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Set
with picture perfection near the base of the Elephant Mountains on
the Kampong Bay River, the provincial capital of Kampot City is of
quite a different character than the much more heavily touristed
beach town of
Sihanouk Ville. Quiet lanes, classic
French colonial and Chinese architecture and very few tourists all
serve to lend Kampot a quaint, welcoming, small town ambiance.
Visitors come to Kampot for a taste of provincial Cambodia, the
relaxed atmosphere, and to use Kampot as a base or a stepping stone
to the Bokor
Hill Station, the beaches and islands of
Kep and the rest of southeastern Cambodia. For those interested
in volunteer work, Kampot offers several volunteer opportunities
with NGOs and other charitable organizations both short and long
term doing things such as teaching English, assistance with children
and disabled people, reconstruction projects, etc. (See ‘Things to
Do and See’ for more information.) Come the end of the day in Kampot
the place to be is at one of the friendly little riverside cafes or
pubs to relax curbside over a cold drink or a glass of wine and
watch the sun slowly set over the river and into the Elephant
Mountains. |
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.
SIHANOUK VILLE to/from KAMPOT
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 total. Currently
none of the larger bus companies offer service between Kampot and
Sihanouk Ville. Most travel by taxi and guesthouse mini-bus.
Bus Service There are no full sizes buses running between
Kampot and Sihanouk Ville. Some tour operators and guesthouses run
daily mini-bus service.
G’Day Mate/Outback Tours
Daily, a/c mini-bus service between Sihanouk Ville and Kampot.
$7.50/pax. Book a day in advance. The bus will pick you up at your
guesthouse. Call 012-1707857
SHV to KPT : 8:30AM
KPT to SHV : 11:00AM
Orchid Guesthouse
Daily, a/c mini-bus service between Sihanouk Ville and Kampot. Call
092-226996
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 wait at the taxi stand. Price Sihanouk Ville to/from
Kampot is $5/person for shared taxi and $20-$25 for a private taxi.
PHNOM PENH to/from KAMPOT
Both Route #2 and #3 from Phnom Penh to Kampot are in deteriorating
condition, with a mixture of uneven pavement, broken pavement, road
constructions an broken bridges (particularly on Route #3.) Both
roads are passable but slow. Route #3 is the most direct route Phnom
Penh and Kampot (175km) but is in rougher shape than the alternative
way on Route #2 (following Route #2 from Phnom Penh and cutting over
to Route #3) which is in slightly better condition. Taxies are
beginning to switch to this alternative route.
Taxis ~$5-6/person for a shared taxi. ~$25-$35 for a private
taxi. 3 hours duration. 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 (~20,000R).
Phnom Penh Sorya Transport
PP to KPT : 7:30AM, 1:15PM
KPT to PP : 7:30AM, 12:30PM
VIETNAM to/from KAMPOT
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 fair condition, taking about 1h15m-2 hours to traverse, though
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 is sealed. There
is also a shorter cut off road from Route 33 before Kampong Trach
town. It is slightly shorter but the road is rough hardpack dirt,
which deteriorates significantly in the wet season. A motorcycle
taxi to the border costs about $10-$15, tuk-tuk for $15-$20 and 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 $30-$40 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
Bokor Mountain Lodge
Range: $35 - $50
Lovely old French Colonial-era building
in a perfect sunset location on the riverfront road. Air-conditioned
rooms with CTV and en-suite bathroom. Some rooms with a river view.
Free wifi. Picturesque breakfast balcony and a popular restaurant
and bar on the ground floor.
Visa/MC
Tel: +(855) (0)33-932314
+(855) (0)17-712062
E-mail: bokorlodge@gmail.com
Website: www.bokorlodge.com
Coco House
Range: $15
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: $10 - $30
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. TV. A/c rooms. Hot water. Free
bicycle rental. Free transport to city. Tour service. French,
English and Khmer spoken.
