Kampot
A riverside town in southern Cambodia known for black pepper farms, French colonial streets and a misty day trip up Bokor mountain.
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Kampot is a town in southern Cambodia and the capital of Kampot province, on the Praek Tuek Chhu River, about 5 km from the Gulf of Thailand. It is known for high-quality black pepper, exported worldwide, as well as durian, fish sauce and sea salt. Unlike most Cambodian provincial capitals, the town center is built in 19th-century French colonial architecture, and the old streets are worth exploring on foot.
Kampot was a French colonial administrative center and Cambodia's main seaport for much of the 19th century. The main day trip is Bokor National Park, about 42 km west of town. Its summit, around 1,075 m high, has a casino from the French colonial era and cool, often misty air. Plan one or two days: walk the old streets, visit a pepper orchard and make one trip up the mountain. The dry season falls roughly from November to April.
Kampot in five
- Visit a pepper farmKampot pepper has protected origin status. Farms around the town show the vines and sell green, black, red and white pepper.
- Ride up Bokor mountainThe road climbs to the old French hill station, a casino and a colder climate. Bring a layer; cloud often sits on top.
- Eat crab at KepKep's crab market is about 30 minutes away. Crab cooked with fresh green pepper is the local dish.
- Rent a scooter only if you rideScooters are the easy way to the farms and Kep, but roads out of town are busy with trucks. A tuk-tuk for the day is the safer option.
Need to know
- Airport
- None nearby; Phnom Penh is about 3 hours by road
- Getting there
- Buses and minivans from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville
- Getting around
- Tuk-tuk, bicycle or scooter
- Best base
- Near the old market and the river
- Time needed
- 2–3 days including Kep
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°DryJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°DryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotMarchRain
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°HotAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh32°Low27°Rains startMayRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°WetJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WetJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 223 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WetAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 206 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- SeptemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°WettestSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 306 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- OctoberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°WetOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 368 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Drying outNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°DryDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
Average daily high and low in Kampot, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kampot
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Kampot
03:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°24°96%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Wed31°24°99%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Thu32°24°81%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 81%.
- Fri32°24°79%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 79%.
- Sat31°23°78%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sun32°24°88%Sunday: Rain. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 88%.
Updated 03:12 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 4,107 KHR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Kepabout 30 min by tuk-tukCrab market, a small beach and the national park trail.
- Bokor National Parkabout 1 hour up the mountainOld hill station, waterfall and views to the coast.
Before you go to Kampot
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Rules for Kampot, checked
- Check whether you need a visa for Cambodia. You can apply for an e-visa online before you travel, and check eligibility on the official site.Source
- Dial 117 for police and 119 for an ambulance anywhere in Cambodia. Save both numbers before you travel.
- Do not take antiques or Khmer statues out of the country. Cultural objects need an official export permit.
- Cover shoulders and knees at temples, including Wat Samphov Pram near Bokor, and take off your shoes before going inside.
Plan around Kampot
The capital, about 3 hours by bus
Read the guideSiem ReapAngkor passes, temples and how many days to give them
Read the guideAll of CambodiaEntry, money and a route from the temples to the coast
Read the guideGetting around Southeast AsiaBuses, trains and flights compared
Read the guideEntry rules for CambodiaVisa and arrival steps before you fly
Read the guideKampot FAQ
How many days do I need in Kampot?
Two or three. One for Bokor, one for the pepper farms and Kep, and a slow day on the river.
Is Kampot better than Kep?
Kampot has more places to eat and stay; Kep is quieter and closer to the crab market. Most people stay in Kampot and visit Kep for a day.
When is the best time to visit Kampot?
December to March, when it is dry. The wet season, roughly May to October, brings heavy afternoon rain and cloud on Bokor.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
By bus or minivan in about 3 hours, or by private car in a little less. Buses leave from company offices in Phnom Penh, and the road is busy with trucks, so leave early.
What is Kampot pepper and can I visit a farm?
A pepper grown around Kampot and Kep with protected origin status. Farms near town run short tours and tastings; ask which colors they sell and whether the farm ships abroad.