Getting to Kampot

Kampot may be approached directly from Sihanouk Ville, Phnom Penh and from Vietnam via the Prek Chak (‘Ha Tien’) and Phnom Den international border crossings.

To/From Sihanouk Ville: From Sihanouk Ville, travel north on National Route #4 to Veal Renh (43km). Turn east on Route #3 to Kampot. Route #3 and #4 are both paved and in good condition. 1½ - 2 hours, 110km.

Bus Service
G’Day Mate/Outback Tours offers reliable, daily, a/c bus service between Sihanouk Ville and Kampot. Currently $7.50. Best to book a day in advance. Book at your guesthouse or call 012-1707857

G’Day Mate/Outback Tours Schedule
SHV to KPT : 8:30AM

KPT to SHV : 11:00AM

Taxis
In Sihanouk Ville, taxis can be found opposite the market (Phsar Leu) and at the downtown bus and taxi station. In Kampot, taxis can be found at the taxi stand. $5/person or $20-$30 for a private taxi. From Sihanouk Ville, travel north on Route #4 to Veal Renh (43km). Turn east on Route #3 to Kampot. Route #4 is paved. Route #3 to Kampot is mixed paved and in good condition.

To/From Phnom Penh: Route #3 between Phnom Penh and Kampot is paved and in comparatively good condition, though narrow with uneven pavement in parts. It is in better condition than the alternative route, Route #2 to Route #3 via Takeo.

Taxis: $7/person for a shared taxi. $30-$40 for a private taxi, 3 hours. In Phnom Penh, Kampot-bound taxis depart Phsar Dumkor. In Kampot taxis depart the taxi stand.

Bus: There are at least two bus companies offering regular a/c buses between Phnom Penh and Kampot including Phnom Penh Sorya. In Phnom Penh the Phnom Penh Sorya buses depart from the station on Charles de Gaulle, next to the Central Market. In Kampot, the buses arrive/depart from the bus stand ((see map)). Tickets can be purchased there or through your hotel/guesthouse (~$5).

Phnom Penh Sorya Transport Bus Scedule
PP to KPT : 7:30AM, 1:15PM
KPT to PP : 7:30AM, 12:30PM


To/From Vietnam: The Prek Chak/Xaxia (‘Ha Tien’) checkpoint is the nearest, most easily accessed border crossing from Kampot/Kep. The crossing lies near the Vietnamese towns of Ha Tien and Rach Gia which are the jump off points to the Phu Quoc Island.

The road from Kampot to the border crossing is, for the most part, in good condition, taking about 1h15m to traverse, longer in the wet season. Take Route 33 east from Kampot to the intersection of Route 31 at Kampong Trach town. Turn south on Route 31. All but the last few kilometers to the border are sealed. There is also a shorter cut off road from Route 33 before Kampong Trach town. It is slightly shorter but the road is hardpack dirt, rough in parts and deteriorates in the wet season. A motorcycle taxi to the border costs about $7-$10. A car taxi is $20-$25. For those coming from Vietnam, motodups usually wait at the border crossing to take travelers to Kep or Kampot.

The Phnom Den/Tinh Bien border crossing near Chau Doc Vietnam is an alternative border crossing with Vietnam accessible from Kampot. It is not a regular taxi route but taxis to the crossing can be hired for about $25 for the whole car. 2-3 hours. Contact your guesthouse to arrange a taxi.
 

For more on international border crossings see the Overland page.

Getting Around Kampot
The town is small and motodups are common. Foreigner price for motodup: 1000-1500R across town. Motorcycle rental: 100cc ($3-$5/day) and 250cc ($5-$7/day). There are a couple of motorcycle shops just off the traffic circle in the center of town. Cheang Try Rental (012-974698) is very helpful. All hotels and guesthouses can help you arrange motorcycle rental, motodups, cars and taxis.  

