Top Things to Do in Kampot

Kampot has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Angkorian period when it was an important trading hub. Over time, it played a significant role in Cambodia’s maritime trade due to its strategic location near the coast.

During the French colonial era (1863–1953), Kampot became a key commercial center. The French built roads, bridges, and colonial-style buildings, many of which still stand today. The town was also famous for its high-quality Kampot pepper, which gained international recognition.

In the 1970s, during the Khmer Rouge era, Kampot, like much of Cambodia, suffered greatly. Many historical buildings were abandoned, and the region’s economy declined. However, in recent decades, Kampot has revived, becoming a top destination for travelers looking to experience its unique blend of history, nature, and culture.

Top Things to Do in Kampot
1. Explore Bokor National Park
Bokor Hill Station, built by the French in the 1920s as a hill retreat, features abandoned colonial buildings, including the old Catholic church and the Bokor Palace Hotel. The park offers stunning views, waterfalls, and rich wildlife.

2. Walk Through the Old Colonial Town
Take a leisurely stroll through the old town, where you can see well-preserved French colonial buildings, such as the Kampot Provincial Hall and the Old Market.

kampot provincial museum
Kampot Provincial Museum

3. Visit a Kampot Pepper Farm
Kampot pepper, once prized by French chefs, remains a symbol of the town’s agricultural heritage. Farms like La Plantation and BoTree offer guided tours where you can see the traditional growing and harvesting process.

Kampot Pepper
Kampot Pepper

4. Take a Sunset Cruise on the Kampot River
Enjoy a relaxing boat ride along the river, where you can admire mangroves, mountains, and fireflies at night.

Sunset River Cruise in Kampot
Sunset River Cruise in Kampot

5. Discover the Salt Fields
Kampot’s salt fields are a reminder of Cambodia’s traditional salt production methods. The best time to visit is during the dry season when workers harvest salt by hand.

Kampot Salt field
Kampot Salt field

6. Take a Day Trip to Kep
A short drive from Kampot, Kep was a popular French seaside resort in the early 20th century. Today, it’s famous for the Kep Crab Market, where you can enjoy fresh seafood.

7. Visit Phnom Chhngok Cave Temple
A fascinating cave with a 7th-century brick temple inside, Phnom Chhngok offers history and adventure in one stop.

8. Try Outdoor Activities
Kayaking or paddleboarding on the river.
Cycling through the countryside to see traditional Cambodian villages.
Tubing along the river for a relaxing afternoon.

Where to Stay in Kampot
For Comfort and Relaxation: Sokchea Kampot Hotel
A peaceful hotel with modern amenities, ideal for honeymooners, families, or those looking for a quiet retreat.
Offers a range of accommodation from Single Rooms to Family Rooms.

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Nestled along the tranquil banks of the Kampot River, Sokchea Kampot Hotel serves as the perfect gateway to exploring one of Cambodia’s most charming provinces. Kampot is known for its laid-back atmosphere, French colonial architecture, and breathtaking natural scenery. From this ideally located hotel, travelers can easily access the region’s top attractions that showcase both its cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Just a short drive away lies Bokor National Park, a must-visit destination offering cool mountain air, lush forests, and historical landmarks such as the old French hill station and the atmospheric Bokor Palace ruins. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the coast and spot rare wildlife along scenic hiking trails. For those seeking a taste of local life, a trip to the Kampot Pepper Plantations reveals the secrets behind Cambodia’s world-famous pepper, often praised by top chefs worldwide.

Another highlight is the Kampot River, where travelers can kayak, take a sunset cruise, or simply relax along its peaceful banks. Nearby, the Kep Beach and Crab Market offer a seaside escape with fresh seafood and ocean breezes, just a short journey from the hotel.

After a day of exploration, guests can return to Sokchea Kampot Hotel to unwind in comfort, enjoying modern amenities and warm Cambodian hospitality. Whether you’re drawn by nature, culture, or cuisine, exploring Kampot from Sokchea Kampot Hotel promises an unforgettable and authentic Cambodian experience.

The installation of the new seahorse statue in Kampot province is indeed a wonderful addition to the beauty and charm of Kampot City. Not only does it enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area, but it also serves as a symbol of the region’s rich marine biodiversity and cultural heritage.

