Kampot (also called Krong Kampot) is a small city nestled in the south of Cambodia, close to the border with Vietnam. Often skipped in favour of spending longer in bigger cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Kampot is a hidden gem of a destination on the Southeast Asia Backpacking Route. Kampot has a bit of everything: nearby beaches, watersports, National Parks, caves and lush countryside to explore. This guide will cover everything from how many days you need, how to get to Kampot, how to get around, where to stay, what you should do, where to eat and nightlife recommendations.
How many days to spend in Kampot
How many days you spend in Kampot depends greatly on your pace of travel and whether you want to party. A lot of travellers only spend 1 day in Kampot (not including travel days), if they’re on a tighter travel schedule. In one day, you can really only see one side of Kampot and won’t have the chance to fully explore Kampot and the surroundings.
If you have the time 3 full days in Kampot (not including travel days) would allow you to see a bit of everything, but also relax on the river and enjoy a night out. This allows one day to explore the east of Kampot (elephant cave, pepper plantation and Kep Beach). Another big day to explore the west of Kampot (Bokor National Park) and a third day to relax on the river, visit a waterpark, kayak and have a bit of a night out. If visiting Arcadia Waterpark or having a night out isn’t your thing, two days would suffice.
How to get to Kampot
Kampot is a riverside city located in the South of Cambodia, just near the border to Vietnam. It can be directly accessed via van from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. If you’re coming from the islands (Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem), it is a short ferry ride to Sihanoukville. You can also get a night bus from Siem Reap to save a travel day. All buses and ferries can be booked at the bus/ferry station online on 12GOAsia and usually through most hostels. There are also van/bus transfer options from Vietnam to Kampot, from cities such as Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City, but these are not bookable online and require connecting buses.
How to get to Kampot from Phnom Penh
This is the most popular way to get to Kampot. Van transfers depart daily from 5 am to 6:30 pm at 30-minute to 1-hour intervals. The journey takes between 2-4 hours depending on traffic or any other delays. Expect to pay around $9 USD for a ticket, but certain times and bus companies may be a little cheaper or more expensive. Pre-warning, the van transfers are not the most comfortable: often in cramped conditions with poor A/C on quite bumpy roads. Read my full transport guide with tips on what to expect on van transfers in Cambodia here.
How to get to Kampot from Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem
Getting from either of the islands to Kampot involves a ferry/speedboat to Sihanoukville, a tuk-tuk from the port to the city and then a van transfer to Kampot. The biggest piece of advice I can give is do not book your van transfer in advance, in case the ferry is delayed! You can easily book and pay at the van office or book on 12GOAsia once your boat has arrived at the port. Ferries/speed boats depart regularly from Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem from 6:30 am to 4 pm daily. Expect to pay around $13 USD for the ferry and for it to take between 40 minutes to 1 hour. From the port to the town, you have a 15-minute Tuk Tuk ride which should cost around $7 USD (split between however many people you share with).
Van transfers depart three times a day to Kampot: 11:30 am, 2:30 pm and 2:45 pm. The van transfer takes around 3 hours and drops you into the centre of Kampot, where you can then easily get a Tuk Tuk to where you’re staying. The van transfer costs around $9 USD. If you miss the last transfer, you either have to stay a night in Sihanoukville (not recommended) or if you have a group you can pay extra for a private taxi to Kampot. A good price for a 4 seater taxi would be between $30-$45 USD (shared between the number of people in the car). The total travel time from the islands to Kampot is around 4.5-5 hours and should cost around $29 USD.
How to get to Kampot from Siem Reap
If you want to maximise your time in Cambodia and avoid travel days, there is a night bus you can catch from Siem Reap to Kampot. However, from other travellers’ experience, I’ve heard it is not a very comfortable journey and most people don’t sleep very well. The night bus departs from Siem Reap at either 10:30 pm or 11 pm, depending on which company you book with. It takes around 9 hours and you’ll arrive in Kampot city centre between 7 am and 8 am. Bus seats recline to almost flat and you’re provided a pillow and blanket. They also have A/C, so make sure you bring warm layers for the journey. There is a toilet on board but they also make a toilet/ snack stop along the way. Expect to pay around $24 USD for this journey.
How to get around Kampot
Kampot town itself is fairly small, so if you’re staying in town, you can easily walk to restaurants, cafes and bars. If you don’t fancy walking, there are also Tuk Tuks. If you stay allow the river (Arcadia or Yellow Sun), you are not within walking distance of anything so most people will eat and drink at the hostels instead of venturing into the town. Most of the attractions of Kampot are in the surrounding areas, so you will need to plan how you’re going to sightsee. Renting a motorbike/moped is a popular transport method, or you can rent a car with a driver for the day.
Getting around Kampot on Tuk Tuk
There are plenty of Tuk Tuks around Kampot city centre if you don’t fancy walking to get to restaurants, cafes and bars. You can order a Tuk Tuk online on the Grab App or Passapp (a local Cambodian alternative to Grab). Or you can simply flag one down from the street and haggle with them. The most I paid for a Tuk Tuk in the town was $1 USD. But you don’t even really need to get Tuk Tuks (unless it’s raining) and the town is really walkable.
