Kampot sits on a wide river below Bokor mountain, with old colonial shophouses, cheap riverside guesthouses and the pepper farms that grow Kampot pepper. Kep, about half an hour away, is a quiet old seaside resort where you eat crab cooked with fresh green pepper at the market and take a boat to Rabbit Island. Most people heading for the Cambodian coast go to Sihanoukville and the party islands; this is the calmer, cheaper half. Fly into Phnom Penh, then take a 3-4 hour bus or the slow train. Base yourself in Kampot and day-trip to Kep, or split the nights. Four days.
When to go
November to February is the best time: dry and as cool as it gets. March to May stays dry but gets hot. May or June to October is the wet season, with daily downpours and fast, dangerous rivers (FCDO).
Kampot right now and the next 7 days
Loading the forecast…
Kampot on the map
Tap anything in the list: the map zooms straight to it. Tap your starting city to see the way there.
The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Kampot & Kep · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Prices are per the way you travel, not a package.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Kampot & Kep in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Bokor mountainFull day · ₹1,300 each · Old French hill station, abandoned church and viewpoints above the coast. Tuk-tuk about US$30 for the day (split it); Popokvil waterfall about US$0.50. The park itself reportedly has no gate fee.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00La Plantation pepper farm2 h · free · Free guided tour of a working Kampot pepper farm; a longer US$25 tour adds tasting with the farmers.
- 10:30Kep crab market2 h · ₹620 each · Watch the crab baskets come in, then eat pepper crab at a market shack.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 14:00Kayak on the Kampot river2 h · ₹430 each · About US$5 for two hours. Go at sunset in the dry season; skip it when the river is high.
- 08:00Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay)Full day · ₹860 each · Public boat from Kep about US$7-10 return. Touts at the pier quote US$25 per person: ask for the public boat.
- Lunch on the way
How to get to Kampot
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus or minivan Cheapest
₹860Giant Ibis, Kampot Express, Mekong Express and others, about US$8-10 (budget companies from about US$5). Get to the city or the operator's office from Techo airport first; check that transfer.
Train
₹860Slow but scenic, about US$10 on the September 2026 fare table. Reserve a seat ahead.
Private taxi
₹4,300From about US$50 for the car (up to about US$80 by tuk-tuk/taxi from some guesthouses). Worth it for three or four people.
Bus Last leg
₹430About US$3-6. A tuk-tuk is about US$20 return for the day.
Getting around once you're there
Tuk-tuk
₹260About US$2-5 a ride around town. Use the PassApp app to see the fare before you book.
Bicycle
₹90From about US$1 a day. Kampot town and the river roads are flat.
Tuk-tuk for the day
₹2,600About US$30 per vehicle for Bokor, or about US$20 return to Kep. Split it.
Kampot-Kep bus
₹430About US$3-6 each way.
Where to stay in Kampot
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹440/nightPlenty of hostels; the cheapest dorms start under ₹450.
Riverside bungalow
₹2,200/nightBungalows on the river, about US$18-30 a night. Quieter, but you need a tuk-tuk into town.
Boutique
₹3,800/nightAbout US$41-50 a night for the nicer hotels. Resorts run about US$65.
What to eat, and what it costs
Rice noodles with pork
₹130Breakfast noodle bowl, about US$1.50.
Beef noodle soup in a café
₹300About US$3-3.50.
Grilled fish with rice at Kep market
₹390About US$4.50 with a drink in an older report.
Crab with Kampot green pepper, Kep
₹620The dish of the coast. A small plate has been reported at about US$5-7.25; crab by the kilo about US$7-9. Prices are not posted: ask before you order.
Things to do in Kampot
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Bokor mountain
₹1,300Old French hill station, abandoned church and viewpoints above the coast. Tuk-tuk about US$30 for the day (split it); Popokvil waterfall about US$0.50. The park itself reportedly has no gate fee.
La Plantation pepper farm
FreeFree guided tour of a working Kampot pepper farm; a longer US$25 tour adds tasting with the farmers.
Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay)
₹860Public boat from Kep about US$7-10 return. Touts at the pier quote US$25 per person: ask for the public boat.
Kep crab market
₹620Watch the crab baskets come in, then eat pepper crab at a market shack.
Kayak on the Kampot river
₹430About US$5 for two hours. Go at sunset in the dry season; skip it when the river is high.
Kampot Provincial Museum
₹170Small museum in the old colonial governor's building. About US$2.
Day trips and next stops
Kep (if based in Kampot)
₹430Bus or tuk-tuk
Ha Tien, Vietnam (Prek Chak border)
₹1,030Tuk-tuk or taxi to the border
Phnom Penh
₹860Bus, train or taxi
Sihanoukville airport
₹4,700Taxi
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Thai border, far from here, and land crossings to Thailand are suspended. The US rates Cambodia Level 2 (Sept 2026) for crime, unrest and unexploded ordnance. Kampot and Kep are not named in either.
