Kampot has long been thought of as a quiet river town, and a short stop on the way through southern Cambodia. However, in the last few years Kampot has grown significantly, and there is now far more to do here than most visitors expect.
Kampot sits between the Elephant Mountains, the Tuek Chhu river, salt fields, fruit farms, and pepper plantations, with limestone karsts hiding caves, waterfalls, and rock climbing. The old colonial town itself has always been sleepy and unhurried, so you can spend your days out exploring that countryside, then come back each evening to walk along the river and explore the old French quarter.
Planning Your Time: Full-Day vs Half-Day Activities
While the old colonial town has its charm, the best parts of Kampot are out of town. There are dozens of full-day and half-day activities to choose from that can easily fill up a week and still leave you wanting more.
Full-Day Trips and Experiences
The Classic Countryside Tuk-Tuk Loop Every tuk-tuk driver knows the basic circuit: a pepper farm, the salt fields, a waterfall, a limestone cave temple, lunch at the Kep crab market, sometimes with a stop for kayaking thrown in. It’s less a tour than a string of quick stops: pull up, get out, take a look, and move on to the next one. If you’re short on time, this is how you tick off Kampot’s most popular sights in a single day. You can hire a driver through Sa Tuk Tuk Tours or drive a scooter yourself if you are comfortable on rural roads.
Kampong Trach Karsts & Caves Located 40 kilometres east near the Vietnamese border, Kampong Trach is too far for a rushed half-day. Dramatic limestone hills rise straight out of the rice fields, hiding caves once used as shelter and, later, as killing caves during the Khmer Rouge years; today they hold shrines and temples instead. The area stayed cut off from the outside world until 1995, and is only now reopening to visitors. Give it a full day to explore the open-roof cavern, kayak through one of the caves, swim in the hidden freshwater cave, and see rural border life up close.
Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay) If Koh Rong felt overdeveloped and you’re after a real, authentic tropical island paradise, quiet and rustic, this is it. A day trip 20 minutes by wooden boat off the coast of Kep, with no paved roads, no motorbikes, and power only a few hours a day: just shallow warm water, hammocks between coconut palms, and beachfront shacks serving barbecued squid and cold drinks. See our Rabbit Island guide for details.
Full-Day Countryside Cycling Tour If authentic rural experiences are your thing, getting on bicycles and visiting local villages, farms, and monasteries with a local guide can’t be missed. You can join the full-day Countryside Cycling tour to really immerse yourself in rural Cambodian life.
The Dedicated “River & Rest” Day This isn’t really an activity, it’s doing what Kampot does best: nothing at all. Sleep in without an alarm, lounge by a pool or float in the river, sip a coconut or iced coffee while people-watching on the riverfront, linger over a long lunch, nap in a hammock through the afternoon heat, watch the fishing boats come in, and wander the quiet streets of the French quarter as the sun goes down.
In July 1994, three backpackers took a train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. It was a journey that would lead them into the heart of a Khmer Rouge stronghold in Kampot Province.
Not everything has to be a full day. Mix and match a couple of these half-day activities into your day, or just slow the pace right down. From January through April, the midday heat turns uncomfortable fast, and locals have long adapted by getting things done in the morning and resting through the afternoon. Choosing an early morning activity, and something relaxing in the afternoon, will stop you from getting burnt out. Spending that downtime by a pool, floating in the river, or lingering in the shade with a cold drink is not an afterthought: it is a great activity in itself, and one of the best parts of being here.
Bokor Mountain National Park A drive 1,000 metres up the mountain road through the jungle (watch out for the troops of monkeys that line the road) into noticeably cooler mountain air. Escaping the heat is the exact reason the French built a hill station up here in the 1920s, and it remains one of the best ways to cool off. Highlights include the ruined French Catholic church, the Lok Yeay Mao monument, cliff-edge viewpoints overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, and Popokvil waterfall. You can join the Bokor Mountain Tour or rent a scooter and explore yourself.
Green Cathedral Kayaking A lazy session of kayaking through a quiet loop of canals off the Praek Tuek Chhu river, fringed by low-hanging nipah palms with Bokor Mountain visible in the distance, spotting wildlife along the way. Stop off at one of the riverside guesthouses for a snack or drink, or pull up on a beach to chill out. It is best done in the early morning before the heat starts, or in the soft light of late afternoon. Read our Green Cathedral guide for details.