Kampot Hotels and Guesthouses

Blissful Guesthouse  

Range: $3 - $6

BRF Friendly, inexpensive, clean, western managed guesthouse/ restaurant. Most rooms with attached bath, some with TV. Quiet area. Receiving lots of good reviews. Some books, postcards, souvenirs and traveler’s sundries. Tours to Bokor, Kep, etc. Bicycle rental. Information on volunteer opportunities in the Kampot area. Tel: +(855) (0)12-513024 

E-mail: blissfulguesthouse@yahoo.com

Bokor Mountain Lodge

Range: $15 - $36

FRF Lovely old French Colonial-era building in a perfect sunset location on the riverfront road. Newly refurbished air-conditioned rooms with en-suite bathroom. Some rooms with a river view. Picturesque breakfast balcony and a popular restaurant and bar on the ground floor.
Tel: +(855) (0)33-932314
E-mail: bokorlodge@gmail.com
Website: www.bokorlodge.com

Boray Bokor 1 Hotel

Range: $15 - $40

FRF Popular with business and NGO visitors. Newly refurbished a/c rooms with cable TV, mini-bar, en suite bathroom with hot water. Conference room. Generator for guaranteed 24 hour electricity.
Tel: Tel: +(855) (0)92-978168, +(855) (0)16-647099

Coco House

Range: $15

BRF Breakfast included in price. Basic, air-conditioned rooms above the Coco House Restaurant on the riverfront road.
Tel: +(855) (0)33-932198, +(855) (0)12-973727
E-mail: info@cocohouse.biz
Website: www.cocohouse.biz

Hang Guesthouse

Range: $7 - $10

BRF Riverside restaurant, pretty rooms in a beautiful garden with mango and coconut trees, lots of flowers. and a nice view of the river, mountains and the rice fields. 2 minutes outside town. Internet facilities. Free bicycle use. Free transportation into the city. Tour services. French, English and Khmer spoken.
Tel: +(855) (0)16-389170, +(855) (0)33-932170
E-mail: totoro@swing.be 

Website: www.hang.esmartweb.com

Kampot Guesthouse

Range: $3 - $15

BRF Villa-style guesthouse. Clean, en suite bathrooms. Reasonably priced restaurant. Tours to Bokor and other Kampot destinations. Bicycles. Located on a quiet street.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-512931, +(855) (0)12-878279

Kampot Riverview Guesthouse

Range: $6 - $20

BRF Located at the river’s edge. Fan and a/c rooms with cable TV and en suite bathroom. Riverside veranda restaurant with a nice sunset view of the mountains. Serving reasonably priced western and Khmer dishes. can arrange mini-bus to Sihanouk Ville, and boat trips to Phnom Daung.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-821570, +(855) (0)11-717818
E-mail: kampotriverview@yahoo.com

Little Garden Bar

Range: $10 - $20

B/FRF Villa-style guesthouse with view overlooking the river and Bokor Mountain. Six clean a/c or fan rooms with attached bathroom ($10-$20). Restaurant in colonial setting, private rooftop terrace for sunset cocktails. Good selection of Khmer and western food, famous for its delicious pizza. Daily specials Information on various volunteer projects around Kampot.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-256901
E-mail: normlgb@gmail.com

Website: www.littlegardenbar.com 

Long Villa 

Range: $3 - $10

BRF Unique wooden ‘long villa.’ Fan and a/c rooms with attached bathroom. Dormitory beds available. Restaurant with seafood dishes, Cambodian and western food, and pizza. Reasonably priced. Pool table. Information. Lots of tour services and guides. Near the market.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-908619

E-mail: longvillaguesthouse@yahoo.com

Orchid Guesthouse

Range: $4 - $15

B/FRF Fan and a/c rooms and bungalows. Cable TV and hot water. Khmer decor. Intl/Khmer restaurant. Lots of seafood. Full bar. Motorcycles, bicycles, boat for rent. Quiet area. Secure parking. Contact for Wild Orchid Tours offering trips to Bokor, Kep, jungle treks, and lots more.

