Kampot

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Kampot

In a nutshell

Pretty, somnolent Kampot has riverine charm and makes a great base for a trip to Bokor to check out a ruined casino, church and splendid views. Relax by the river. Check out the disappearing colonial architecture. Take home some piquant Kampot pepper.

Sleepy Kampot sits on the east bank of the Kampot River and enjoys spectacular views across to Bokor and Elephant Mountains, which make up the sizeable Bokor National Park. The town was once a trading centre and until the establishment of a deep sea port at Sihanoukville in the 1950s, Kampot was Cambodia's primary port. A smattering of small fishing boats can still be seen unloading every morning a short walk south of the main town on the dirt road parallel to the river. Given Kampot's proximity to the Vietnamese border, fish often isn't the only catch being unloaded, with smuggling -- particularly of cigarettes -- a handy extra earner for the fishermen.

Today, Kampot is best known for its pepper, which is truly excellent. Pepper plantations as well as a few low-key sites can be visited from town, which also forms an ideal base for trips up to jungle-clad Bokor (when possible), a highlight of any visit to the Cambodian coast. Atop Bokor are a church and a casino, remnants from Cambodia's French colonial period. Today they're both in a seriously decrepit state -- the Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese spent a long stretch shooting at each other here, with one team in the casino and the other in the church.

Kampot is both somnolent and pretty, in a rundown kind of way. Plenty of villas and old shopfront trading houses, especially along the river road, make it a pleasant area to wander through -- thankfully Kampot hasn't lost too many of its older buildings to the glass and brass brigade. Given time and sufficient interest from travellers, many of these buildings will hopefully be retained.

Along with its relaxed ambience comes a host of friendly locals and an excellent selection of places to stay, from cheap backpacker-orientated guesthouses through to some fine flashpacker and midrange hotels. Kampot also boasts plenty of decent places to enjoy Cambodian and Western food and just hang out.

Within town, activities include taking a walk over the once-bombed but now repaired river bridge for a view of the town, enjoying a sunset boat cruise up the Kampot River or just hiring a bicycle and meandering about. You also, of course, need to enjoy at least one sunset over Bokor by the river with a drink in hand.

A small but growing number of people are also attracted to Kampot to spend some time with a volunteer project. Choose from a range of options, including teaching English to children through to longer-term projects working with disadvantaged groups. Blissful Guesthouse and the Little Garden Bar Guesthouse are two good places to start with enquiries.

Further afield are some caves just off the road to Kep, some salt fields and a small waterfall.

Get orientated with a map of Kampot, Cambodia

Kampot reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

You can buy land here . . . I just might!

A place I certainly want to return to -

Further updates, the road to Bokor is great, if the site at the top isn't the best just remember that it is the journey not the destination. Also, a ride toward 'Nut Hill' around the Salt Farms that are on the island where the river splits would be a great afternoon to add to a Bokor ride day. The sunset from the area is great, but be sure to head back before it goes all the way down and the roads . .. well, they stop being roads.

The road to Kep is in terrible condition, but you can still do it as a day trip - and I recommend just checking Kep out for the day, you'd probably be disappointed to move on from Kampot to stay there unless you are going on to Rabbit Island for an extended relax. If you really want to relax though, try some of the accomodations up by Boddhi Villa north of town and on the west bank of the river, those on the east bank are more high-end.

Captain Chim, near the market at the center of town offers an evening sunset boat ride each night, be at his resteraunt at 3:30 to get a place, for only 5$ and a beer included it is a deal. Also, big shout-out to great food and service at the Rusty Keyhole - you really won't be disappointed with the BBQ.

We planned for 3 nights, added one more, but would have liked to change locations from the center of town and relax more on the river accomodations to the north, but didn't have time. You could easily pull off a week here - and add a day or two to visit Rabbit Island. My only real problem was that accomodation in the most convenient parts of town seems a little steep for what you are getting.
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- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By caseyprich (dabbler)
Written on 19th February, 2013 after a visit to Kampot in February, 2013

Also reviewed by caseyprich: Battambang, Can Tho, Champasak, China Beach, Da Nang, Don Dhet, Gili Meno, Hoi An, Hue, Kawah Ijen,
Kampot Updates

Some of the travelfish info on Kampot is a bit outdated. Bokor's old casino is currently being renovated, and access to it is now sadly blocked for construction. A massive amount of additional development is also underway on the plateau. Great hikes and scenery are still plentiful.

