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Kampot

It's not hard to see why travelers become entranced with Kampot (កំពត). This riverside town, with streets rimmed by dilapidated shophouse architecture, has a dreamy quality; as if someone pressed the snooze button a few years back and the entire town forgot to wake up. The Kompong Bay River – more accurately an estuary – rises and falls with the moons, serving as both attractive backdrop and water-sports playground for those staying in the boutique resorts and backpacker retreats that line its banks upstream from the town proper.

Eclipsed as a port when Sihanoukville was founded in 1959, Kampot also makes an excellent base for exploring Bokor National Park, the neighboring seaside town of Kep, and the superb cave-temples and verdant countryside of the surrounding area. A growing expat community is contributing to new cultural developments and more culinary variety.

Explore Kampot

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Phnom Chhnork
Phnom Chhnork is a short walk through a quilt of rice paddies from Wat Ang Sdok, where a monk collects the entry fee and a gaggle of friendly local kids…
L
La Plantation
This sprawling organic pepper farm offers free guided walks in French, English and Khmer, explaining how several varieties of pepper are grown, harvested…
K
Kampot Provincial Museum
This tiny museum, inside the finely preserved French colonial-era Old Governor's Mansion, traces the history of Kampot and the outlying area. The…
K
Kampot Traditional Music School
During set hours, visitors are welcome to observe traditional music and dance training sessions and/or performances at this school that teaches children…
P
Phnom Sorsia
Phnom Sorsia is home to several natural caves. From the parking area, a stairway leads up the hillside to a gaudy modern temple. From there, steps lead…
T
Tek Chhouu Rapids
Popular with locals, these modest rapids at the end of Tek Chhouu Rd northwest of Kampot are surrounded by food stalls and picnicking platforms. A tuk tuk…
O
Old French Bridge
Destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period, Kampot's old French bridge was later repaired in a mishmash of styles. It is now open to motorbikes and…
O
Old Market
Kampot's Old Market building, with its art-deco-style concrete facade, was constructed during the 1930s. Various shops, travel agencies and cafes rim both…
D
Durian Roundabout
Kampot is famed for its durian, so what could be more fitting than a giant durian monument in celebration of the Marmite of fruit?

P
Phnom Chhnork
Phnom Chhnork is a short walk through a quilt of rice paddies from Wat Ang Sdok, where a monk collects the entry fee and a gaggle of friendly local kids…
L
La Plantation
This sprawling organic pepper farm offers free guided walks in French, English and Khmer, explaining how several varieties of pepper are grown, harvested…
K
Kampot Provincial Museum
This tiny museum, inside the finely preserved French colonial-era Old Governor's Mansion, traces the history of Kampot and the outlying area. The…
K
Kampot Traditional Music School
During set hours, visitors are welcome to observe traditional music and dance training sessions and/or performances at this school that teaches children…
P
Phnom Sorsia
Phnom Sorsia is home to several natural caves. From the parking area, a stairway leads up the hillside to a gaudy modern temple. From there, steps lead…
T
Tek Chhouu Rapids
Popular with locals, these modest rapids at the end of Tek Chhouu Rd northwest of Kampot are surrounded by food stalls and picnicking platforms. A tuk tuk…
O
Old French Bridge
Destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period, Kampot's old French bridge was later repaired in a mishmash of styles. It is now open to motorbikes and…
O
Old Market
Kampot's Old Market building, with its art-deco-style concrete facade, was constructed during the 1930s. Various shops, travel agencies and cafes rim both…
D
Durian Roundabout
Kampot is famed for its durian, so what could be more fitting than a giant durian monument in celebration of the Marmite of fruit?

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Kampot.

See
Phnom Chhnork
Phnom Chhnork is a short walk through a quilt of rice paddies from Wat Ang Sdok, where a monk collects the entry fee and a gaggle of friendly local kids…
See
La Plantation
This sprawling organic pepper farm offers free guided walks in French, English and Khmer, explaining how several varieties of pepper are grown, harvested…
See
Kampot Provincial Museum
This tiny museum, inside the finely preserved French colonial-era Old Governor's Mansion, traces the history of Kampot and the outlying area. The…
See
Kampot Traditional Music School
During set hours, visitors are welcome to observe traditional music and dance training sessions and/or performances at this school that teaches children…
See
Phnom Sorsia
Phnom Sorsia is home to several natural caves. From the parking area, a stairway leads up the hillside to a gaudy modern temple. From there, steps lead…
See
Tek Chhouu Rapids
Popular with locals, these modest rapids at the end of Tek Chhouu Rd northwest of Kampot are surrounded by food stalls and picnicking platforms. A tuk tuk…
See
Old French Bridge
Destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period, Kampot's old French bridge was later repaired in a mishmash of styles. It is now open to motorbikes and…
See
Old Market
Kampot's Old Market building, with its art-deco-style concrete facade, was constructed during the 1930s. Various shops, travel agencies and cafes rim both…
See
Durian Roundabout
Kampot is famed for its durian, so what could be more fitting than a giant durian monument in celebration of the Marmite of fruit?

Guidebooks

Learn more about Kampot

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