Welcome to Kampot! A town in southern Cambodia, beloved by expats.
Some people call it a sleepy town, because life flows slowly here, and thanks to the colonial buildings it feels as if time has stopped here. This makes every visitor to this city wish to stay longer then planned.
Already after the first walk around the center of Kampot we knew that we would like this place.
There were fewer tuk tuks and scooters than in other towns in Cambodia. The center is easy to get around on foot, and numerous cafes and restaurants are just begging to be visited.
In addition, the sunset at the river side was one of the most beautiful we have seen recently.
Start your tour with the most distinctive traffic circle in Cambodia.
A traffic circle with a huge durian statue. Where did the idea for this traffic circle come from? Kampot used to be a place where you could meet numerous durian orchards.
For a time, however, the durian orchards were replaced by rice fields (during the reign of the Red Khmers). But Kampot is going back to its roots and during your stay in this charming city you will certainly not miss this fruits.
Cambodia was once a French colony, hence the references also in the architecture in Kampot.
Stroll through the city and admire the colonial buildings, full of restaurants, stores, laundries and pepper stores. Observe the life of the locals, have lunch at one of the stalls in the centurum, or enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes.
Praek Tuek Chhu River and its surroundings allow you to watch amazing sunsets.
You can do this from the boardwalk, near the old town. Or from the amazingly illuminated boats that sail at the river just before sunset.
Whatever you decide on, you can be sure of an amazing spectacle.
Near the durian traffic circle there is a night market loved especially by locals, but also by the most interesting tourists.
In addition to an incredible number of stalls with clothes, there is also a place to eat, as well as a carousel loved by the youngest.
The market is open long before sunset, but only when it begins to get darker and cooler is it besieged by numerous shoppers.
To get a better idea of the lives of the locals in the villages around Kampot, take a bike tour!
Learn about their customs, see how rice noodles are made, and how baskets are woven. Learn how rice grows and how much work is put into its production. The tour guide will be happy to explain to you the life of the locals and answer any questions you may have.
Except that you will also visit nice temple, home of the locals where they produce rice wine, and you will be also able to try it!
Since the area surrounding Kampot is relatively flat, the cycling was easy and fun. And the local kids calling “Hello” from every house make it even more enjoyable.
Kampot is quite well connected to bigger, touristic places like Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. Small buses run daily, so you won’t have problems getting to this city.
Here you can find connection from Sihanoukville to Kampot . If you are coming from Phnom Penh, this is where you find your bus from Phnom Penh to Kampot .
Kampot is not the biggest city, and within the city center you can get everywhere on foot.
On the other hand, if you prefer to drive somewhere on a motorcycle, you can easily rent one at most hotels. The price is about $5 per day. It is a popular means of transport both in Kampot and all over Cambodia.
But remember to drive sensibly and never get on a motorcycle without a helmet.
If you don’t feel confident on a motorcycle, the PassApp which works well in Kampot, will come to your aid. Taxis are plentiful, they are quite fast, cheap and convenient. However, in order to use the PassApp application you need to get a Cambodian Sim Card
A proven sim card with the best internet package is the one from Smart . The sim card itself costs only one dollar, and recharging for a week costs $1.5 per 5GB for regular usage, and 5GB more for apps like WhatsApp or Facebook.
The shop where they sell Smart sim card is located 10 minutes by foot from the traffic circle with durian. Use google maps to get there.
Remember that at registration it is necessary to show your passport.
Kampot is a place popular among people who want to feel the charm of the town, so the hotel base is rich.
Depending, of course, on the size of your wallet, you will certainly find something for yourself.
For those who travel on a budget a good budget hotel is KampongBay Makeng II Guesthouse
There are more hotel options in Kampot more hotel options in Kampot.
In addition to the many street food options such as; located near the durian traffic circle where you will eat crab and vegetable sandwiches, night market full of local cuisine and stalls in the city center where in addition to delicious local cuisine you will also eat Thai specialties (we recommend Jenny‘s authentic Thai food).
There are many restaurants in Kampot worth noting.
At Ecran Noodels you will eat delicious soups (also for vegetarians) full of tasty dumplings filled with vegetables.
At Cafe Espresso Rosters, in addition to incredibly delicious coffee, is serving wonderful balges and quesadillas.
However, our absolute favorite is the vegetarian diner Simple Things, which served an array of delicious dishes such as Mediterranean platter, falafel, vegetable wraps and scrambled tempeh. Everything was incredibly delicious and fresh.
The best months to visit Kampot are between October and January. This is the cool season, so temperatures are not as crazy, although it is still very hot in full sun. On the other hand, the time between March and May is the hottest.
To enter Cambodia, you will need a visa in most cases. You can apply for a Cambodia eVisa ($36) in advance or apply for a visa on arrival ($38) on the day of arrival. Check the visa requirements for Cambodia for your passport in advance.
The prices are per person, except for the accommodation and Taxi, which we rent for 2 people.
Accommodation: $10 / night
Restaurant: $4 – $8 / meal
Pleasure: $1 – $3 / event
Tuk Tuk: $0.50 – $1 / ride
Activity: $20 / event
