The Cardamoms in 4 days: Chi Phat to Kampot
A four-day Cardamom Mountains itinerary: Phnom Penh to Andoung Teuk, the boat upriver to Chi Phat for two active days, then on to Kampot.
Cardamom rainforest protected by Wildlife Alliance rangers, from the air
Illustrative itinerary: researched, not a trip we have run
In short
Travel from Phnom Penh to Andoung Teuk and take the community boat upriver to Chi Phat on day 1, spend two days trekking, cycling or kayaking with village guides, then continue to Kampot on day 4. It is a modest-cost, simple-comfort route; Cardamom Tented Camp is the comfortable alternative.
The route, stage by stage
This is a researched planning example, not a fixed package and not a trip we have operated. Road times come from published sources and vary with weather and traffic; provider days, availability and prices are confirmed for your dates before anything is booked.
- Day 1
Phnom Penh to Chi Phat
Morning bus or car to Andoung Teuk on National Road 48 (about 195 km). Meet the boat near the bridge for the two-hour trip upriver, or take a motorbike taxi (about 45 minutes). Evening in the village.
- Day 2
Forest trek
A guided trek from the visitor centre, chosen at light, medium or hard level. Homestay or guesthouse night.
- Day 3
Cycling or kayaking
Mountain biking on village and forest tracks, or kayaking on the river. Slow afternoon in Chi Phat.
- Day 4
Chi Phat to Kampot
Early boat or motorbike back to Andoung Teuk, then by car about 141 km to Kampot, arriving in the afternoon.
- Moving on
Onward travel
From Kampot, Phnom Penh is a few hours by road for onward flights, or continue to Kep or the coast. Do not head west to Koh Kong town, which is inside the Thai border advisory zone.
Arrange well ahead
- Chi Phat accommodation and activities (the project recommends a couple of weeks ahead in high season)
- Bus seats or a private car to Andoung Teuk
- Return boat or motorbike, the evening before you leave Chi Phat
Why this route works
Chi Phat is close enough to Phnom Penh to reach in a day without an exhausting drive, and leaving towards Kampot rather than back the way you came saves time. Two full days in the village is the sweet spot: one long activity and one gentler one, with time to enjoy the place in between.
Timing the arrival
The community boat waits for the Phnom Penh bus, which the project’s timetable shows arriving at Andoung Teuk around 12:30. If you travel by private car, you can arrive earlier and take a motorbike taxi or arrange the boat directly. Confirm the current timings when you book.
Who this suits
Active travelers who are happy with simple rooms and flexible schedules. For more comfort with similar forest, use Cardamom Tented Camp instead of Chi Phat. For families, check the specific homestay arrangements first.
What the providers publish
These are the facts each provider states on its own website, with the date we read them. Naming a provider here describes it; it is not an endorsement or a partnership.
Questions travelers ask
Can I do this with Cardamom Tented Camp instead?
Yes. Drive to the camp’s departure point near Trapeang Rung on National Road 48 (about 242 km from Phnom Penh) for its 3-day or 4-day package, then continue to Kampot or back to Phnom Penh.
Is this route affected by the Thai border advice?
Not as written. Andoung Teuk and Chi Phat are well outside the 20 km advisory zone; Koh Kong town further west is inside it, so this route avoids it.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 11 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
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