Town · Cambodia · Southeast Asia
A riverside town of pepper farms, old shophouses and Bokor mountain views
Photo: Phon PhaNith / Pexels
Kampot is a small riverside town in southern Cambodia, famous for its pepper and a base for Bokor National Park and Kep. Hostels sit along the river, in the old town and in the countryside nearby.
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Best for: Walking to cafés, bars and sunset views
The old town centre, with its low shophouses and colonial-era buildings, runs along the river. Cafés, restaurants and bars are close together, and river boats leave from the promenade. Hostels here put you within a short walk of the central market and most of the town, though expect some evening noise on the busier streets.
Best for: Pools, hammocks and a slower pace
On both banks outside the centre, a number of hostels and guesthouses sit in gardens along the river, with decks and pools. You will typically need a bicycle, scooter or tuk-tuk to reach the town centre. It suits travellers who want quiet evenings and views over the water.
Best for: Rural quiet and cycling
Roads leaving the town pass rice fields, salt flats and pepper plantations. A few accommodation options sit among them, usually with limited evening options nearby. It is a good choice if you plan to spend your days cycling or visiting farms, and less convenient if you want to eat out in town each night.
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Kampot lies on the Tuk Chhou River, a few kilometres inland from the Gulf of Thailand, with the Elephant Mountains rising behind it. Cambodia's official tourism site describes Kampot pepper as renowned for decades as one of the best in the world, and the province is also known for sea salt, durian and other fruit. The town itself is small, relaxed and easy to walk.
Days here are built around the river and the surrounding countryside. River cruises, kayaking and sunset boat trips are common, and pepper farms can be visited on day trips. Bokor Hill Station, at about 1,027 metres in Bokor National Park, is the best-known excursion in the province. The nearby coast of Kep, with its beach and small islands such as Rabbit Island, makes an easy day trip.
Many hostels sit on the riverbank or just outside town, with pools, hammocks and bicycle or scooter rental. The atmosphere is slower than Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville, and plenty of backpackers extend their stay. Kampot works as a stop between Phnom Penh and the southern islands, or on the way to the Vietnamese border at Ha Tien, via Kep.
Kampot has no commercial airport of its own. Most travellers arrive by bus or minibus from Phnom Penh, which typically takes around three to four hours, or from Sihanoukville to the north-west and Kep to the east. Cross-border travellers also come via the Prek Chak and Ha Tien crossing with Vietnam. Taxis, tuk-tuks and hostel pickups cover the short distance from the bus drop-off into town, and many visitors then rent bicycles or scooters to explore.
The cool, drier season from about November to March, with temperatures of roughly 20 to 26°C, is the most comfortable for sightseeing. The hot season runs from March to May, reaching roughly 29 to 34°C. The rainy season runs from about May to October and is humid, with some rural roads hard to use at the end of the season. Kampot is slightly cooler than much of the country because of its coast and mountains.
Kampot is a small town in southern Cambodia on the Tuk Chhou River, a few kilometres from the Gulf of Thailand. There is no commercial airport. Most travellers come by bus or minibus from Phnom Penh, typically a journey of around three to four hours, or from Sihanoukville and Kep. It is also reachable from southern Vietnam via the Ha Tien border crossing.
Kampot is best known for Kampot pepper, which Cambodia's tourism authority describes as renowned for decades as one of the best in the world. The province is also known for sea salt, durian and other fruit. Visitors come for river cruises, pepper-farm visits, the old colonial-era town centre and day trips to Bokor National Park and the coast near Kep.
Popular activities include river cruises and kayaking, visiting pepper farms, cycling through the countryside and taking a day trip to Bokor National Park. Kep and Rabbit Island are common coastal excursions. Many hostels rent bicycles and scooters and can organise tours, and evenings tend to be spent on the riverfront with food, music and sunset views.
Many travellers include Kampot between Phnom Penh and the south coast. It offers a slower pace than Sihanoukville, with river and mountain scenery. From Kampot you can continue to Sihanoukville, the departure point for boats to islands such as Koh Rong, or cross into Vietnam. Check bus times in advance, as services vary during the day and by season.
The cool, drier months from about November to March are the most comfortable, with temperatures of roughly 20 to 26°C. The hot season runs from March to May, and the rainy season from about May to October brings humidity of up to 90 per cent and the occasional hard-to-use rural road. Kampot is slightly cooler than much of the country thanks to its coast and mountains.
Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.
