Kampot and Kep: river town, pepper and crab
Kampot and Kep on Cambodia’s south coast: pepper farms, the Kep crab market, Bokor mountain, which town to stay in and getting there from Phnom Penh.
Fishing boats on the Kampot River
Researched from published sources
In short
Kampot and Kep are two small towns about 25 km apart on the south coast, three to four hours from Phnom Penh. Kampot is a relaxed river town and the base for Bokor mountain; Kep is quieter, by the sea and home to the crab market. Two or three nights cover pepper farms, Bokor and a seafood lunch, and they pair naturally with the Cardamoms.
The south coast is Cambodia at a slower pace. Kampot sits on a wide river below the Bokor plateau, with old shophouses and riverside guesthouses. Kep, about 25 km away, is a scattered seaside town where the main event of the day is lunch at the crab market.
What to do
- Pepper farms. Kampot pepper is grown on small farms in the countryside around both towns. Larger farms welcome visitors and, according to several travel guides, offer free guided tours.
- The Kep crab market. Fishers land the catch and the restaurants along the water cook it. Midday is the liveliest time.
- Bokor mountain. Just under an hour’s drive from Kampot: cooler air, wide views to the coast and the remains of an old French hill station.
- Kep National Park and Rabbit Island. A forest loop of about two hours, and a short boat ride to a simple island beach.
Our Kampot and Kep day combines a farm, the crab market and Bokor or the park with a local driver-guide.
Where to stay
In Kampot, near the river, within walking distance of restaurants. In Kep, near the coast road or in the hills above it, where many places are set in gardens. Comfort ranges from guesthouses to boutique hotels.
Getting there and pairing
From Phnom Penh it is about 3 to 4 hours by road, or a slower train to Kampot. Kampot is about 141 km from Andoung Teuk, the gateway to Chi Phat, which makes the Cardamoms and Kampot an easy combination. The islands off Sihanoukville are further west along the coast; see Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem.
Questions travelers ask
Should I stay in Kampot or Kep?
Kampot if you want a riverside town with more restaurants and easy access to Bokor; Kep if you prefer quiet, the sea and the crab market. They are about 25 km apart, so it is easy to visit one from the other.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
By bus or minivan in about 3 to 4 hours according to booking sites and traveler reports, by private car, or by train (around 3 hours 40 minutes, with delays reported in 2026).
Can I visit pepper farms?
Yes. Several farms welcome visitors, and travel guides report that larger farms such as La Plantation run free guided tours. Confirm current hours before you go.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
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