In Kampot proper, many of the historic buildings are being renovated by both westerners and Khmers. It is also not as somnolent as in the past, with more late night bars and regular live music on Thursdays (Madi Bar, a Khmer run bar on the riverfront), Fridays (Bodhi Villa), and Saturdays (Abc, a new French-run bar near the Old Market).

Some of the businesses listed are also gone or under new ownership. Jasmine is now Frangipani. Coco House, Piggie's, Sundowners, Akashi, and Bonkors are gone. Rumor has it that Kampuccino, a relaxed coffee house, is moving to the old Piggie's building. A new coffee shop, Cafe Espresso, has also opened across from the 333 Bakery (also known as the Shirtless Man Bakery) a few blocks off the riverfront. A new ice cream and pastry shop is soon to open on the first cross street north of Old Bridge Road, a block off the river. There is also a new pizza shop, Pizza Pizza 36, two blocks from the river toward Blissful Guesthouse. They offer free delivery. Just around the corner near the 2000 Monument roundabout is the new Smile Tours Cafe, which offers inexpensive western and Khmer food, as well as a range of tour options. There are also several curry shacks further down the road near Blissful and Ny Ny. Another in the crop of new restaurants is Cafe Malay, located just off the river near the Old Market and serving western and Khmer cuisine. I would also be hugely remiss if I didn't mention Wunderbar, a Swiss-German run restaurant on the riverfront. They offer a large menu specializing in western food with a German flavor and Khmer cuisine. The prices are excellent, the staff is friendly and prompt, and it is often open later than some of the other kitchens. You can also get late night eats around the corner at Bar Red, or at the bar at Bokor Mountain Lodge. Top-notch Khmer food at bargain prices can also be found just past the Old Market at Captain Chim's. Chim also runs tours, boat trips, and rents motos.

There are several new, modern, and inexpensive guesthouses, including Ny Ny across the road from Blissful, and Paris, a block from the river near the Old Market. For more rustic accommodation, across the river near Bodhi Villa you can find Olly's Place, which offers bungalows, river access, and western and Khmer food. Further down the Tek Chou road past Bodhi Villa, a new Khmer-run guesthouse is opening, with live Khmer traditional music planned for every Saturday. Keep going 6km down the Tek Chou road toward Utopia, and look for the Cambodian Peoples' Party sign on the right, with a smaller sign pointing the way to The Greenhouse. Greenhouse offers food and bungalows, and is situated on a beautiful river bend. The building itself is the former Snow Bar, a Phnom Penh institution that was closed, moved piece-by-piece, and reassembled here. The Greenhouse also hosts live music several times a month.

The prices for share taxis and minibuses from Phnom Penh to Kampot has also gone up slightly. Expect to pay $10 for a front seat in a share taxi, or $7 for a sort of seat-and-a-half in the back. You can sometimes get the price down to $5 or $6, but expect a very cramped ride. The taxi trip now takes an average of 2 to 3 hours. Minibuses are about $5. Depending on your luck, it may be a packed ride, and expect to spend 4 or more hours on the road. It is also important to note that to find a share taxi to Kampot from Phnom Penh, you need to go to Damko Market (Psar Damko), out past Olympic Stadium. If you just ask for a share or ''lan taxi'' to Kampot at most guesthouses in Phnom Penh, they will be able to direct you to Damko. This is also the typical drop-off spot for taxis from Kampot. Of course, if you arrange for an entire car for yourself or your party, you can direct the driver where to deposit you.

Organized trips to Bokor are recommended, but with the road up now open, it's not too difficult to rent a moto and make the trip yourself, although you may have a rough time trying to locate some of the trails, waterfalls and other attractions.

Also worth mentioning is Kampot's Old Market near the river. Long just a shell of a building, the Old Market is being renovated at a rapid pace, and should be open sometime in 2012.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By jringsak (dabbler)
Written on 8th December, 2011 after a visit to Kampot in December, 2011
Kampot - a 4 day stay

If you want a relaxing stay this is the place for you. With its coffee shops, bars and river it is the perfect place to recharge your batteries or get used to bring in Cambodia.

I have to give a mention to the Rusty Keyhole. What a place that is. The owners are friendly, knowledgable and helpful and the local ex-pats who congregate there are welcoming too. I can't speak highly enough of their hospitality and quality of food - thanks to the landlady, Kom.

I was booked in for 2 but ended up staying for 4 nights.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By Prettyfish16 (dabbler)
Written on 19th June, 2011 after a visit to Kampot in June, 2011

Also reviewed by Prettyfish16: Hoi An, Kanchanaburi,

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