Kampot is the relatively sleepy gem of Southern Cambodia. This laid back town sits along the banks of the Praek Tuek Chhu river and offers a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. You could easily spend 3 or 4 days exploring the town and surrounding areas. Our favorite hotel was Gecko Village which is situated along the river, just north of town.
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Rent a Scooter
The best way to explore the town and surrounding countryside is by renting a scooter. Rentals are cheap and give you the ability to travel outside the Kampot area. Prices should be between $5-$10 a day. We chose to ride up to the summit of Mt. Bokor, which is about an hour each way from Kampot. The ride is beautiful and the road is well maintained. The top of the mountain is often shrouded in fog and can be quite cold compared to sea level. Make sure to bring a jacket or sweater. There are some ruins from when this area was used as a hill town by the French in the early 20th century, but most have either been renovated or demolished by Chinese companies that now own the mountain. It’s still worth the trip up to take in the views.
Go Kayaking through the Green Cathedral
The river that runs through Kampot is calm and perfect for doing some kayaking. There are plenty of places outside of town that rent kayaks, but we chose to rent from Champa Lodge just north of town. They charge $3 an hour for a single kayak, and they are super close to the popular kayak route known as the “Green Cathedral”, which takes about an hour to complete. We had the entire route to ourselves when we went and we loved the feeling of seclusion.
Take a River Cruise
There are many boats that line the riverside in town that offer 2 hour river cruises at sunset. Some offer food service and some only offer drinks. We paid $5, which included the 2 hour cruise and 2 beers. You could purchase more beers if you liked. I call that a good deal! Some of the boats can barely fit under the bridge as you head up river, so anyone on the top deck has to lie flat so they don’t bonk their heads on the underside of the bridge. That makes for a good photo op! We definitely got our money’s worth.
Rent Bicycles and Bike Around
One of my all time favorite activities when visiting a city, whether it is the states of overseas. It is a great way to give your feet a break while staying active and seeing a city- Kampot was no different. We rented bikes from our hostel for $2/day per bike for the entire day. So taking advantage of the low cost, we biked around Kampot to check out some sites. Check out a few of our favorite places below!
- Lily Pond – go for sunset for an epic photo
- Durian Roundabout
- Along the river front
Chill out in a Local Cafe
One of the best things about Kampot is it’s laid back style. What better way to take advantage than to chill out with a good book in one of the town’s many cafes and coffee shops. It’s also a great way to take a break from the intense heat outside. Our favorite place to chill was Cafe Espresso Roastery on the south side of town along highway 33. They have amazing coffee and an awesome breakfast and lunch menu. We also liked Sunbird Cafe for their dragonfruit smoothies.
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