Half-Day Countryside Cycling A shorter version of the rural bike tour, focusing on quiet dirt roads and farming hamlets closer to town, finishing before the midday heat sets in.
Rock Climbing & Caving with Climbodia Climbodia operates top-rope climbing, via ferrata, and abseiling on the natural limestone cliffs of Phnom Kbal Romeas, with routes for both beginners and experienced climbers, plus a guided route through a dark limestone cave chimney. It’s one of the best ways to see some of the most picturesque sites in the area, from the top of limestone hills overlooking rice fields and villages.
Khmer Cooking Classes with Market Tour A Southeast Asian classic, Kampot also offers a variety of cooking classes. Meet your guide in the morning at the market, learn about local herbs and ingredients, then end with a communal meal of home-cooked food (including fish amok and Kampot pepper dishes). There are many options, but we’ve heard good things about Eco Lotus and Lucky Kitchen.
Salt Field Community Tour Rather than just taking a quick sunset photo from the roadside, the Salt Field Community Tour is a genuinely immersive visit: get to know the farmers themselves, see their communities and the local school projects, not just workers in a field. The tour runs in partnership with the Chumkriel Language School NGO, and 20% of proceeds go back to support it and the people who live here.
Cham Muslim Fishing Village Tour Cambodia’s Muslim communities have been an important part of Kampot for centuries. Learn about their history and culture visiting fishing villages, seeing traditional fishing practices and net mending, and finish with an authentic Khmer-Muslim lunch on the Cham Muslim Village Tour.
Jungle Waterfalls & River Swimming If you need to beat the heat, Kampot offers a variety of waterfalls and natural swimming pools. Take your choice of short jungle hikes out to remote falls, or more built-up public parks with amenities like food stalls and life jacket rentals. See our Kampot Waterfalls guide for the full rundown.
High Tide Dog Sanctuary High Tide has recently become one of the more popular must-do activities. Sit riverside, grab some food or a drink, and play with dozens of rescue dogs. All visits help support the shelter. See our High Tide Dog Sanctuary guide for visiting details.
Local Spas & Steam Baths For women, Banteay Srey Women’s Spa offers a unique cultural experience. A fully traditional Khmer spa, for women only, it doesn’t just give you a full spa day, but a chance to learn about traditional Khmer health techniques, including herbal steam baths made with krueng, a pounded blend of aromatic roots, leaves and fruits, body scrubs, massage with oils and herbs made on-site, and a cool-off in the natural spring bath (book ahead, as they take only four guests a day). For men (and locals), Cam-Beach Steam & Sauna on Street 730 isn’t a tour or guided experience, it’s simply where local men go, offering traditional herbal steam, dry saunas, and Khmer massage, and it’s very popular.
Yoga & Multi-Day Retreats
Kampot has a strong wellness community that regularly draws visitors who end up staying far longer than planned:
Residential Retreats (2 to 5+ Days) The Yoga Palace in the International Village runs flexible retreats starting from two nights. It features a rooftop yoga shala overlooking Bokor Mountain, twice-daily classes, meditation, and healthy meals made with fresh local market ingredients.
Drop-In Classes (1.5 Hours) If you are not doing a full retreat, drop into a morning class on the open riverside deck at Banteay Srey or upstairs at Simple Things in town before breakfast. See our Yoga in Kampot guide for current options.
The Evening Wind-Downs (Every Night)
Evenings in Kampot are unhurried and sociable:
Sunset & Firefly River Cruise Daily boats depart from just past the new bridge around 5:30 PM to catch the sun setting behind Bokor Mountain, drifting back in the dark past river trees lit by fireflies, drink included. See our River Cruises guide for current operators.
Kampot Historical Walking Tour Kampot is full of secrets: a colonial past as a remote trading port, its time under the Khmer Rouge, and hidden spirits in shrines around town. Discover all that and more with a guided tour on the Sunset Walking Tour before dinner.
Old Town Dining Kampot has one of the best food scenes in Cambodia for a town its size. You will find authentic Khmer pepper crab, French bakeries, wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, and Indian kitchens, many run by chefs who have settled here from around the world. Browse our recommendations in Where to Eat in Kampot, or see our guide for vegetarians and vegans.
The Verdict: How Many Days Do You Really Need?
With this much on offer, you can really make the Kampot experience your own: pick and choose from the lists above and see the town the way you want to. But if you’re short on time and want to see as much as possible, here’s how we’d suggest spending it.
