Best Things to Do in One Day in Kampot

🌞 Morning: Riverside Charm & Local Flavors
Start your day with breakfast by the river—try Café Espresso or another cozy riverside café. Don’t miss the chance to taste Kampot pepper–infused dishes to kick things off with a local twist.
After breakfast, take a walking tour of Kampot’s colonial architecture, admiring pastel French-style shophouses and soaking in the laid-back riverside vibe.

🧀 Mid-Morning: Market & Plantation Discovery
Head to Kampot Central Market, a lively hub full of fresh produce, spices, textiles, and local snacks. Interact with friendly vendors and experience the town’s daily rhythm.
Next, visit a Kampot pepper farm, such as La Plantation, for a guided tour and tasting session of black, white, and red pepper. It’s a signature experience that connects you to the region’s agricultural heritage.

🍽 Lunch: Heartfelt Dining at Epic Arts Café
Enjoy a meaningful lunch at Epic Arts Café, a social enterprise that supports people with disabilities through creative arts and employment.
Their menu includes a mix of Western and Khmer dishes—favorites like the Epic Club Sandwich, banana flower salad, and refreshing smoothies. It’s a great place to relax, recharge, and support a good cause in the heart of Kampot.

🏞 Afternoon: Nature & Exploration
In the afternoon, choose one of these nature-based adventures depending on your interest:

Bokor National Park
Take a scenic drive or tuk-tuk up Bokor Mountain to explore mysterious French colonial ruins, cool forests, waterfalls, and panoramic views over the coast.

Phnom Chhnork Cave Temple
Step into history at a 7th-century cave temple hidden in limestone hills, featuring ancient brick carvings nestled inside a natural cave.

Kayak the “Green Cathedral”
Paddle through serene, tree-lined waterways just outside town. This quiet escape offers a peaceful connection with Kampot’s natural beauty.

🌅 Evening: Scenic Sunset & Culinary Delights
Around 5:00 PM, board a sunset river cruise along the Praek Tuek Chhu River. Watch the skies turn golden, enjoy the breeze, and look out for fireflies as evening sets in.
After the cruise, head to Fishmarket Restaurant or another riverside eatery for fresh seafood and a relaxing dinner ambiance.
End your day with a drink at a riverside bar like The Greenhouse or Nibi Spa, where you can sip a cocktail or enjoy a spa treatment with stunning views of the river.

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When planning a stay in Kampot, finding the right room is key to a comfortable and memorable trip. Sokchea Kampot Hotel offers a variety of room options to suit different types of travelers, whether you’re a solo explorer, a couple seeking a romantic getaway, or a family on vacation.

For solo travelers or couples, the Deluxe King or Deluxe Twin rooms are perfect choices. These rooms are spacious, well-furnished, and come with a private balcony or terrace. Each includes modern amenities like air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a clean, stylish bathroom — everything you need for a relaxing stay.

If you’re looking for a bit more luxury, the Deluxe Premium King or Deluxe Premium Twin offers enhanced comfort. These rooms often include a bathtub, better views, and a more refined interior design — ideal for guests who appreciate a touch of elegance during their trip.

For families or groups, Sokchea Kampot Hotel provides two larger options: the Deluxe Family Suite and the Family Suite with Balcony. With two or three king-size beds and over 70 square meters of space, these suites are designed to accommodate multiple guests without compromising on comfort. They also include balconies or terraces with scenic views of the surrounding area.

Whether you’re looking for value, luxury, or space, Sokchea Kampot Hotel has a room that matches your needs. With thoughtful amenities and traditional Khmer charm, it’s a great choice for your next Kampot stay.

Also called Ancestor’s’ Day, Pchum Ben is, according to legend, a time where spirits of deceased relatives and ancestors walk the earth. Running for 15 days, usually towards the end of September or October, the fifteenth day of the tenth month of the Khmer Calendar marks one of the most traditional and colourful festivals in Cambodia with people dressing up in traditional clothing to visit their local pagodas with food and offerings and pay respect to their ancestors.

Pchum Ben can also be translated to ‘gathering together to make offerings’, and that’s exactly what families do when they visit the pagodas.

Enjoy your wonderful family reunion!

