Kampot Province

Kampot (Khmer: ខេត្តកំពត IPA: [kɑmpɔːt]) is a south west province of Cambodia. It borders the provinces of Koh Kong and Kampong Speu to the north, Takeo and Kep and Vietnam to the east and Sihanoukville to the west. To its south it has a coastline of around 45 km on the Gulf of Thailand. It is rich in low arable lands and has abundant natural resources. Its capital is Kampot town.

Kampot Province had a population of 627,884 in 2010 and consists of eight districts divided into 92 communes with a total of 477 villages. Touk Meas City is located in Kampot Province.

Set on the Kampot River, Kampot Town is the capital of Kampot province A quiet town, best known as the starting point for trips to Bokor Mountain and it's riverside scene. Kampot is a great escape from the larger cities and towns in Cambodia.  Located near the ocean, close to Vietnam, you can travel to SihanoukVille and Phnom Penh in a few hours and to Vietnam in only an hour.  Also, the original seaside resort of Cambodia, Kep, is a short drive away.

History

Under 19th century French colonial administration Kampot became a regional administrative center with the status of a state border district as a result of the delimitation of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Circonscription Résidentielle de Kampot contained the arrondissements of Kampot, Kompong-Som, Trang and Kong-Pisey.

In 1889 French colonial census reports a multi-ethnic community: Kampot town consisted of "Cambodian Kampot" on the Prek-Kampot River and "Chinese Kampot" on the right riverbank of the west branch of the Prek-Thom River. Nearby was also a Vietnamese village, called Tien-Thanh and another Vietnamese village on Traeuy Koh Island. A few Malay also existed on Traeuy Koh Island.

Understand

Kampot's main attraction is its relaxing riverside setting. While there is a sizable town set back from the river, the majority of visitors will spend most of their time enjoying the river and the local countryside. Kampot's economy is based on Salt and Pepper production, fishing, fruit growing (particularly Durians) and light industry with domestic and foreign tourism becoming significant contributors over the past three years. Together with much of the rest of Cambodia, Kampot is undergoing a development and population boom and now feels significantly larger than the 1998 census figure of 40,000 people (cited above) would indicate. The expatriate population in Kampot has also grown dramatically over the past five years and with it the number and range of restaurants, hotels, bars and general services. Peak foreign tourism months are November through to mid April with January being the busiest month. The densest concentration of foreigner oriented tourist businesses is along the riverside promenade, in or around the renovated "Old Market" or are within one or two blocks back from the river in the old quarter. The riverside promenade is now fully paved and extends from the New Bridge at the Northerly end down past the Governors Residence - which now houses the beginnings of the Kampot Museum - to the Aquatic Center at the Southerly end. The decommissioned old bridge, a mongrel of various styles and temporary parts thrown together after it’s breaching in the Khmer Rouge days, is now blocked to all forms of traffic at both ends but continues to provide a picturesque reference point while strolling along the river bank.

Climatically, Kampot is generally at its hottest in April and at its coolest in December and January. The highest overall rainfall months are September and October however heavy rainfall can occur throughout the rainy season months. Generally the driest months are January through to March and water restrictions may be introduced - as is currently the case for the 2015 season (June 2015)

Get in

By bus from Phnom Penh:

Minor update as at March 2015:

The road between Kampot and Kep has had extensive work done to it over the past twelve months and is now fully sealed between the two towns.

Hua Lin buses depart at 07:00 and 12:00 from their bus station on street 182 near Olympic Market. The bus travels to Kampot via Kep and the trip takes about five hours.

Capitol buses depart at 07:00 and 13:00 from their bus station near Orrusey Market. The bus does not currently go via Kep and the trip to Kampot can take approx. 3.5 hours. The bus continues on to Kep after setting down passengers in Kampot. The fare is now $US5.

Sorya buses depart at 07:30 and 9.30 and 2.30pm from their bus station next to Central Market. The bus travels to Kampot via Kep and the trip takes about five hours. The fare is $7 one way and $US10 for a return ticket.