Tel: +(855) (0)33-932634

E-mail: orchidguesthouse@yahoo.com

Rikitikitavi

Range: $25 - $35

FRF Charming new little western-managed guesthouse on the river road in town. Well-appointed, stylishly finished air-conditioned rooms with all amenities including cable TV, spring mattresses and high-pressure showers. Excellent rooftop restaurant and bar with a brilliant view overlooking the river. Visa
Tel: +(855) (0)12-235102, +(855) (0)12-274820
E-mail: Rikitikitavi@asia.com

Website: www.Rikitikitavi-Kampot.com

Southern Cross Motel
Range: $30 - $45

FRF Western managed, mini-resort on the road to Tekchhou about 6km outside of town, with fully outfitted a/c rooms, sports bar and salt water swimming pool with poolside bar.

Tel: +(855) (0)92-940840

Ta Eng Guesthouse

Range: $3 - $6

BRF  Long established Kampot guesthouse with a loyal following. Fourteen fan rooms with cable TV and en suite bathroom. Quiet street. All tourist services. Small restaurant.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-330058

Utopia
Range: $3 - $25

BRF Beautiful, secluded riverside location on the Kampong Bay River near Tekchhou about 8 kilometers outside of town. Nicely finished riverside bungalows with en suite bathroom and private balcony for $25, basic rooms for $8-$10 and dorm beds for $3. Friendly, relaxed balcony bar and restaurant over the rivers edge, serving good western and Khmer dishes. Absolutely fantastic sunrise view. Located just off the Tekchhou Road, 8km north of Route #3. Look for the sign on the road.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-1724681, +(855) (0)17-724681, +(855) (0)92-706990
E-mail: utopiakampot@yahoo.com

Kampot Restaurants
Kampot has a limited but growing selection of restaurants and bars. Like most southern towns, the emphasis at the Cambodian restaurants is on fresh seafood. There are also a few foreigner-oriented restaurants and bars serving western and international fare, most located along the picturesque river road opposite the riverfront park. Come evening, the riverfront is quite popular, offering a tranquil park setting and an idyllic sunset view overlooking the water and mountains. Popular with the locals, fruit shake and dessert stands set up in the evenings on the old bridge road between the old bridge and the traffic circle. The town shuts down fairly early, with most places closing by midnight, though a couple of the foreigner bars are staying open quite late.

Akashi Café New Japanese/English run restaurant offering very reasonably priced, simple but very good home cooked food. The breads, yogurt, cakes and cookies are all home-made. Good coffees, soups, sandwiches, quiche, muffins and daily specials such as lasagna and pasta dishes. Closed Wednesday. Located just behind Rikitikitavi. Look for a new location after mid-February.
Tel: 092-775900 

Blissful Guesthouse Large selection of good, inexpensive western and local dishes. Great breakfasts. Full bar open into the evening. Happy hour 4PM-8PM. Comfortable atmosphere. Popular place. Lots of travel and local information available. Guesthouse, souvenirs, books. Open early till late. 012-513024

Boddhi Villa Riverside restaurant, bar, lounge, accommodation with a laid back chill out atmosphere and budget priced drinks, food and digs. Located in a quiet garden area on the west side the river just off the road to the Tekchhou rapids. Tel: 012-728884.

Website: http://web.mac.com/houstonair/iweb/

Bokor Mountain Lodge Lovely old French Colonial-era building in a perfect sunset location on the riverfront road. Serving a variety of Khmer and some western dishes. Italian, Thai, burgers, specializing in fresh crab dishes. Weekend BBQs. Pizzas. Full bar with cold beer, wine and cocktails. Full coffee facilities. Indoor and wonderful curbside seating overlooking the river. Western managed. 7:00AM-Late
Tel: 033-932314

Coco House The spacious corner curbside seating at this riverfront restaurant and bar offers a great sunset view of the river and mountains. Large selection of reasonably priced western and some Asian dishes. Soups, salads, lots of sandwiches and pastas. Full bar with a selection of several different imported wines.
Tel: 012-973727

Epic Arts Café “A project providing opportunities to the deaf and disabled communities.” Teas, cakes, fruit shakes, lunch and snacks. Cakes to order.
Tel: 011-376968
Website: www.epicarts.org.uk

The Green Man Welcoming little Irish bar at the riverside. Full bar with, of course, Irish whiskey, and good selection of beers including by way of pleasant surprise, Guinness Beer by the can and bottle. Very reasonable prices. Friendly people and good conversation. Open late.