Tel: +(855) (0)16-389170, +(855) (0)33-932170
E-mail: totoro@swing.be ,
hang.guesthouse@gmail.com
Website:
www.hang.esmartweb.com
Kampot Guesthouse
Range: $4 - $20
Villa-style guesthouse in a garden
setting. Clean, en suite bathrooms. Reasonably priced restaurant
serving Khmer and western food and seafood. Boat trips, countryside
tours, Bokor and other Kampot destinations. Bicycles. Internet
access. Located on a quiet street.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-512931, +(855) (0)12-878279
kampotguesthouse@yahoo.com
Kampot Riverview Guesthouse
Range: $7 - $20
Located at the river’s edge. Fan and a/c
rooms with cable TV and en suite bathroom with hot water. 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)12-857897, +(855) (0)11-717818
E-mail:
kampotriverview@yahoo.com
Little Garden Bar
Range: $10 - $25 Villa-style
guesthouse with view overlooking the river and Bokor Mountain.
Nicely furnished a/c or fan rooms with attached bathroom. Restaurant
in colonial garden setting. Good selection of Khmer and western
food, famous for its delicious pizza. Daily specials Information on
various volunteer projects around Kampot.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-427572, +(855) (0)33-932396
E-mail:
littlegardenguesthouse@gmail.com
Long Villa
Range: $3 - $10
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 on the north side of town.
Tel: +(855) (0)92-251418, +(855)
(0)12-731400
E-mail:
longvillaguesthouse@yahoo.com
The Marchbank Suite
Range: $45
Absolutely lovely, unique, single-suite
guesthouse on the riverside above the Jasmine Café. Large,
air-conditioned, two-room suite with a wonderful sunset view
overlooking the river and Elephant Mountains. Nice decor and
furniture. Living room with cable TV, DVD player and selection of
DVDs, stocked mini-bar. Wifi. The large suite is perfect size for a
family. Breakfast included and served in your room. Reservations are
recommended.
Tel: +(855) (0)92-963264
E-mail: marknorris@maccom
Mea Culpa Guesthouse
Range: $18 - $25
New guesthouse and restaurant in a nice
garden setting, located in a quiet part of the old French quarter of
town. Clean, new nicely decorated fan and a/c rooms with cable TV,
DVD player and en suite bathroom with hot water. Balcony.
Complimentary tea and coffee. Patio restaurant and bar serving Khmer
and international fare including pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Both
the guesthouse and the restaurant are receiving excellent reviews
from customers.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-504769
E-mail:
meaculpakampot@gmail.com
Moon’s Guesthouse
Range: $4 - $12
A chill-out rooftop with a great
view over Kampot City! Clean and Comfortable AC and van rooms en
suite. Very relaxing and most beautiful garden bar and restaurant.
Information, tours and for the guest free bicycles. Located behind
the Vietnam Cambodian friendship monument, next to Amret bank witch
is only a five minutes walk from the bus station.
Tel: +(855) (0)89-963122
Orchid Guesthouse
Range: $4 - $15
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)92-226996
E-mail:
orchidguesthouse@yahoo.com
Popok Vel Guesthouse
Range: $7 - $13
Affordable, all newly refurbished hotel
near the market with large clean rooms with all the usual amenities:
cable TV, fridge, en suite with hot water. Located on the market
side of town on the new bridge road.
Tel: +(855) (0)17-456861, +(855) (0)11-902885
Rikitikitavi
Range: $30 - $35
Charming little
western-managed guesthouse on the river road in town. Very
well-appointed, stylishly finished air-conditioned rooms with all
amenities including cable TV, DVD, mini-bar, wifi, spring mattresses
and high-pressure showers. Free wifi internet access in room.
Excellent rooftop restaurant and bar with a brilliant view
overlooking the river.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-235102
E-mail: Rikitikitavi@asia.com
Website:
www.Rikitikitavi-Kampot.com
Sampov Pram Guesthouse
Range: $6 - $20
Newly refurbished villa style guesthouse
on a quite street amongst a cluster of guesthouses. Fan and a/c
rooms with cable TV and en suite bathroom with hot water. Restaurant
and bar. All tourist services. Dorm beds for $3. 30 meters fromACLEDA Bank.