Paramount Angkor Express buses depart at 07:30 and 13:30 from their bus station near Olympic Market. The bus travels directly to Kampot (does not go via Kep) and the trip takes about three hours. The fare is $6

Giant Ibis buses depart at 08:00 and 14:45 from street 106 next to the Night Market on Riverside. Tickets are $9 and there is a $1 booking fee if you use a credit card to book a seat on line. Ticket price includes a small snack, water and use of on-board Wi-Fi. The bus sets down at the Durian Roundabout (approx. 300 meters from the bus station) in Kampot.

All of the above buses, with the exception of Giant Ibis, terminate at the central Kampot bus station which is about 150 metres from one of the main guesthouse streets in Kampot - walk to the Salt Workers Monument and take your first turn to the left.

Note that these buses do not generally have an on-board toilet but do usually have a 15 minute rest stop at approx. the half way point between Phnom Penh and Kampot. Note also that while there is no difference in the fares charged for locals and foreigners on the Phnom Penh - Kampot route, fares generally increase for everyone during major public holidays/celebrations.

Mini Bus

Kampot Express uses Ford Transit and 15 seat Hyundai Starex mini buses and started operating in 2012. They provide 08:00am - 1:00pm and 4.30pm services. The bus route from Kampot passes - and will set down at - Phnom Penh International Airport. Buses are based in Street 215 in Phnom Penh at the Sokimex petrol station, with the trip taking approx. 2.5 hours depending on the traffic leaving Phnom Penh. In Kampot, the buses set down and depart from their depot on the Southern side of the Durian traffic roundabout in the center of town. The fare is $US8 - additional baggage fees may apply. They also offer a letter or parcel delivery service between Kampot and Phnom Penh. Website: http://www.giantibis.com/

Vibol is a bus company what mainly only locals use. It goes by Kep and spends around 5 hours stopping in several places. The price is $US5 and in Phnom Phen it's temporary near the Olympic Stadium.

Private Taxi: your guesthouse/hotel should be able to arrange this for you and expect to pay between $US35 and $US50 for the whole taxi with the trip taking approx. 2.5 hours depending on the traffic leaving Phnom Penh. Again, prices quoted will generally be higher during major public holidays and you will almost certainly be quoted a higher price if you attempt to negotiate the fare yourself with one of the taxis at Phnom Penh airport. A new company named Taxi Cambodia is offering a $40 one way service to Kampot from Phnom Penh. Email here: taxicambodia90@gmail.com and phone numbers here: 012 40 50 47 - 096 72 77 494 - 097 29 60 716

Shared Taxi: There are a number of shared taxis that regularly ply the route between Phnom Penh and Kampot and your guesthouse/hotel should be able to arrange a seat for you. If you want to make your own arrangements, taxis generally depart from Psar Damkor. Be aware that a shared taxi, generally a Toyota Camry, on this route will normally carry eight people including the driver so if you are a large Westerner, have a lot of luggage or have issues with your personal space, you might want to book two seats at the front of the taxi which in effect gives you the front passenger seat to yourself. Prices are generally around $US5 per "chair" so the front passenger seat to yourself should cost around $US10.

There is no passenger rail service between Phnom Penh and Kampot.

By bus from Sihanoukville:

From Sihanoukville: Take a shared taxi, minibus or bus. Most taxis depart from the traffic pickup point next to the market. The two hour drive should costs US$3-5/person in a shared taxi, though haggling is required. Bus operators can help arrange a minibus with pickup at your guesthouse. Shared taxis are generally cramped, with up to 7 passengers: 4 in the back, 2 in the front passenger seat and one next to the driver.

Stray Asia Bus travels to Kampot from Sihanoukville before continuing on to Koh Tunsay Island as part of its Southeast Asia travel network. Stray is a reliable New Zealand bus company who also operates in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar) and offers flexible travel passes which allow passengers to hop-on and off along the route. Stray buses are safe, have an English speaking guide on board and run to a reliable time schedule.

