"Kampot" Khett Kampot by mikegr

Khett Kampot Travel Guide: 114 reviews and 261 photos

My Favourite Place In The Kingdom Of Cambodia

The temples of Angkor are spectacular and the beaches in Sihanoukville are very pleasant, but it was Kampot which really won my heart in Cambodia.

I arrived by shared taxi from Phnom Penh and first impressions were not promising - crowded out by over eager moto taxi drivers at the dusty market.

But Kampot is altogether different from the highly touristed other places I visited on this trip. It is a quiet town which is easy to explore, it is also easy to get out of on foot into pretty countryside.

Bokor National Park

The reason most people come to visit Kampot is to visit Bokor National Park - and it is a trip well worth making.

It is only a short distance to the plateau at the summit of the Bokor mountain (you won't believe how close Kampot looks from the top!) but don't let that fool you. The road is in a bad state of repair and unless you have decent suspension (or very fleshy buttocks!) it is a bone jarring journey.

See my tips for more information.

What Makes Kampot Special?

Sa Rith and Me

The people here were so open and friendly to me, and it was them who made my stay here so special.

On a number of occasions they surprised me with their openness and kindness. From being offered a lift on a horse and cart when walking along the riverbank, to being invited to stay with a Khmer family and attend a family wedding, I was bowled over by the warmth of these people.

When I think of Cambodia I don't think of Angkor Wat - I think of you.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Friendly and open locals and a wonderful National Park on the doorstep
Cons:You might want to stay here forever.
In a nutshell:The place which will bring me back to Cambodia

Last visit to Khett Kampot: Jan 2003
Intro Updated Jan 3, 2005
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Reviews (4)

Bokor National Park Off The Beaten Path (2)

This is a wonderful NP which really deserves an over night stop. The highlights in the national park are the deserted... more travel advice

Scared witless - The Bokor Hotel at night - Khett Kampot

Explore Bokor By Night - not for the... Off The Beaten Path (2)

Staying the night in Bokor National Park will allow you to explore the ruins by flashlight - straight out of a horror... more travel advice

Spend The Night In Bokor National Park Hotels (1)

This is a wonderful NP which really deserves an over night stop. At the top you will find the basic, hostel style... more travel advice

Getting to Bokor National Park Transportation (1)

The Bokor National Park is a mountain with a huge plateau on top. The road up is unsealed and very bumpy - my local... more travel advice

Comments (2)

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planxty Jun 17, 2006 at 9:12 PM

Hi Mike, good Kampot page, it certainly brought back some memories. I didn't manage to get to Bokor myself - maybe next time. fergy.
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bijo69 May 28, 2005 at 5:02 AM

Too bad I missed this place on my trip to Cambodia...