Honey Bar Friendly little mid-town bar sporting a free pool table, friendly staff and one of the later closing hours in Kampot. Full bar, Reasonable prices. Early evening happy hour. Often one of the last places in town to close for the night.

Jasmine Popular, stylish, welcoming riverfront cafe serving a good selection of western and some Asian dishes. Indoor and curbside seating with a very nice river view. Great place to enjoy sunsert over a glass of wine and have a good, reasonably price western meal. Lots of books and magazines. Wifi wireless available.
Tel: 012-927313
E-mail: jasmine011982@yahoo.com

Little Garden Bar Well-established, popular, western managed restaurant/bar on the riverfront. Open air garden seating with a river breeze and a sunset view. Good selection of western and Khmer food. Lots of sandwiches and daily specials on the board. Information on the Kampot area and local volunteer opportunities. Open 7:00AM-10:00PM

Tel: 012-256901

Lucki Food Restaurant and Bar Indian and Sri Lankan dishes. Lots of seafood dishes. Imported lamb (Australian) and chicken (Singaporean). Full bar, cold beer, shots for a dollar. Free drink or snack with each dish. Popular “unique breakfasts.” The sweet breakfast rotti with dates is excellent. The ‘Chicken Paaland’ is also popular. Box breakfasts and lunches. No MSG. Very clean kitchen, ice made at the restaurant. Very reasonable prices. Sri Lankan chef. Open 7AM-Late.
Tel: 012-806105

Rheaj’s Burger House Friendly riverfront restaurant serving a variety of western and Khmer dishes at very reasonable prices. Western breakfasts, burgers, BBQ, seafood, pizzas, desserts, fruit juices and shakes. Beer, wine and some spirits. Open 7AM - Midnight
Tel: 033-932122, 012-333361

Rikitikitavi Charming rooftop balcony restaurant and bar with a spectacular view overlooking the river and mountains. A great place to enjoy sunset. Offering a wide selection of western and international dishes prepared by a professional chef. Very generous portions. Full bar with cocktails, cold beer, a selection of wines and of fine spirits including a nice collection of whiskeys and single-malts.
Tel: 012-235102, 012-274820
Website: www.Rikitikitavi-Kampot.com

Rusty Keyhole Friendly, popular western-managed bar and restaurant on the riverfront road. Very good Western and Asian food at very reasonable prices. Good value, good cooking. Daily seafood specials, draught beer, the best BBQ Ribs. Ice cream and sweets. English Premier League. Indoor and curbside seating with a beautiful view of the river and mountains. Sunset happy hour. Lots of dirt bike travel info. 8:30AM-Midnight.

Tel: 012-679607

Books and Information
Blissful Guesthouse and Kepler’s Kampot Books both carry selections of used and new novels and Cambodia related titles for buy/sell/trade. Most of the guesthouses and tour operators have lots of local tour and travel information available. Little Garden Bar, Blissful Guesthouse and the new Kampot Dar-laing newsletter all are particularly good sources of information on local charitable and volunteer projects. The Kampot Dar-laing also lists current events and event schedules. If you are into motorcycling Cambodia, have a chat with Kristian at Rusty Keyhole for the latest. For the history of Kampot, pick up a copy of Robert Philpotts’ The Coast of Cambodia (Blackwater Books, 2000)

Kampot Banks, ATMs and Money
The Canadia Bank accepts Visa card, has an 24-hour ATM with international access (Visa, M/C, Cirrus, Maestro,) offers currency exchange services and MoneyGram cash transfer. Acleda Bank offers Western Union services. Moneychangers and goldsellers are located on the streets that surround the market. 

Canadia Bank Plc.
Full range of banking services, including MoneyGram, Traveler Cheque & Foreign Exchange
N0.33, Angkor Street, Kampong Bay, Kampot
Tel: +(855) (0)33-932 392

Fax: +(855) (0)33+932 391
Telex: CANADIA KA36188, SWIFT Code: CADI KH PP
E-mail: canadia.kp@canadiabank.com.kh
Web-site: www.canadiabank.com

Kampot Communications
Internet: There are several internet places around town, including a couple of shops on the old bridge road near the traffic circle.