Giant Ibis was operating a return bus service to and from Sihanoukville with departures at 8.30 am and 12 pm in both directions; however this has been discontinued (confirmed with agent of the company).

Get around

Getting around Kampot is easy on foot or on pushbike, given the town's small size and flat terrain. Alternatively, hire a motorcycle (100cc - 125cc scooter or 250cc dirt bike, from US$4/day) or bicycle (from US$1/day) from hire shops near the durian traffic circle, or from just about any guesthouse or tour shop.

Tour Companies, There are approx. ten tour companies in Kampot offering the usual range of services. A number are located in or around the old market. Prices and what is on offer is often displayed on a billboard at the front of the shop.

Beware a tour agent called KKS Travel; they apparently rent tourists scooters and motorcycles in very poor condition. Often they even rent 3rd party vehicles and give your passport away to someone you don't know. Worst, however 'KKS Travel' tries to find some scratches or faults when you return your bike back. Many visitors already complained they were asked $30 or even $50 in order to get their passports back. They're located on Old Market Street just opposite the friendly Captain Chim's Restaurant. Since Tourist Police is rather useless, it's best to avoid KKS and use one of many other agents around.

Note about motorcycle rental

If you are going to rent a motorcycle here, make sure you understand what your liability is if the bike is stolen while you are renting it as moto theft from tourists is starting to be a bit of a problem in Kampot. You might find that the guesthouse or company that rented you the bike will expect you to pay in full for the stolen motorcycle to be replaced and the valuation placed on the stolen bike may be somewhat inflated. Note also that if you are an unskilled motorcycle or scooter rider and you decide to rent and ride one here - and combine that with not wearing a helmet and alcohol consumption - you are really testing your karma. Remember you are a long way from any quality medical care.

Safety, Kampot is generally a very safe town for visitors. However there have been incidents of bags - often containing valuables - being stolen from the front carry basket of pushbikes while the visitor, usually female, is cycling around town. The general technique used by the thieves is for a motorcycle with rider and pillion to pull alongside the pushbike, snatch the bag and then disappear into the distance. Secure your bag and/or limit the amount of valuables it contains.

See

The most impressive sights in Kampot are the river and surrounding hills, which grandly frame views from the riverside promenade. Kampot retains many of its colonial buildings and there are a number of interesting old structures in various states of repair. The market, an angular structure similar to Battambang's, has undergone an extensive renovation and is now largely open for business.

Bokor Mountain

Bokor National Park, about 1-2 hours out of Kampot, is being destroyed by a US$1bn casino development - the Thansur Bokor Highland Resort with the result that the eerie charm of the abandoned French hill station - that included a shell of a church and the isolated upland nature reserve - is rapidly disappearing. The road up the mountain is now paved and provides easy access. The cooler climate and sublime views from the mountain remain and may provide some reason for a visit. Entry to the area is US$0.50 for motorcycles and $US2.50 for cars.

Tigers were rare to start with and will likely soon be non-existent. Gibbons and birds such as the chestnut-headed Partridge, blue pitta and orange-headed thrush will also been much harder to spot in what is now a construction site. The waterfall, which only flows in the wet season, may still provide some sanctuary for humans and animals wanting to get away from bulldozers.

Tours still run up the mountain and cost approximately US$10, depending on bargaining skills. Lunch is included. Except for the Bokor Palace Hotel and old casino, the old French buildings are occupied by the families of construction workers. The excursion can still be worthwhile provided as it is viewed as an insight into seeing Cambodia's Great Leap Forward rather than as an atmospheric expedition into a remote and haunting environment.

Several tracks enter the forest, one from behind the old tea plantation, the second from near the waterfalls. It is possible to stay at the ranger station which is basic but comfortable and, contrary to some reports does offer food and French wine.

Other

• Teuk Chhouu, (8km upriver of town on the west (far) bank). An area of rapids with eateries and an island. It is a nice place for swimming, tubing and relaxing, and local vendors sell fruit, coffee and water. Prices for food and drink are somewhat higher here than in Kampot town. Entry fee: $US1 for foreigners. 

