Two full days is the sweet spot for Kampot and Kep: one for the countryside and Kep's crab market, one for Bokor mountain. One day is enough for the countryside and Kep if you're happy to skip Bokor. Three days lets you slow down with the river, Kep National Park or Rabbit Island. Here are ready-made itineraries with timings, plus what to cut first if you're short on time.
On this page
The short answer
| Time | What you'll see | What you'll miss |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Salt fields, La Plantation, Secret Lake, crab lunch in Kep | Bokor, the river at sunset, any slack |
| 2 days | All of the above, plus Bokor and a river sunset | Kep National Park, Rabbit Island, downtime |
| 3 days | Everything above at an easy pace, plus Kep's coast or the river | Not much; Rabbit Island needs a fourth day if you want everything else too |
These are full days on the ground. Arrival and departure days don't count, so plan your transport first.
First, count your travel days
- From Phnom Penh: about 2.5 hours by bus, minivan or private taxi. Buses and minivans cost about $5–14 per person, a private taxi about $35–50.
- From Techo International Airport (KTI): about 2.5–3 hours by private taxi, roughly $45–85 depending on the car and company. There's no direct bus, and going via the city adds two to three hours.
- Leaving Kampot: Giant Ibis, for example, leaves for Phnom Penh at 08:30, 14:45 and 19:00. An afternoon departure gives you a free morning for the river or the old town.
If you arrive by midday, you can fit an afternoon countryside loop into your arrival day, which effectively gives you an extra half day.
One day in Kampot and Kep
Do the countryside and Kep in one unhurried loop of seven to eight hours. Bokor doesn't fit; save it for another trip.
- 08:00 Pickup at your hotel in Kampot.
- 08:30 Phnom Chhngok cave temple, while the 200 steps are still cool (about 1 hour, $1–2).
- 10:00 La Plantation for the pepper tour and tasting. From October to March, book your slot in advance.
- 11:30 Secret Lake next door, and its story.
- 12:30 Crab lunch at the Kep crab market. Agree the full price before ordering; budget $20–30 for two.
- 14:00 Kep seafront, or a short walk in Kep National Park.
- 16:00 Salt fields on the way back, in the best light (harvest roughly January to April/May).
- 17:00 Back in Kampot. Sunset drink by the river.
Arriving at midday instead? Do the afternoon countryside loop (about 1pm–6pm: Phnom Chhngok, La Plantation before its 4pm last visit, Secret Lake, salt fields at sunset) and leave Kep for another time.
Two days in Kampot and Kep
Day 1: Bokor mountain
- 08:00 Pickup and ride west to the park turn-off, about 8 km.
- 08:30–09:45 The climb, with a stop at the Lok Yeay Mao statue.
- 10:00–13:00 The plateau: the old French church, Le Bokor Palace from outside, the Black Palace, Wat Sampov Pram, then lunch at the top.
- 13:30 Popokvil waterfall, if it's flowing (best May to October).
- 15:00 Back in Kampot, well before dark.
- 17:00 Sunset boat on the river: boards around 5–5:30pm, about two hours, roughly $5–15 per person.
Bring a jacket: the plateau is 6–7 °C cooler than town. There's no entrance fee. Details in Bokor by tuk-tuk.
Day 2: Countryside and Kep
The one-day loop above. In salt-harvest season, keep the salt fields for late afternoon.
Which day first? Put Bokor on the morning with the clearest sky. If you wake up to low cloud over the mountain, swap the days.
Three days in Kampot and Kep
Day 1: Countryside half day, then the river
The countryside loop in four to five hours. In the rainy season, do the morning version (about 8am–1pm); from January to May, the afternoon version ends at the salt fields at sunset. Rest in the heat of the day, then take a sunset boat. Our countryside guide has both routes.
Day 2: Bokor
As above, about 8am–3pm. Have a quiet evening in town.
Day 3: Kep at your own pace
- 09:00 Leave Kampot (35–45 minutes by tuk-tuk).
- 09:45 A walk in Kep National Park while it's cooler: the full loop is 8 km, or just go to a viewpoint.
- 12:00 Long crab lunch at the market.
- 14:00 The seafront and old modernist villas, or a swim and a rest.
- 16:30 Sunset by the sea, then back to Kampot, or stay a night in Kep.
Rather do Rabbit Island? Swap day 3 for the island. Shared boats from Kep have generally left in the morning and come back mid-afternoon, around $8–10 return; check times at the pier. You'll miss Kep's crab market and park unless you stay longer.
See Kampot to Kep by tuk-tuk for prices and crab-market tips, and Kampot or Kep? if you're thinking of splitting your nights.
Four days or more
- A slow river day: kayak or paddleboard upriver, the hammock huts at Teuk Chhou rapids, the old town and the provincial museum.
- Rabbit Island as its own day.
- A cooking class at La Plantation (book at least 24 hours ahead).
- More caves: Phnom Sorsia, about 18 km east, or Kampong Trach towards the Vietnamese border.
- A village day off the tourist trail.
For the full list, see things to do in Kampot.
What to cut if you're short on time
Cut in this order:
- Rabbit Island. It needs a whole day and doesn't combine with anything else.
- Bokor on a foggy day. If the mountain is in cloud and you only have one day, the countryside and Kep give you more for your time.
- Kep National Park. Do a short section or skip it; the crab lunch is the main reason to go to Kep.
- Salt fields in the wet season. From May to November there's no harvest; a quick photo stop on the way past is enough.
- Phnom Chhngok in the midday heat. We'd rather move it to the morning than cut it: it's the oldest thing you'll see around Kampot.
What we wouldn't cut: Secret Lake with its story, and a crab lunch in Kep. Neither takes long, and they're what people talk about afterwards.
Does the season change the plan?
- Dry season (about November/December to April): clearest Bokor mornings, salt harvest from January, La Plantation slots need booking October to March.
- Rainy season (about May to October): start early, because afternoon showers are common. Popokvil is flowing, the rice fields are green and the salt pans are idle. Keep a spare half day in case rain moves Bokor.
More in best time to visit Kampot and Kampot in the rainy season.
Ride with Seth
Seth was born in Kampot, has guided for 12 years and is rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor. Every itinerary on this page can be done in his private tuk-tuk, with pickup at your hotel in Kampot: the Kampot Countryside Tour, the Kampot & Kep Full Day, the Bokor Mountain Day, or your own day for day three and beyond. Tell him how many days you have and he'll suggest the order, swapping days if the weather turns. Message Seth for a fixed quote on WhatsApp (+855 96 694 6137).
FAQ
Is one day in Kampot enough?
For the countryside and Kep, yes, in a full day of seven to eight hours. You'll miss Bokor and the river, so two days is better.
Can you do Bokor and Kep in one day?
Some tours combine them. By tuk-tuk it makes a very long day with little time at either, so we'd do them on separate days.
Can you visit Kampot as a day trip from Phnom Penh?
You can, but it's about 2.5 hours each way, so you lose five hours on the road. Stay at least one night.
Should I stay in Kampot or Kep?
Most people base themselves in Kampot and visit Kep for the day. Our Kampot or Kep guide compares the two.