Post Office: Located on the river road. Stamps in stock. Reliable service. EMS parcel service.

Phone/Fax: There are a couple of phone shops on Rte #3 near the market. The Internet shops also offer international phone/fax, sometimes inexpensive internet phone.

Things to Do and See Around Kampot and Kep
Bokor Hill Station on Phnom Bokor and Kep Beach are perhaps the most popular day tour destinations out of Kampot with tour operators offering very competitively price tours. The area also offers several other attractions including pre-Angkorian ruins and caves, jungle trekking, bicycling tours, river cruises, island trips, isolated beaches, pepper plantations and some beautiful rural countryside.

Whether you plan to do-it-yourself or book a tour, transportation and/or tours can be found through one of the many local tour operators or through your guesthouse. Shop around for the best price and for exact type of tour you would like to take.

Sok Lim Tours
Located near Blissful Guesthouse, in Kampot

Tel: +(855) (0)12-801348
www.soklimtours.com

Wild Orchid Adventure Tours
At Wild Orchid Guesthouse, in Kampot  

Tel: +(855) (0)92-226996
orchidguesthousekampot@yahoo.com
 

Bokor Hill Station Tours to Bokor are perhaps the most popular out of Kampot. The Bokor Hill Station on Phnom Bokor (Bokor Mountain) is a mountaintop collection of buildings (hotel, casino, church, royal residence, etc.), constructed by French authorities in the early 1920s as a complement to the already popular Kep resort area. In the 1990s a travel author referred to Bokor as ‘the eeriest place in the world’, and it lives up to that reputation. In its time, Bokor was an elegant getaway for French officials and foreign visitors to old Indochina - a classic colonial ‘hill station’ located in the mountains to allow foreigner visitors accustomed to more temperate climes to escape the tropical heat. But years of neglect have left ghostly ruins - vestiges of a different age, often shrouded in fog and clouds. One thing that the years have not changed is the absolutely spectacular view of the coast and the cool (sometimes cold) mountain air. Bokor Mountain is heavily jungled and trip beyond Bokor, including jungle trekking, can be arranged. Wild elephants and other jungle animal are occasionally seen. The is a small guesthouse near the hill station with $5 rooms, good toilets and very few other services. It can get cold on the mountain, especially at night. Bring warm clothes. News: In January 2008, Bokor Hill Station was closed to visitors as work began on a new development project, including refurbishing the casino and hotel and the addition of a new hotel complex. Since the beginning of the project, access to the Hill Station has been irregular. As we went to press (April 08), access was limited to those who went as part of a tour group or with a tour guide. Access rules may change again, perhaps allowing visitors individual access once again. Check with your guesthouse for the latest information. Regular all day tours up the mountain run about $15/pax plus a $5 park admission fee and includes transport, guide, lunch and some also include a sunset boat ride back to town. Tour operators can also organize jungle trekking and overnights on the mountain. One immediate benefit of the development project has been the improvement of the road up the mountain, drastically reducing travel times. The Park Office and turn-off to the Hill Station is 37km west of Kampot.
 

Caves near Kampot: Limestone mountains (‘phnom’) dot the landscape between Kampot and Kep. Many contain limestone caves, some adorned with exotic rock formations, and almost all containing Buddhist shines. Make sure to bring a torch and wear shoes suitable for climbing on rocks.

The caves of Phnom Chhnork - Cave #1 Pre-Angkorian ruin set in a limestone cave amongst stalagmites and stalactites that are slowly growing back into the ruin. Small, 4th-5th century AD brick structure associated with the ancient state of Funan. A bit of carving is still visible. Look for the limestone formations near the entrance of the cave in the shapes of elephants. Cave #2 The entrance is about 300 meters from Cave #1 in the same limestone outcropping. Very little in the way of formations, but quite deep, requiring climbing over piles of rock and through small openings. Small shrine.