• Phnom Chhnork, (8km east of town on the Kep Road NH33). A pleasant ride through paddy fields and village life to these caves with pre-Angkorian (Funan) shrines and "lost worlds". Just after the rhino statue turn left (there is a sign to Phnom Chhnork Resort), cross the railway into a village. Straight ahead is Phnom Sera with some interesting caves and a quarry which feeds the local gravel industry. Follow the road 90 degrees left and 2 km or so to Wat Ang Sdok, pay the monks and walk across to the mountain. Take a torch $US1.  
• Pepper Farms, (North of the Kep hills and NH33). Enquire in town about how to see pepper being grown and processed. For a guided tour visit The Vine Retreat in Chamcar Bei village. Also Sothy's Pepper Farm offers free guided tours in several languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Khmer). Most tour operators in Kampot offer visits to pepper farms. Buy Original Kampot Pepper in the farms. The pepper sold in the local markets is Vietnamese or from other regions where chemical products are used. For information on this famous pepper: http://kampotpepper.biz/en/index.html
•  Cham Fishing Village, about two kilometers out of town past the Governor's Residence -Kampot Museum on the road that runs along the East bank of the river.

• Salt Fields, about two kilometers out of town on the Kep road. You will see the fields off to your right (coming from Kampot) and there are a number of access roads.
• Funky Statues, The Big Durian, The Vietnam Friendship Monument, The 2000 Roundabout, The Salt Workers Monument.
• The Two Old Cinemas, art deco design and both have been out of regular service for some time. All that remains of the cinema on old bridge road is the facade as the building behind it has been completely demolished. The occasional Khmer made horror movie will get a screening at the Royal Cinema however this is becoming less and less common. If you are an art deco enthusiast, The Tourist Information building, about 400 meters up from the Salt Workers Monument, is also worth a look.
• The Old Bridge, both ends of the bridge have been completely blocked (March 2015) and it is now closed to all forms of transport and to pedestrians.
• The Colonial Railway Station, head out of town on the Phnom Penh road and take the last turn to your right before you come to the rail lines. The Station is sign posted and approx. 1.5 kilometers out of town.
• The Kampot Traditional Music School for Orphaned and Disabled Children, situated across the road from the Acleda Bank building and adjacent to the park that runs down to the Old Market. The school holds occasional concerts - there is a notice board outside the building advising dates and times - and it is possible to attend music rehearsals (Mon to Fri) if you make an appointment. Tel: +855 (0)33 932 992 (Field Manager: Mr. You Chhuy)
• Old Buildings, There are some fine examples of colonial architecture along the riverside in Kampot including The Governor's Residence, the Red Cross building and the Department of Mines building. There is still a hand full of dilapidated, photogenic shop houses on the streets back from the riverside.
• Buddhist Wats, within two kilometers of the town center is half a dozen Buddhist temples. Worth seeing are the hand painted depictions of the life of Buddha on the internal walls of each of the Wats. If your time or interest is limited, Wat Treuy Koh is one of the best examples - go over the old bridge and take your first major paved road to your left. The Wat is approx. 500 meters along this road to your right. This is a great spot to watch the fishing fleet go out just before dusk.
• Chinese Temples, worth a look if you are spending a little extra time in Kampot. The first has recently been restored and is located on the road that runs along the river front about 100 meters from the new bridge while the second is adjacent to The Vietnam Friendship Monument. .
• The Old Prison, Demolished in November 2015; all that remains is the administration building, and a portion of the outer wall. About 200 meters from the Salt Workers Monument.
• The 2000 Olympic Stadium, in the center of town behind the Durian Roundabout. Classic Khmer style stadium and the grounds are often used for fairs or live music concerts during public holidays.
• The Market, large, rambling and well stocked with just about everything that an average Khmer family could need. Have a look at the section behind the fish mongers for examples of local produce: its well worth a wander around. Watch your feet & your head as the floors can be uneven & the ceilings low. There is a secure parking area at the market that charges 300 Riel to look after your pushbike and 500 Riel for a motorbike.
• The Old Market, restoration is now complete and the majority of external stalls facing out to the road are now occupied. Kepler's Books has relocated to here and there are a few tour agents, a mini mart, a computer store, and a couple of real estate agents. There are about twenty cafes/ restaurants in or on the streets either side of the market. Food choices include Khmer, Italian, German, Lebanese (kebabs) and fish and chips. There are a number of outlets offering standard cafe fare including coffee, cake, and fruit shakes etc.
• The Night Market, located on the Phnom Penh road at the Northern corner of the Durian Roundabout, this mini fairground opened in November 2013. It features some basic children's rides, Khmer snack food and drinks, a number of stalls selling cheap shoes and clothing and a few stalls selling knock off brand name products.
• Get Out Of Town, head out of Kampot for 1 kilometer in any direction and get off the main roads and you are in rural Cambodia. Some of the local cottage industries include palm sugar and wine making, basket weaving and furniture making using liana and rattan.
• Teuk Chhou Zoo, Located about 8 km out of Kampot towards Teuk Chhouu and not far from the rapids. Admission is $US4 for foreigners and $US1 for locals and it is open daily. Note that Footprints Organization, the NGO that had been operating the Zoo since March 2012 has ceased to be affiliated with it. 