The other place you can get a Tuk Tuk to and from is Arcadia Waterpark. You will need to get a Tuk Tuk as it is a 15-minute drive away so not walkable. You can expect to pay around $6 USD one way for a Tuk Tuk (split between however many people are in the Tuk Tuk). When leaving Arcadia, most likely there will not be Tuk Tuks waiting outside the hostel as it is quite remote. You would need to ask the hostel to call you a Tuk Tuk, which ends up being a little more expensive at $8-10 USD and you will need to wait a while.
Getting around Kampot on motorbike/moped
A lot of people come to Kampot, purely for Arcadia Waterpark, which has become popular from Tik Tok Videos of their insane slides and swings. However, if you want to explore the surrounding countryside (which is so worth it), you either need to hire a private car or rent a motorbike. There are two day trips you can do: the east (elephant cave, pepper plantation and Kep Beach) and the west (Bokor National Park). You should take two days to visit all these sights, but you could technically visit all these places in 1 really long day, but it would be pretty rushed and involve long stretches of driving. If you feel comfortable driving a motorbike/moped, you can rent them through hostels in Kampot for around $8 USD. Kampot is fairly quiet, and the roads are in good condition, so many travellers feel fairly safe driving a moped here.
If you can’t drive a motorbike/moped or don’t want to, the other option is hiring a car with a private driver for the day, which is around $50 USD per car/ Tuk Tuk. Many local tour guides offer either car or Tuk Tuk tours to popular sites, so make sure you haggle their initial price a little. You can usually get three people in the vehicle comfortably (not including the driver/guide) so it works out to be $16 each. The benefit of hiring a private car/Tuk Tuk is you get to chat with the driver and find out more about life in Kampot from a local and you have an enclosed vehicle if it rains. Prices do not include any of the entry fees to the tourist attractions, but these are not very expensive.
Where to stay in Kampot
There are a fair few good hostels you can stay at in Kampot, depending on what you want to get out of your visit. The majority of the hostels are in Kampot town, which is the best location for trying different restaurants, cafes and bars. The other hostels, such as Arcadia, are located along the river, about a 15-minute drive from the town. If you stay along the river, the hostels are pretty all-inclusive with restaurants and bars on-site, so most people don’t venture into town often (or at all) for food or drinks. I did 4 nights in Kampot, with 2 days in Arcadia and 2 days at hostels in Kampot town and I feel like this was a good balance of chilling, partying and sightseeing. You can book all accommodations for Kampot here.
Arcadia Backpackers– best party hostel
Arcadia Backpackers is the most famous hostel in Kampot for its onsite waterpark. If you stay at Arcadia, you can use the waterpark anytime during the day (they block off the waterpark area at night for safety) for free. If you choose to stay elsewhere, you have to pay $7 entry during the day to use the waterpark facilities. Otherwise, you can visit at night to drink and party at the bar for free. Arcadia does have a pretty sweet set-up with lots of hammocks, chill areas, cute dogs and a full bar and restaurant on site. Other than the waterpark, they have kayaks to use and they run a sunset boat river cruise daily. It tends to be a younger backpacker crowd and very much a party atmosphere.
The two downsides are the location and the rooms. The location is far from the town and it can be inconvenient/ an added cost getting Tuk Tuks back and forth. If you stay at Arcadia, bring cash (they don’t accept card and there are no ATMs nearby) and plan to spend your whole stay chilling, drinking and using the waterpark without leaving. The other downside is the rooms, they are pretty basic (so not ideal if you are more of a flashpacker style backpacker and like your comforts). The rooms are small with bunk beds (no curtains) and mosquito nets. There’s no A/C in the rooms, just fans, which can be pretty sweaty on hotter nights.
Karma Traders– best social hostel
Karma Traders is a hidden gem of a hostel in South East Asia. After the craziness of the party at Arcadia, Karma Traders was a welcome change. The dorms are really comfortable with pod-style beds, curtains and air-conditioning. They have a large pool and garden area, which is great for chilling during the day. They also have a sunset bar and restaurant where they have nightly events such as trivia and open-mic nights. Karma Traders was a really great hostel to make friends as a solo traveller if you don’t want a heavy party vibe like Arcadia. Karma Traders is located in Kampot town, but it isn’t right in the centre, as they have a large property/garden area. However, they are within walking distance or a $1 USD Tuk Tuk into the centre.
What to do in Kampot
In Kampot town itself, there is really not much to do, unless you count visiting the big Durian statue in the centre. The best parts of Kampot and the reason travellers visit lie in the surrounding countryside. Top sights include the Bokor National Park and abandoned Hill Station, Kampot peppers plantations, Phnom Chngok Cave Temple and the Kep Beach area. For those who want to party or enjoy watersports, Arcadia Hostel and Waterpark is a much-visit.