The cave at Phnom Sla Ta'aun Plain by comparison to other caves, but still an interesting climb. Look for the huge rock balanced in a hole in the ceiling. Small shrine.

The cave at Phnom Sasear, also known as the ‘White Elephant Cave.’ Located next to an colorful pagoda. The stairs up the side of the outcropping provide a beautiful view of the countryside, especially during the wet season. The cave contains a shrine at the base of a limestone formation alleged to resemble a white elephant. 

Kampong Trach: Kampong Trach is the district that borders Vietnam. The road trip from Kampot to the main town passes though some picturesque rural areas. There is a new side road to Kampong Trach town that skirts the base of Phnom Voar, (where the victims of the 1994 Khmer Rouge kidnappings were held.) These mountain areas of Kampong Trach were one of the last Khmer Rouge holdouts. Kampong Trach town is small and relatively uninteresting. The area’s main attraction is a series of limestone caves and tubes that have been carved into a nearby mountain. The roof of a large cave in the center of a mountain has collapsed, making a small, enclosed jungle. Pagodas and shrines have been built amongst the caves, providing for some excellent photo possibilities. Bring a flashlight and wear good walking shoes. 

From Kampot, take the Kep road, bear left at the White Horse Monument and follow to Kampong Trach. After a few kilometers the road changes to badly broken pavement. The side road mentioned above requires a left turn onto a graded dirt road about 7 km past the White Horse Monument. It is not a straightforward route and it may be better if you go with a guide. Set aside the better part of a day for the trip to the caves and back.

Kep Beach A single, kilometer long crescent of sand near the tip of the Kep peninsula. Dining platforms and seafood vendors line the road behind the beach. Busy on weekends but often deserted during the week. The road through Kep traces the coastline to the beach and then circles back on itself. Cars and vans must pay admission to drive the loop (2500R-5000R). Motorcycles and pedestrians are free. Be aware that the loop is an one way street and the police do occasionally enforce the law, levying fines against violators.

Massage

Kampot Massage by the Blind on the river road in Kampot near Bokor Mountain Lodge offers foot and body massage and Japanese Shiatsu-style massage by seeing-impaired masseurs and masseuses. $4/hour. Tel: 012-662114

Lida Khmer House Massage Traditional Khmer massage - oil, foot, full body for $5-$12. Receiving good reviews from customers. In Kep, on the main road about 1 km north of the Crab Market intersection, between Kep Lodge and Botanica. Open 7AM-10PM .Tel: 012-953427

Seeing Hands 5 Massage NGO-based massage shop offering Shiatsu-style massage by seeing-impaired masseurs and masseuses. Located about 50 meters off the riverfront in Kampot. Tel: 012-503012 

Rabbit Island (Koh Tunsay) Rabbit Island is a small beachy island about 20-40 minutes from Kep by local boat. Make a day trip to the island - going in the morning and returning to Kep in the afternoon - or stay the night. Lazy, secluded white sand beaches and coconut trees. Relatively clear, warm waters. Snorkel around the rocks. There’s no coral but lots of colorful fish. There are now some very basic guesthouse/bungalow facilities on the island - rustic beach bungalows for less than $10 and a couple of rudimentary restaurant/bars. Arrange a boat trip to the island through your guesthouse in Kampot or Kep or just go to the Koh Tunsay Boat Dock in Kep town next to the Long Villa Restaurant. Boats are almost always available. 

River Trips Short sunset river cruises and longer cultural/wildlife/eco trips upriver can be arranged through a tour operator or your guesthouse. Sunset river cruises are becoming more popular, running from Kampot to the rapids at Tekchhou and back. The Boatman full runs moon, half and full day estuary cruises and charter adventure cruises. Tel: 092-1742180

Tekcchou Resort and Zoo A picnic area on the Prek Chha river. Popular with the locals, especially on weekends. Lots of food/drink stalls. The cool rapids and river breeze are quite pleasant. Nearby Asian-style mini zoo displaying a variety of local fauna. 8km. Good road. $3 entrance fee for foreigners, 1000 riel for Cambodians.

Last updated 01/08