Tel: +(855) (0)17-822626, +(855)
(0)16-800181
Utopia
Range: $3 - $25
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. Free wifi in all rooms and bungalows. 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)12-407305, +(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. Just around the corner on the old bridge road,
fruit shake (‘tukiluk’) and dessert stands set up in the evenings,
catering primarily to local people, but everybody is welcome. Most
of the the town shuts down fairly early, with most places along the
riverfront closing by midnight, though a couple of the foreigner
bars, such as Bar Red and Honey Bar, sometimes stay open quite late.
Two new Cambodian discos have recently opened in town.
Over-amplified international and Cambodian music. Beer and whiskey
by the bottle. The Alaska on the riverfront next to the abandoned
market and the Amazon across the river both open around 8AM and
sometimes run into the wee hours.
Akashi Café
Distinctive purple house near the new
Bridge. Offering simple yet tasty and unique home-cooked food. The
bread, yogurt, cakes and cookies, ice creams are all home-made. Good
coffees, soups, sandwiches, quiche, muffins and daily pasta
specials. Open for 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Closed on Wed. The gates are
often closed but the doors are open. Just walk on in.
Open for 9:30AM to 5:00PM. Closed on
Wed.
Tel: 092-775900.
Massage for specific ailments also
available by appointment only. Tel. 012-423180.
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. Pizzas. Full bar, cold beer, wine
and cocktails. Indoor and wonderful curbside seating overlooking the
river. Western managed. Wifi internet. 7AM-Late
Tel: 033-932314
Website:
www.bokorlodge.com
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
Jasmine
Popular, stylish, welcoming riverfront
cafe serving a good selection of western and Khmer dishes. Indoor
and curbside seating with a very nice river view. Great place to
enjoy sunset over a glass of wine and have a good, reasonably price
western meal. Lots of books and magazines. Wifi internet access.
Open 10AM-10PM.
Tel: 012-927313, 092-963264
E-mail:
jasmine011982@yahoo.com
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.
4PM-Late
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 Khmer and
western and food. Known for its delicious pizzas. Daily specials.
Information on local volunteer opportunities. Daily river cruises
leave from here at 3PM. Open 7:00AM-10:00PM.
Open 7:00AM-10:00PM.
Tel: 012-256901
E-mail: littlegardenbar@gmail.com
Website:
www.littlegardenbar.com
Mea Culpa Guesthouse
Pleasantly quiet patio garden restaurant
and bar set off the main roads in a tranquil corner of town. Serving
Khmer and international fare including excellent pizzas from a
wood-fired oven. The restaurant and the pizzas in particular are
receiving great reviews from customers. Closed Mondays.
Tel: 012-504769
Rheaj’s
Friendly riverfront restaurant serving a
variety of nicely done western and Khmer dishes at very reasonable
prices. Western breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches, salads, BBQ,
seafood, a big selection of good pizzas and calzones,
vegetarian/vegan sandwiches and dishes, several traditional Khmer
dishes, desserts, fruit juices and shakes. Beer, wine and some
spirits. Curbside seating with a sunset view.
Open 7AM - Late
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 exclusive Khmer 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. Two for one happy hour 5-7PM. Open 6:30AM -
10:00PM.
Open 6:30AM - 10:00PM.
Tel: 012-235102
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. Currently the only place in town you can get a draft in a
pint glass. 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
Shopping
Kampot's first and only souvenir shop, the new
Kampot
Souvenirs & Handicraft next to the old market offering a
growing selection of Cambodian and specifically Kampot are
souvenirs.
Books and Information
Kepler’s Kampot Books
carries a good selection of used and new novels and Cambodia related
titles for buy/sell/trade. Located next to the old market in the
middle of town. Website:
www.keplerbook.com . Most of the guesthouses and tour operators
have local tour and travel information available. Little Garden
Bar and the Kampot Dar-laing newsletter all are good
sources of information on local charitable and volunteer projects.
