ideal time to spend in Kampot which will give you enough time to explore all the attractions. If you are short on time, you can fit the activities you are most interested in into 2 days.

If time is not an issue, Kampot is a great place to just chill and relax and spend even 1-2 weeks there just to unwind.

Is it better to stay in Kep or Kampot?

Whether it is better to stay in Kep or Kampot depends on your preferences. In Kep, you can go to the beach, enjoy seafood and go on a short hike in the Kep National Park.

While, Kampot is better for you if you want to spend a few days in a relaxed place and chill by the riverside.

What are the best places to visit in Kampot?

Some of the best places to visit in Kampot include the pepper farms, salt fields, nearby caves, Bokor National Park, Fish Island, the secret lake and going on sunset fireflies boat tours.

Conclusion

Kampot is a great place if you are looking for a place to relax and chill by the riverside.

Kampot is still not as touristy like Siem Reap or Sihanoukville. While most travellers go to Sihanoukville for the nightlife and parties, Kampot offers a more laid-back, easy-going atmosphere.

Kampot is located in the southern part of Cambodia and is mostly known for its pepper farming and salt fields. It is a very relaxed beach town but there are plenty of activities to do.

Some of the best things to do in Kampot include visiting the pepper farms, salt fields, exploring nearby caves, swimming in a secret lake or going on sunset fireflies boat tours.