For tourists, the seahorse statue offers a unique photo opportunity and a memorable landmark to visit during their exploration of Kampot. Its presence highlights the importance of marine conservation and serves as a reminder of the need to protect and preserve the natural environment, including the fascinating sea creatures that inhabit it.

Moreover, the seahorse statue can play a role in raising awareness about the conservation of seahorses and other marine species among locals and visitors alike. By drawing attention to these captivating animals, it encourages people to learn more about them and to contribute to efforts aimed at their protection.

Overall, the new seahorse statue adds to the allure of Kampot City while promoting environmental stewardship and appreciation for the wonders of marine life. It serves as a beacon of conservation and a testament to the beauty and importance of our oceans and seas.

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.

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We are incredibly honored to receive the Travelers Review Award 2025 from Booking.com! This recognition is a true testament to the dedication of our team at Sokchea Kampot Hotel and, most importantly, to the trust and support of our wonderful guests. We sincerely thank each and every guest who took the time to share their experiences and reviews on Booking.com. Your kind words and valuable feedback inspire us to continuously improve and provide the best hospitality possible.

At Sokchea Kampot Hotel, we are committed to offering warm and welcoming stays, ensuring every guest enjoys a peaceful retreat by the beautiful riverside of Kampot. Whether you visit for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or simply a relaxing escape, we take great pride in delivering exceptional service and unforgettable moments.

This award motivates us to strive for even greater excellence in the years to come. Thank you again to Booking.com for this prestigious recognition and to all our guests for making this achievement possible. We look forward to welcoming you again soon and creating more memorable experiences together!

Travelers Review Award

Nestled in the scenic countryside of Kampot Province, Phnom Chhngok Cave Temple offers an enchanting blend of natural wonder and ancient spirituality. This mystical limestone cave, set within a peaceful rural landscape about 12 kilometers northeast of Kampot town, is not only a geological marvel but also home to a pre-Angkorian brick temple dating back to the 7th century. As you approach the site, you’ll pass through quiet villages and rice fields before reaching the stairs that lead up the hill to the cave entrance. Inside, the cave opens into a large, shadowy chamber with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over millions of years, some of which resemble animals and mythical creatures. The air is cool and still, and shafts of sunlight occasionally pierce through the rock, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. At the heart of the cave stands the small but remarkable brick temple dedicated to Shiva, remarkably well-preserved and considered one of the oldest Hindu sanctuaries in Cambodia. Local guides, often young villagers, are available to share legends and assist with navigating deeper sections of the cave. Some routes even lead out through narrow limestone tunnels for the adventurous. Phnom Chhngok is more than a destination—it’s an experience that combines history, mystery, and the raw beauty of nature. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a spiritual seeker, or simply someone in search of a unique day trip in Kampot, this hidden gem offers a peaceful and unforgettable escape from the ordinary. Don’t forget to wear good walking shoes and bring a flashlight for exploring the deeper corners of the cave. A visit to Phnom Chhngok is a journey back in time—one that echoes with the stories of Cambodia’s ancient past.

The Water Festival this year falls on November 7-9. But with Cambodia set to host the ASEAN summit and related meetings in the same week this month, the festival are not being celebrated in Phnom Penh, though some provinces have been holding celebrations since October.

Known locally as Bon Om Touk, the festival takes place in late October or early November to mark the end of the monsoon season as well as the change in flow of the Tonle Sap River.

The second day of the festival aligns with the date of the full moon on the Khmer lunar calendar month of Katdoek (or Kartika in Sanskrit), which is said to be when the long-cycle rice crop is ready for harvest.

The festival usually features dragon longboat races on its first day. Royal boat races have been held in Cambodia since at least the time of King Jayavarman VII to celebrate the victory of the Khmer navy over Cham invaders from the Champa kingdom in a large boat battle on the Tonle Sap Lake.

During the Longvek period of the 16th and 17th centuries, King Ang Chan I appointed Ponhea Yat as the “earth-guardian” in Kampuchea Krom’s Bassac district and he organised the navy into three groups to defend the region from invasion by the Da Viet kingdom under ruler Mac Dang Dung.