អាណាចក្រខ្មែរ គឺ ជា សម័យ មួយ ដែល មាន ភាពរុងរឿង បំផុតក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្ រជាតិខ្មែរ។ ដោយសារ ហេតុដែលខ្មែរមានដែនដីធំធេង និងវិសាលភាព យ៉ាងច្រើន អាណាចក្រខ្មែរ ត្រូវបានហៅថា “មហាអាណាចក្រខ្មែរ”។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ របស់អាណាចក្រ នេះត្រូវបានចងក្រង និងរក្សាទុកតាមរយៈសិលាចារឹក និងសាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹត។

សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹត គឺជាគម្ពីរ ឬ អត្ថបទបុរាណដែលត្រូវបានចារនៅលើស្លឹករឹត។ ស្លឹករឹតគឺជាស្លឹករបស់ដើមទ្រាំង ដែលមានប្រភពមកពីភាគខាងកើត និងខាងជើងនៃប្រទេសឥណ្ឌា និងស្រីលង្កា។ នៅក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍ ដើមទ្រាំងនេះអាចរកឃើញនៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ថៃ និងភូមា។ នៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដើមទ្រាំងមានច្រើននៅខេត្តក្រចេះ និងកំពង់ធំ។

សម្ដេចព្រះសង្ឃរាជ ជួនណាត បានពន្យល់ថា ពាក្យ “សាស្ត្រា” ក្នុងភាសាបាលី និងសំស្ក្រឹត មានន័យថា ក្បួនច្បាប់ ឬ សេចក្តីដឹង ដែលពាក់ពន្ធ័ទៅនឹងចំណេះដឹង វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ សាសនា ច្បាប់ និងទ្រឹស្តីអំពីជីវិត។ អ្នកស្រាវជ្រាវខ្លះទៀតក៏បានរៀបរាប់ថា សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតមានកំណើតចាប់ពីសម័យអង្គរ។

សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹត ត្រូវបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយដល់ប្រជាជនខ្មែរយ៉ាងទូលំទូលាយ នៅសម័យកាលមុនៗ ហើយត្រូវបានប្រើប្រាស់ជាប្រចាំ។ ប៉ុន្តែពេលកន្លងមក វប្បធម៌សិលាចារឹក និងសាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតក៏បានរលាយបាត់បង់បន្តិចម្តងៗ ដោយសារអវត្តមាននៃការរក្សាទុក និងការចែកចាយខ្វះខាត។

សព្វថ្ងៃ សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតភាគច្រើន ត្រូវបានរក្សា និងប្រើប្រាស់នៅតែក្នុងវត្តអារាមប៉ុណ្ណោះ ដូច្នេះ វាក៏មានហានិភ័យបាត់បង់បន្តិចម្តងៗ ផងដែរ។ បណ្តាលមកពីការរីកចម្រើននៃបច្ចេកវិទ្យាទំនើប ដែលរំពឹងឱ្យប្រើសៀវភៅ ឬវិធីសាស្ត្រឌីជីថលជំនួស។

សរុបមក សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹតគឺជាទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិបុរាណដ៏មានតម្លៃ ដែលបង្ហាញពីភាពចម្បងនៃវប្បធម៌ និងស្មារតីដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់របស់ជាតិខ្មែរ។ វាអាចជាគម្ពីរសាសនា ឬឯកសារដែលរៀបរាប់អំពីពង្សាវតារនៃប្រទេសខ្មែរយើងផងដែរ។

The Khmer Empire was one of the most glorious periods in Cambodian history. Due to the vast territory under Khmer control, it earned the title of the “Great Khmer Empire.” This rich history has been recorded and preserved through stone inscriptions and Sastra Slëk Rëet (palm-leaf manuscripts).

What is Sastra Slëk Rëet made from?
Sastra Slëk Rëet refers to ancient texts inscribed on palm leaves, specifically the leaves of the T’rang tree (Corypha palm). This tree originates from the eastern and northern parts of India and Sri Lanka. In Southeast Asia, the T’rang tree can be found in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. In Cambodia, the tree is mostly found in Kratie and Kampong Thom provinces.

According to Samdech Preah Sangharaja Chuon Nath, the word Sastra in Pali and Sanskrit means “doctrine,” referring to knowledge, sciences, religion, law, and philosophies about life. Some scholars have stated that Sastra Slëk Rëet dates back to the Angkor period.

These palm-leaf manuscripts were widely shared among Khmer people in the past and used over many generations. However, as time went on, both the tradition of stone inscriptions and the use of palm-leaf manuscripts have gradually faded. Today, Sastra Slëk Rëet is mostly preserved and used only within Buddhist pagodas. As a result, it is slowly being lost due to the rise of modern technology such as printed books and digital formats.

