What to do in Kampot, Cambodia: 8 fun experiences
What to do on a trip to Kampot
If you are wondering what to see and what to do in Kampot, Cambodia, here are 8 experiences in this relaxed river side town and the surrounding region to add to your Kampot itinerary.
Compared to the bigger cities of Pnomh Penh or Siem Reap, Kampot provides a laid back atmosphere and a chance to get out on the water or explore the Cambodian countryside.
Here are 8 fun ideas for your Kampot itinerary !
Kayaking the ‘Green Cathedral’ in Kampot
The town of Kampot is located along the Praek Tuek Chhu River and kayaking is a great choice if you are looking for something more active to do. Many of the riverside guesthouses and resorts will rent kayaks and equipment for other water related activities like stand up paddle boarding. Kayaking along the edge of the river in the more secluded jungle area should be perfectly safe, just keep an eye out for the larger riverboats in open water areas especially around sunset and avoid kayaking at night.
While there are rapids around 10km outside of town if you are an expert, most beginners and casual kayakers will probably enjoy the ‘Green Cathedral Loop’, a peaceful, jungle lined waterway around 5km from the town of Kampot. You can try the Bopha Prey Riverside Guesthouse or Champa Lodge for kayak rentals.
2. Kampot Sunset Boat Cruise
If you enjoy being out on the water, a boat cruise is a great way to enjoy the sunset views from a unique perspective, and many of the cruises include a beer in the ticket price and sell additional drinks on board. They typically board around 5pm and cruise for about two hours.
Once the sun has gone down, the boat may pull into an area where you can view fireflies which look like little twinkling stars among the jungle trees. On the way back into town, you will also pass under bridges lit up with neon lights and you can even choose a cruise that starts at one of the resorts or guesthouses along the riverfront and drops you off in the town of Kampot just in time for dinner.
There are several operators in Kampot, and some of the boat tours are aimed at younger backpackers and will have more of a party atmosphere, so just check what you are signing up for, you can even do private cruises if you don’t want to be with a group!
3. Kampot Old Market
The main market in Kampot, sometimes called the ‘Old Market’ is a fairly typical market with different sections offering clothing, jewellery, home supplies etc. and all different kinds of foods, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, and meats.
If you are visiting from another country, have a look for things you’ve never tried before, you might find some fruits you have never even seen. You can visit the market with a local guide for a tasting tour or picking up some cooking supplies. Visiting the Kampot market may be included with some cooking classes or Kampot countryside tours if you want expert advice on what to try.
While you are in town to visit the market, have a look around at the mix up of different architecture styles. The town of Kampot was a major trading port in the French colonial era and you can still see many buildings from that time in the town centre area.
4. The Kampot Durian Roundabout Statue
The durian statue in a roundabout is only about half a kilometre from the Kampot Old Market so these two attractions are easy to visit together. The Kampot region is famous for two main products – durian fruit and black pepper !
There is a large statue of a durian fruit in a traffic roundabout right in the centre of town, but there is a safe area around the base of the statue for pedestrians to visit and take pictures without getting hit by traffic. Many of the major crops, including durian, were wiped out during the war years in the 1970s and have more recently been replanted.
Try some durian if you get the chance when they are in season from around June to July. The Cambodian durians from Kampot province are famously sweet, despite the strong smell, and some people say they are even better than the durians from Thailand !
Besides visiting the durian statue in the roundabout, there are several durian plantations in the area if you want a more in depth experience to see how they are grown.
5.Take a Cooking Class in Kampot
Kampot is particularly famous for producing Kampot black pepper, so taking a cooking class can be a fun way to learn how to incorporate this popular ingredient into your cooking and learn some Cambodian recipes to take home.
La Plantation Organic Farm is located about 40 minutes to an hour from Kampot and offers a cooking class on site at the farm that can be suitable for both meat eaters and vegetarians depending on your preference. Try making traditional dishes like fish curry or mushroom based recipes cooked in banana leaves, and you will get a chance to grind some fresh pepper for your dish. The Kampot cooking class offered by La Plantation is held in an outdoor kitchen area and is led by their executive chef, and you will need to book in advance.
6.Visit a Pepper Plantation near Kampot
If you only do one thing in Kampot, visit a pepper plantation ! The Kampot region is famous for pepper production in several varieties including green, black, white and red pepper which are produced by picking the pepper berries at different stages of development. Pepper has been grown in Kampot since the 13th century and the industry was devasted by the war years in the 1970s, though production has returned after replanting in the early 2000s.
I visited the La Plantation Organic Farm just outside of Kampot and we learned how pepper is grown and picked during a tour of the fields along with other organic fruits like pineapples. We also enjoyed a pepper tasting in the gift shop where we were able to sample around 10 varieties. This was a fun way to learn more about where pepper comes from and it can actually be used in more products than you might think, including pepper on desserts and Kampot pepper rum !
7.Kampot Countryside Tour
While a lot of activities in Kampot are centred around the river, this is also a good region for exploring the countryside, passing by rice fields and local villages on a motorbike or from a tuk-tuk taxi. A popular stop just outside of Kampot is the ‘Secret Lake’ which is actually a lake created by a dam built during the war years, and is now a spot for relaxing or swimming.
While Kampot is most famous for the black pepper, salt is produced in the region as well in the ‘salt fields’ made by trapping sea water inland. These salt fields can be seen around 5km outside Kampot in the same direction as the Secret Lake and La Plantation Organic Pepper Farm.
You could visit the countryside independently on motorbikes or hire a tuk-tuk taxi, many full day tours to the pepper plantations will include stops at the Secret Lake and salt fields. Check the road and weather conditions before you leave if you plan to go independently, and be prepared for either mud or dust as you will not always be on paved roads.
8.Watch the Sunset from a Riverside Restaurant
A final thing to do in Kampot is to just relax and enjoy the slow pace of life. Choose a riverfront restaurant and watch the sun go down over the river in Kampot while you enjoy a local speciality like ‘fish amok’ a creamy, coconut based curry which is steamed in a banana leaf, or try fried crab with green Kampot pepper, which is hard to find outside the region.
Vegetarians might enjoy a green mango salad, or a mild Khmer spiced curry with sweet potato, usually accompanied by a fresh baguette. Once the sun has set, you can watch the brightly lit riverboats pass by along the waterfront.
Is Kampot worth visiting ?
If you are wondering whether Kampot is worth visiting, these 8 experiences should provide a good overview of some fun things to do in the town of Kampot itself and the surrounding region. I really thought it was a nice place to relax and get a contrast from the bigger cities in Cambodia.
How much time do you need in Kampot ?
In terms of how many days you need to experience Kampot, around 3-4 days would be reasonable to take some time to relax and try a few activities. You could also spend a week or more here if you want a break from long term travel and big cities.
Visiting Cambodia with a tour group
If you are considering visiting Cambodia and would prefer to travel with a small group, check out my comprehensive review of the 10 day Intro Travel Cambodia tour that I joined to visit some highlights of the country.
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