Best Things to Do in Kampot & Kep, Cambodia
This is a guide for the best places to visit and the best things to do in Kampot and Kep in southern Cambodia. There is plenty to look forward to, from kayaking under palm canopies to tasting fresh pepper, to sleeping in a traditional bamboo hut, and more!
If you’re travelling around Southeast Asian cities and looking for a little countryside living, Kampot and Kep, Cambodia, might be the place for you! In contrast to busy days of temple hopping in Siem Reap or market and bar hopping in Phnom Penh, these neighbouring towns offer a peaceful oasis to relax in laidback rural Cambodia among nature, farms and beaches. And with local delicacies like crab and pepper, your taste buds will be happy here too.
The main activity to do in the south of Cambodia is easy: relax. The vibe in Kep and Kampot is easygoing. There’s no rush and there’s frankly nowhere to rush to. Here are some of the leisurely activities I suggest trying while in Kampot and Kep.
Stay in a Bamboo Hut in Kampot
Kampot is ripe full of hotels offering stays in bamboo huts and bungalows. One of the best things to do in Kampot is enjoy the calm nature at one of these spots! We stayed at Nary Gardens Bungalows in a-frame huts and they were very cute and comfortable. These accommodations are simple and inexpensive, but still have what you need to be happy: a comfy bed, electricity, fans and locks. Each hut has a separate bathroom with a toilet and shower (most with hot water), and a porch with cushions or chairs to hang out.
Like many of these hotels, Nary Gardens also offers nice outdoor spaces overlooking the river to hang out, eat and enjoy some drinks. They were building a bar while we were there, so it will be a nice area for small groups to enjoy, with tables, comfy seats and hammocks.
The downsides are that the bungalows don’t have much space and are isolated from the town. For a 2-3 night stay, this was no bother to us. We spent most of our time outdoors and could get a tuk-tuk driver on Whatsapp to take us to town as needed.
We paid a reasonable $25 USD / $34 CAD per night for each a-frame hut with a queen bed.
My a-frame bamboo hut on the river at Nary Gardens in Kampot, Cambodia.
Go Kayaking on the Kampot River
This was the highlight of our time in Kampot. Like most hotels on the river, Nary Gardens Bungalows offers free use of their kayaks. My dad and I took one out for about 45 minutes one morning and enjoyed the beautiful palm canopy and total serenity on the river. You can see the different lodges and hotels on the river and they all look really nice.
From Nary Gardens, there is a loop you could probably do faster, but we took our time and really enjoyed nature on this paddle. The river here is mostly quite narrow and current-free making this a perfect leisure experience. This loop feeds into the much larger Preak Tuek Chhu river, which eventually goes all the way down to the Gulf of Thailand.
Kayaking under the palm canopies on the serene Kampot River was a highlight of this trip.
Take a Countryside Tour to a Pepper Farm
Kampot is most famous for its fresh pepper, which is truly so good! The hotels and travel agencies will all offer a “countryside tour” where you can visit a pepper farm for about $35 USD by tuk-tuk.
The pepper farm we visited was Bo Tree pepper farm. The farm is run by locals with free tours offered by volunteers from around the world. You’ll do a pepper tasting before walking around the plantation. After the tour, you can have something to drink from their cafe and, of course, buy pepper products from their shop.
It’s a nice stop, which is both scenic and interesting. I hadn’t really realized where the pepper on the dinner table comes from and the quality difference was remarkable. All food in Kampot and Kep (and much of Cambodia) comes with fresh pepper.
One of the best parts of this tour is zipping through the countryside in a tuk-tuk. Your driver will stop for some scenic views and perhaps to visit a local artisan or two. For example, we met a lovely young man who makes beautiful handmade woven bags. Depending on your tour, it could also include stops at salt flats and a cave as well.
Walking around Bo Tree Pepper Farm in Kampot, Cambodia, learning about different peppers and how they grow.
Eat in Kampot Town and Try Durian
Kampot Town is very small, but you can visit to check out some shops and get a local lunch or dinner at one of many restaurants. Besides pepper, Kampot also grows a lot of durian fruit - the fruit famous for its strong and controversial smell in Southeast Asia. Stop by the roundabout in Kampot for a unique photo opp with a giant durian statue!
A unique feature of Kampot town is its funny roundabout featuring a giant durian statue.
Chill at Kep Beach
The next town from Kampot is Kep, about 27km (17 mi) away and a 40-minute car ride. Your hotel can arrange a driver to take you between the cities. Kep has a nice beach where you can rent chairs and relax. When it comes to things to do in Kep, there are many street vendors to get food from, or you could visit the restaurant across the street at the Beach House Hotel where we stayed.
If you get up early, you can also take a day trip to nearby Rabbit Island. We didn’t have time, but apparently, it has nice beaches where you can spend the day relaxing, eating and getting massages.
Kep has a beautiful sandy beach to spend a leisurely afternoon at, or to get a boat to Rabbit Island from.
Visit Kep National Park or Bokor National Park
Due to an injury, we weren’t able to visit the national parks in Kampot or Kep. Plus, they are in the hills and we were told the conditions were cold and windy. If you’re lucky and the conditions are right, you should definitely check out Bokor National Park and/or Kep National Park.
On a day tour to Bokor National Park, you would typically stop at Damnak Khmao or Black Palace, visit a ghost town and go to Popokvill waterfall. I’m told there are some nice hikes to do in the area as well.
Enjoy a Spa Experience at Veranda Natural Resort
Lucky me, we celebrated my birthday in Kep! As a treat, we went up to Veranda Natural Resort for a full spa treatment. We were pleasantly surprised because this resort is absolutely beautiful! It’s tucked away up the hill towards Kep National Park and the resort consists of a maze of outdoor steps and corridors leading to the spa, pools, restaurant, bar and rooms.
The spa treatments were fantastic and we loved the place so much that we stayed for dinner, which was also excellent. It was out of my price range to stay here at the time, but if I could treat myself in the future I would definitely spend a couple of nights.
The beautiful Veranda Natural Resort is tucked up in the hills and lives up to its name in lush surroundings, featuring a beautiful spa and restaurant.
Eat Seafood at the Crab Market
Whereas Kampot is famous for pepper, Kep is famous for crabs. The local crab market is a sight, with a long row of seafood restaurants offering freshly caught delicacies. This was definitely one of the best meals of our trip! We ordered crab, prawns, fish and vegetables. The crabs and prawns cooked in curry are delicious.
Best of all, you can enjoy your meals from one of many patios overlooking the open sea. After your meal, you can walk down to the market next door where they sell clothes and souvenirs.
Enjoy a delicious seafood meal at Kep’s crab market while sitting by the sea.
With their laidback atmosphere, beautiful landscapes, and delicious local cuisine, Kampot and Kep are a destination for those looking to slow down. While we had a flexible timeline and spent five nights in the area (two in Kampot and three in Kep), two or three days would still be enough time to explore and enjoy the best of what these charming towns have to offer.
From kayaking along the tranquil rivers to exploring the lush countryside on tuk-tuks, what’s not to enjoy? And with the region's emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, your taste buds are in for a treat.
So don't miss out on the chance to experience the authentic side of rural Cambodia. Head to Kampot and Kep and discover for yourself why so many travellers love these hidden gems.
HEADS UP: Some links on Travelynne are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you purchase select experiences from my links. This helps me invest more time and resources into creating helpful travel content like this article. Learn more about my offerings and how to support Travelynne on my booking page, where you can book tours, transportation and accommodations.