The Kampot Dar-laing also lists current events and
happenings. Another local newsletter, the Kampot Survival Guide,
provides an entertaining read and a unique take on touring Kampot.
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
ACLEDA and Canadia Bank both accept
Visa and have 24-hour ATMs.
Canadia Bank also accepts MC. ACLEDA ATMs access
Visa and
Gold Dots. Canadia Bank ATMs
access Visa, M/C, Cirrus and
Maestro. For instant cash transfer,
Canadia Bank offers MoneyGram and Acleda Bank
has Western Union. All banks offer currency exchange.
Moneychangers are located around the market.
Canadia Bank
Plc.
Full range of banking services, including ATM with international
access, 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 Kepler’s Kampot Books next to the abandoned market and a
few shops along the old bridge road near the traffic circle.
Rikitikitavi, Mea Culpa, Bokor Mountain Lodge and The
Marchbank Suite offer free wifi in the rooms.
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
Kep Beach, Bokor Hill Station, countryside tours and river trips are
perhaps the most popular day tours out of Kampot with tour operators
offering very competitively priced tours. (Bokor Hill Station was
closed to visitors at time of printing. Check with local tour
operators for current conditions.) The Kampot/Kep area also offers
several other attractions including pre-Angkorian ruins and caves,
jungle trekking, bicycling tours, river cruises, island trips,
fishing trips, isolated beaches, pepper plantations, bamboo train
rides 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: The road up Bokor Mountain and the area
of the old hillstation are currently undergoing a development
project, including refurbishing the casino and hotel and the
addition of a new hotel complex. The area was initially closed to
all visitors, but then access was allowed irregularly, sometimes
limited to tour groups or trekkers only. As of March 2009, access
was again closed to all visitors. Access rules will probably change
again, allowing visitors some form of access once again. Check with
a local tour operator for the latest information. Previously,
all-inclusive day tours up the mountain ran from $10-$40/pax
depending on the access conditions. The Park Office and turn-off to
the Hill Station is 37km west of Kampot on National Route 3. It can get cold on the mountain, especially at
night. Bring warm clothes.
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.
Countryside/Area Tours Kampot and
Kep provinces harbor some beautiful rural countryside just outside
the town areas - bucolic scenery, rice paddies and water buffalos
with white egrets riding their backs, countryside pagodas and little
villages filled with traditional stilted houses. There is some very
nice rural scenery along the road between Kampot and Kep. Keep your
camera at the ready. Tour operators offer full and half day area
tours the can easily be customized to your requirements, often
including visits to the caves, a pepper plantation, Kep, Rabbit
Island, Kampong Trach and a sunset cruise on the Kampong Bay River.
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 Rabbit Island is a small beachy island about
20-40 minutes from Kep by local boat. (See Island map on page 30.)
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 basic guesthouse/bungalow facilities on the island -
rustic beach bungalows for less than $10 and a few 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. whole boat for $20 return trip. Share to bring
down the cost. Tour operators and guesthouses offer day packages
starting at about $7/person.
River Trips River boat trips out of Kampot on the picturesque
Kampong Bay River are becoming more popular. The tour companies and
many of the guesthouses (Little Garden Bar) are offer several
different sorts of boat trips including short sunset trips upriver
to the Tekchhou Rapids; longer cultural/wildlife/eco trips upriver,
often combined with trekking in the National Park; downriver trips
to the ocean to explore the beaches and sand spits near the river’s
mouth; do a bit of ocean swimming; photograph the fishing boats at
work or go ocean fishing. A couple of the tour operators including
those listed can supply fishing gear. Boat trips are relatively
reasonably priced and the tour operators are generally amenable to
customizing the trip to your requirements.
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.
Volunteer Work
For those interested in contributing some of their time to the
community, Kampot has many volunteer opportunities with NGOs and
other charitable organizations (teaching, assistance with children
and disabled people, reconstruction projects, etc.) Contact
Little Garden Bar, Blissful Guesthouse or check out the
Kampot Dar-laing for more information about volunteer
opportunities in the area.
Last updated 03/09
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