2 Days (The Rushed Glimpse)
You’ve got places to be, and Kampot’s not it. With just two days, here’s what we suggest to make the most of your time: get the whirlwind tuk-tuk tour to stop off at the main attractions all in one day. Day two, choose either Bokor Mountain or Kep to see those classic spots, or a countryside bicycle tour if you’re after a more authentic local experience. You’ll see the popular tourist attractions, and be able to move on.
3 Days (The Minimum Recommended Stay)
This is the practical minimum for most travellers. Spend one day on the tuk-tuk loop to cover the main attractions, then fill the other two with a mix of full and half-day activities, like the countryside cycling tour, Bokor Mountain, or Green Cathedral kayaking, with time left over to enjoy the riverfront and dining in the evenings. You’ll see the signature landscapes without running a race against the clock.
4 to 5 Days (The Sweet Spot)
This is what we’d suggest if you can manage it. It gives you the chance to properly explore Kampot, Kep, and Kampong Trach, visit the farms, enjoy the town itself, and dabble in the other activities on offer, all without rushing. You have time to escape the heat during the hottest hours, explore beyond the standard tourist trail, and experience the slow river rhythm that makes people fall in love with the town.
A Week or More (“Kampot Time”)
You probably won’t plan for this long, but it might just happen. You can easily spend several days just getting lost in the countryside on a scooter. An extended yoga retreat, or volunteering with the NGOs that take help on farms and in schools, are also good ways to fill the time. There’s also a large expat scene here, with pool leagues, chess meetups, badminton clubs, and more. There’s a reason so many foreigners have chosen Kampot to live: once you let yourself settle in, it’s a hard place to leave.
At High Tide! Joe Pitman, an Australian known locally as 'Pu Joe', has rescued and rehabilitated over 60 dogs who now roam freely at the sanctuary on the Kampot River.
The reality is that it simply wasn't feasible to provide tests and licensing for everyone across the country, so in 2016, the Government of Cambodia decreed that motorbikes less than 150cc were excluded from license requirements. So, you don't need a license for smaller motorbikes. However, it's almost certain your medical insurance will see it differently!
Why do so many Cambodian cats have crooked, stumpy tails?
There's nothing wrong with them! They're born that way.
Originally called auto-rickshaws, motorized vehicles started replacing traditional hand-pulled rickshaws around the 1950s and '60s. They were produced in Japan with little two-stroke engines that would putter down the street, making a 'tuk-tuk tuk-tuk tuk-tuk' sound. The locals started referring to them as tuk-tuks.
Should I tip my tuk-tuk driver?
If you've negotiated a price with a tuk-tuk driver, you can consider that tip included. However, if you're using an app like PassApp or Grab, be aware those prices are competitive, commissioned, and not very profitable for the drivers. A generous tip on the already small fee will probably be appreciated and help out a lot.
What is the colourful flag you see everywhere in Cambodia?
The multicoloured flag is the International Buddhist Flag. First invented in 1885 in Sri Lanka, it was officially adopted as the International Buddhist Flag in 1950 at the World Fellowship of Buddhists.
Are monks vegetarian?
Not in the Theravada tradition. Buddha was asked if monks should be vegetarian and he said no, it's not required. A monk should not eat meat if they have seen, heard, or suspect the animal was killed specifically for them. But monks have to beg for their food so, if someone shares their food, a monk may not refuse it, even if there is meat in it.
What does Sok-Sabay mean?
Many Cambodians will greet you with a friendly Sok-Sabay! Sabay simply means happiness. Sok is a wish that all things work out for you: money, health, and safety. Often translated as luck, but really more a wish for peace of mind in all things. If someone says it to you, the correct answer is just to say it back!
Who is the figure with the giant statue on Bokor Mountain?
Lok Yeay Mao is an ancient local Neak-Ta guardian spirit of Kampot Province.
For Cambodians, they aren't pyjamas; they're farming clothes. Traditional, loose-fitting, light clothes that cover the skin to protect them from the sun. Even the Khmer Rouge dressed people in 'black pyjamas'.
How do Cambodians know which chickens are theirs?
Chickens instinctively roost: they have a favourite safe spot where they spend the night. So, you don't need to keep track of your chickens. Every evening, about 30 minutes before sunset, they all come back home!
