Local Guide · Kampot, Cambodia
10 Best Things to Do in Kampot: A Local's Guide
Written by the team at Family Boutique Hotel — the people who answer your "what should we do today?" questions every morning at breakfast.
Kampot is the Cambodia people come back to. Sleepy on purpose, riverside, cradled by Bokor Mountain on one side and the pepper fields on the other. You can fill three days here without ever feeling rushed — these are the ten things we send our guests to, in roughly the order we'd do them.
1. Kampot Pagoda (Wat Traeuy Kaoh)
Just under 3 miles from Family Boutique Hotel, the Kampot Pagoda is the easiest cultural half-day in town. Visit early morning to catch saffron-robed monks crossing the courtyard and the river light through the gates. Free to enter; a small donation is appreciated.
2. Teuk Chhou Rapids
About 15 minutes from the hotel, Teuk Chhou is where Kampot locals spend their Sundays — shaded bamboo platforms over the river, grilled fish, cold cans of Angkor and natural pools to swim in. Go on a weekday for a near-private river to yourself.
3. Cycle the Riverside Loop
Borrow a bicycle and follow the Praek Tuek Chhu river out of town. The flat 12 km loop past stilted houses, lotus ponds and salt flats is Kampot at its most photogenic — best at golden hour, just before the sky turns pink behind Bokor Mountain.
4. Bokor Mountain National Park
An hour's drive climbs from sea level to cool cloud forest, the abandoned French hill station, Popokvil Waterfall and viewpoints across the Gulf of Thailand. Hire a tuk-tuk or rent a scooter; bring a light layer — it's noticeably cooler at the top.
5. Sunset Cruise on the Praek Tuek Chhu
Kampot's signature evening: a slow boat downriver with a beer in hand, a fiery sun behind the mountain and — if you're lucky — fireflies in the mangroves on the way back. Most cruises depart at 5pm from the Old Bridge area.
6. Visit a Kampot Pepper Farm
Kampot pepper is the only Cambodian product with European Protected Geographical Indication. Farms like La Plantation and Sothy's offer free tours, tastings and lunch overlooking the pepper vines. About 30 minutes from the hotel.
7. Kep Crab Market (Day Trip)
A 45-minute drive south brings you to Kep's seafront crab market — pick a kilo straight from the basket and have it wok-fried with Kampot green pepper on the spot. Pair it with a swim at Kep Beach before heading back.
8. Phnom Chhngok Cave Temple
A 7th-century brick shrine hidden inside a limestone cave, reached by a short climb through banana groves with a friendly local kid as your guide. One of Kampot's quietest, most atmospheric stops.
9. Wander the Old French Quarter
Kampot town itself is a slow grid of yellow-shuttered shophouses, indie cafés, riverside bars and night markets. Don't miss Epic Arts Café (great breakfast, great cause) and the night market by the river for cheap, excellent street food.
10. Slow Down at the Hotel
The most Kampot thing you can do? Float in the courtyard pool, take a book to the rooftop, and let the day melt. Most of our guests tell us their favourite afternoon was the one they didn't plan.
Where to Stay in Kampot
Family Boutique Hotel sits on National Road 33 in Sovan Sakor — minutes from the Kampot Pagoda, the train station and Teuk Chhou Rapids. Balcony rooms from $23/night, free parking, outdoor pool, and direct-booking rates 20% under the OTAs.