Do

Kampot has a relaxed and sleepy atmosphere. At sunset the promenade along the river comes alive with zooming students on motorcycles and holiday-makers from Phnom Penh. Outside of these times it is a great place to go and just soak up the atmosphere and catch your breath for a couple of days: in the town, at the beach, along the river or up on Bokor.

Do Kampot province by dirtbike: Ride enduro style through the Elephant mountains, take on the hillclimb up Bokor or relax.

• Minigolf, (at the Magic Sponge GH). Play a few fun rounds of 9-hole minigolf for free.  

• Quiz Night, at Rusty Keyhole2, Wednesday nights at 7.30. Often a good mix of local expats and travelers. Free entry.

• Watch a movie, Ecran Movie House is a boutique, 30 seat cinema showing nightly movies starting at 7.30 pm. Huge screen and quality sound system. Located on the North side of the "new" market on the same street as Rusty Keyhole and ABC Bar. Check out the front to see what is showing that night. Admission is $US2.50

• Take a boat trip, there are a number of tour operators in Kampot offering boat trips on the river. Bart, a Rastafarian looking, Belgian expat, has been boating on the river for the past 9 years and is recommended. Type - Boatman Bart Kampot - into Google for more info. Contact him at (T:(092) 174 280) Paddle Boards are available for rent for $US7 per day at Captain Chims restaurant over the road from the old market.

• Pick up a free copy of The Kampot Survival Guide while you are in town and have a read. A funny, irreverent and often politically incorrect take on visiting or living in Kampot written by local expats. The KSG blogspot site is here:  Or look out for a copy of Coastal tourist information guide containing info and maps of all towns in South-Cambodia.

• Live Music, check with your guesthouse to see what's on offer while you are in Kampot. During the high season (Nov to March), live gigs or jam sessions might be held at ABC Bar, Madi Bar, OM, The Greenhouse, Wunderbar, Samon's Village, Bokor Mountain Lodge, or The Magic Sponge

• Take a guided Cycle Tour, these are offered by most tour operators. The Four Villages tour run by Buffalo Tours is an interesting way to see rural life surrounding Kampot.

• Rent a motorbike and explore nearby caves, rock formations and salt fields.

• Go caving, via ferrata, abseiling and rock climbing with Climbodia.
• Off-road kampot. Enduro / dirt bike tours Tailor-made, enduro off-road adventures through Kampot’s wildest and most picturesque areas. https://www.facebook.com/groups/offroadkampot/

Source http://wikitravel.org/en/Kampot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampot_Province