- Roads are dangerous after dark and moto taxis are poorly maintained (FCDO). Come down Bokor in daylight, wear a helmet, and never leave your passport as a deposit for a bike.
- Rivers run fast in the rainy season (June-October) and boats are sometimes overloaded. Skip river swims and boat trips in bad weather.
Ways to spend less
- Ask for the public boat to Rabbit Island: about US$7-10 return instead of the US$25 the pier touts quote.
- The La Plantation pepper tour is free. Buy your pepper there, straight from the farm.
- Share a tuk-tuk for Bokor: about US$30 a vehicle, so four people pay well under ₹700 each.
Before-you-go checklist
Kampot in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Kampot & Kep?
Jan–Feb, Dec is the best time. November to February is the best time: dry and as cool as it gets. March to May stays dry but gets hot. May or June to October is the wet season, with daily downpours and fast, dangerous rivers (FCDO).
How do I reach Kampot & Kep?
Bus or minivan: Phnom Penh (KTI) → Phnom Penh city → Kampot, 3-4 h, about ₹860 one way. Train: Phnom Penh → Kampot (Royal Railway), 5-7 h, about ₹860 one way. Private taxi: Phnom Penh → Kampot, About 3 h, about ₹4,300 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Kampot & Kep cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹4,050 on a shoestring, ₹7,200 mid-range or ₹15,900 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus or minivan (Phnom Penh (KTI) → Phnom Penh city → Kampot) at about ₹860 each way.
How many days do you need in Kampot & Kep?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Bokor mountain, La Plantation pepper farm, Kep crab market, Kayak on the Kampot river without rushing.
Is Kampot & Kep good for families or solo travellers?
Kampot & Kep works best for solo, couples, groups. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Kampot & Kep?
Doable in Kampot, harder in Kep: Kampot's traveller cafés all have vegetarian dishes, and stir-fried morning glory and vegetable curries are easy to find. Khmer cooking uses fish sauce and prahok (fermented fish) widely, so say 'ot sach' (no meat) and 'ot teuk trei' (no fish sauce).
Will my phone and cards work in Kampot & Kep?
Buy a SIM at the airport or a phone shop in town with your passport. Some hotels and cafés take cards; markets, tuk-tuks and boats are cash only. US dollars and riel are both used everywhere; change comes in riel. Check US notes: FCDO warns of fake dollars given as change.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO: advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Thai land border only; Thai land crossings suspended; no other areas named. Updated 19 Mar 2026, current 11 Oct 2026
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO: road danger after dark, moto taxis, helmet fines, don't leave passport for bike hire, fake US notes, boat/river dangers Jun-Oct, landmines off main routes; Kampot/Kep not mentioned
- gov.uk Official30-day tourist visa; e-visa or visa on arrival; free e-arrival card for air arrivals
- fox5atlanta.comUS State Dept Level 2 for Cambodia issued 15 Sep 2026; Level 4 near the Thai border; Kampot/Kep not mentioned (news; official page did not load)
- indietraveller.coKampot prices (last edit 25 Aug 2026): tuk-tuk US$2-5, bicycle US$1/day, guesthouses US$10-50, La Plantation free tour / US$25 tour, kayak US$5 for 2 h, museum US$2, taxi Phnom Penh US$80, border US$12, Sihanoukville airport US$55; best months Nov-Feb
- visitkohrong.comPhnom Penh-Kampot operators, bus US$4-10, taxi from ~US$50, 148 km by road
- travelfish.orgPhnom Penh-Kampot buses ~US$8-10 (budget US$5), Royal Railway fare table (Sep 2026) US$10 to Kampot (via search summary)
- redbus.com.khKep-Kampot bus from US$3 (May 2026)
- bestpricetravel.comRabbit Island public boat ~US$10 return (2026)
- kep-cambodia.comRabbit Island boat US$7 day / US$10 overnight; private US$25
- theworldtrippers.comBokor: no park entrance fee; Popokvil waterfall US$0.50; tuk-tuk ~US$30
- hostelworld.comKampot dorms from ~Rs395-493 (live INR), rescaled
Similar underrated places
.jpg/500px-Nong_Khiaw_pano(1).jpg)
Nong KhiawKarst towers over a green river, a viewpoint that ruins every other viewpoint, and a slow boat to get there.From ₹1,100/day · Oct–Dec
Ha Giang LoopThree days on a motorbike through limestone towers on the Chinese border, sleeping in homestays for the…From ₹1,200/day · Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct
Quy NhonA real Vietnamese beach city with a 12th-century Cham temple in the middle of town and turquoise coves you…From ₹1,250/day · Feb–AprMake the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: Hans A. Rosbach · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Hans A. Rosbach · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Mx. Granger · CC0 · source · Photo: Mx. Granger · CC0 · source · Photo: Peter Merrett · Public domain · source