Visit Arcadia Waterpark
If day drinking, giant slides and sunset booze cruises are your thing, then you have to spend an afternoon at Arcadia. Travellers who stay at the hostel can use the waterpark for free during the day. If you aren’t staying there, you can still visit but have to pay $7 USD for use of the waterpark. They have many slides, swings, kayaks and do a daily sunset booze cruise down the river. The waterpark closes after dark and then Arcadia becomes the place to party. They have beer pong tournaments, live music and free shots. If you want to make the most of the waterpark, get there around 12 midday. If you just want to visit the bar at night to party, you don’t have to pay the $7 USD fee.
The bar/restaurant is busy from around 7 pm until midnight. Make sure you bring enough cash as they don’t accept card and there are no ATM’s nearby! You will need to get a Tuk Tuk to Arcadia as it is a 15-minute drive away so not walkable. You can expect to pay around $6 USD one way for a Tuk Tuk (split between however many people are in the Tuk Tuk). When leaving Arcadia, most likely there will not be Tuk Tuks waiting outside the hostel as it is quite remote. You would need to ask the hostel to call you a Tuk Tuk, which ends up being a little more expensive at $8-10 USD and you will need to wait a while.
Day trip to explore Kampot Countryside
This is a must-do day trip in Kampot as you can see more of the local side of Cambodia. Usual stops include a pepper farm to try to famous Kampot peppers, Phnom Chngok Cave Temple and Kep Beach. Kampot is famous for Kampot Peppers, with many pepper farms offering free tours and tastings. You can do this day trip either by renting a moped/motorbike or by hiring a driver in either a Tuk Tuk or a car. Motorbike hire is generally $8 USD a day and a private tour is around $50 USD for a Tuk Tuk (split between however many people you have). The two most popular are La Plantation and Botree Organic Farm. You can arrive anytime before 4 pm for a free tour and an explanation about the famous peppers. You should allow around 30 minutes for this stop.
Phnom Chngok Cave Temple
Another popular stop is the Phnom Chngok Cave Temple (also known as the Elephant Cave). This involves a short climb of less than 5 minutes up a stairway to a viewpoint and a cave with an impressive temple. There is no dress code enforced at the cave temple, but there is a $1 USD entry fee. You don’t need too much time here, as you can’t very far into the cave, so at most allow 30 minutes.
Kep Beach
The last popular stop is Kep Beach, which is more for the drive. The drive to Kep Beach is quite scenic through the countryside. Kep Beach itself can be quite crowded and is not always the cleanest. You may or may not want to stop here for a swim. They have a cool crab statue in the water welcoming visitors to Kep. This is also a great stop for lunch, where you can enjoy Kep’s famous crab from the crab market. All seafood at the market is fresh and they cook it in front of you.
Bokor Hill Station (Bokor National Park)
Another popular day trip out of Kampot is to visit the National Park in the West. Bokor National Park is a bit of a strange attraction, given the Hill Station is eerily abandoned. If you have a motorbike, you can drive throughout the National Park. Key sites include Bokor Hill Station, The Black Palace, Lok Yeay Mao Statue and Popokvil Waterfall. The drive around the National Park is very scenic and you can spot monkeys on the side of the road. Most people will spend at least 3 hours exploring the National Park not including travel time to and from Kampot.
Where to eat in Kampot
In Kampot town, there are lots of good cafes, restaurants and casual eateries specialising in lots of different cuisines. Whether you want a quick burger on the go, a smashed avo brunch, to try local dishes or to treat yourself to a nice sit-down dinner- Kampot has a bit of everything. All of the restaurants are within a short walk of the city centre (the big roundabout with the Durian statue). If you’re staying at Arcadia or elsewhere along the river, most of these accommodations have restaurants on-site for your convenience. However, if you fancy something a bit different, you will have to journey into the town for this.
Cafe Espresso Roastery
This is the place to come for breakfast and brunch food or just to chill, get a coffee and spend some time journalling! They have a decent selection of Western brunch foods, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, coffees and teas.
Karma Traders Sunset Bar
The hostel Karma Traders has a restaurant on their rooftop sunset bar, which does fairly good food. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, they have a lot of Western options, but also some local Asian fusion options.
Ecran Noodles
Ecran Noodles is a small local restaurant with great affordable food options. They have lots of different noodle dishes like Pho, Chow Mein and Dumpling Soup. Ecran Noodles is great if you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan food in Kampot as they have a lot of dish options.
Burger Shack
Burgershack is the place to come when you want greasy food after a night of drinking at Arcadia! They’re a small eatery, but they have great burgers, loaded fries and even beer. Burger Shack is great for a quick and easy meal if you’re short on time.
L’osteria
L’osteria is an Italian restaurant right in the centre of Kampot. They have a pretty extensive menu but the pizza is highly recommended if you’re craving some real cheese.
Kampot Nightlife
Kampot backpacker nightlife can be summed up in one word: Arcadia. If you want any sort of decent party, Arcadia Hostel and Waterpark is the place to head for both day drinking and partying of an evening. They have events like beer pong tournaments, and live music some nights and often give out free shots. If you want to have a few drinks, but not a crazy night, the bar at Karma Traders Hostel serves nice cocktails, usually has events on and has more of a low-key vibe. There are also some bars in Kampot town such as Nowhere or Top Cat Bar, but these seemed to be more filled with older expats and vacationers as opposed to backpackers.
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