In conclusion, Sastra Slëk Rëet is a valuable cultural heritage of the Khmer people. These texts, written on palm leaves, include religious scriptures and historical records that reflect the wisdom and identity of the Khmer civilization.

#at Sokchea Angkor Hotel Lobby

Kampot is one of Cambodia’s most charming and laid-back destinations, known for its peaceful riverside setting, French colonial architecture, and stunning natural attractions. Whether you’re here to explore the famous pepper plantations, cruise along the Kampot River, or take a trip up Bokor Mountain, Sokchea Kampot Hotel offers the perfect base for your stay. Ideally located just minutes from the town center, our hotel provides easy access to popular restaurants, cafés, and local markets, while still offering a quiet, relaxing atmosphere away from the noise. Our spacious, clean, and modern rooms are designed with your comfort in mind, featuring air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and comfortable bedding to ensure a restful night’s sleep. What truly sets Sokchea Kampot Hotel apart is our commitment to personalized service. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff are always ready to help—from recommending the best spots to visit, to assisting with motorbike rentals or arranging local tours. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with friends, you’ll find a welcoming and peaceful environment that feels like a home away from home. If you’re looking for quality, value, and a convenient location during your Kampot visit, Sokchea Kampot Hotel is the ideal choice.

 

 

The Sea Festival 2024, marking its 11th edition, will take place in Kampot province from December 13 to 15. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Heritage and Coastal Sustainability,” reflects the festival’s focus on honoring the region’s rich maritime traditions while highlighting the importance of preserving coastal environments. Attendees can look forward to a vibrant array of activities that celebrate both cultural heritage and sustainable practices.

Organized by a coalition including the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, and the Provincial Administration of Kampot, the festival is supported by various institutions and private sector partners. This collaboration underscores a unified commitment to showcasing Cambodia’s maritime heritage and promoting coastal sustainability.

A significant highlight of the event will be the official Opening Ceremony on December 14, presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet and First Lady Pich Chanmony. Their participation emphasizes the festival’s role in fostering national pride and cultural heritage while reinforcing the commitment to environmental stewardship.

The festival promises an exciting lineup of activities, including live concerts featuring local and international artists, vibrant performances, and spectacular fireworks displays. Visitors can also participate in sports competitions, explore exhibitions showcasing tourism and local products, and indulge in a variety of food and beverage offerings. These events aim to provide a comprehensive experience of Cambodia’s coastal culture and attractions.

Since its inception in 2011, the Sea Festival has been held in rotation across Cambodia’s four coastal provinces: Preah Sihanouk, Kep, Koh Kong, and Kampot. The festival aims to highlight the tourism potential of these regions while fostering collaboration among the private sector, public entities, and various stakeholders, ultimately encouraging efforts to protect and preserve marine resources and beach environments.

With a coastline spanning approximately 450 kilometers across these provinces, Cambodia boasts stunning natural beauty and diverse marine ecosystems. The country’s dedication to its coastal areas was further recognized when it joined the Most Beautiful Bays in the World (World-Bays Club) in mid-2011.

The Sea Festival 2024 aims to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Cambodia’s coastal regions while promoting sustainable tourism practices. By blending cultural festivities with environmental awareness, the festival seeks to enhance public understanding and involvement in preserving these vital natural resources.

This year’s event in Kampot promises to be a memorable celebration, combining entertainment, culture, and sustainability to highlight the beauty and significance of Cambodia’s coastal regions

Kampot has recently introduced a captivating musical water fountain show, popularly referred to as the “Water Dance,” which has become a weekend highlight for local tourists. This attraction features water jets choreographed to dance in harmony with music, creating a mesmerizing display that enhances the city’s nighttime ambiance. The initiative aims to showcase Kampot’s creativity after sunset and has successfully drawn local visitors seeking evening entertainment.

In addition to the Water Dance, Kampot offers various water-related activities that contribute to its vibrant tourism scene. The annual Bon Om Touk, or Cambodian Water Festival, celebrated in November, features boat races and festivities along the river, providing both participants and spectators with a lively cultural experience.

For those interested in more active pursuits, the Arcadia Waterpark offers a range of water-based attractions, including a large water slide, Russian swing, and the “Blob,” catering to adventure seekers looking for excitement along the river.

These diverse offerings, from the enchanting Water Dance to cultural festivals and adventure parks, highlight Kampot’s commitment to providing unique and engaging experiences for visitors.