Stay in Kampot if you want a riverside town with more places to eat and sleep, evenings with a bit of life and an easy base for Bokor and the countryside. Stay in Kep if you want the sea, crab on your doorstep, the national park and very quiet nights. They're only about 25 km apart, 35–45 minutes by tuk-tuk, so you don't really have to choose: most people sleep in Kampot and spend a day in Kep, and plenty split their nights.
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Kampot and Kep at a glance
| Kampot | Kep | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | A small town on a wide river, with Bokor mountain behind it | A spread-out seaside town on the Gulf of Thailand, with a forested hill behind it |
| Feel | Old French-era shophouses, riverside cafés, a relaxed traveller scene | Sleepy and green; a 1908 resort town with modernist villas from the 1950s and 60s, some restored, some empty |
| Food | The widest choice: Khmer, Western, cafés, street food | Seafood, above all crab with green Kampot pepper at the crab market |
| Evenings | Sunset boats, riverside bars and restaurants | Sunset by the sea, an early night |
| Places to stay | Many more, from hostels to riverside lodges | Fewer; mostly guesthouses and resort-style stays |
| On the doorstep | The river, Phnom Chhngok cave temple (about 8 km), Teuk Chhou rapids (about 9 km) | Crab market, Kep National Park, boats to Rabbit Island |
| For Bokor | The better base: the park turn-off is about 8 km away | Add the Kep–Kampot ride each way to a six- to seven-hour day |
| For the countryside | Salt fields a few kilometres out; La Plantation and Secret Lake on the way to Kep | La Plantation and Secret Lake are in the countryside between the two |
| Beach | None; it's a river town | A small town beach; Rabbit Island for a proper beach day |
| Getting around | Centre is walkable; tuk-tuks for everything else | Too spread out to walk everywhere; you'll use tuk-tuks or a scooter |
| Best for | First-timers, food lovers, anyone doing Bokor | Couples, slow travellers, seafood fans |
Stay in Kampot if…
- It's your first visit and you want to see the countryside, Bokor and Kep from one base.
- You like choice: different restaurants every night, cafés, a sunset boat, a drink by the river.
- You're on a budget. Kampot has far more cheap beds.
- You want to kayak or paddleboard on the river.
- You're coming from Phnom Penh: about 2.5 hours, with plenty of buses and minivans to choose from.
The honest downside: Kampot isn't a beach town, and some of the nicest riverside lodges are a few kilometres out of the centre, so you'll be relying on tuk-tuks.
Stay in Kep if…
- You want to wake up by the sea and eat crab for lunch every day.
- You plan to walk Kep National Park (an 8 km loop, with Sunset Rock on the way) or take a boat to Rabbit Island.
- You want real quiet: few bars, early nights, sea views.
- You've already done the Kampot side, or you're heading on to the Vietnamese border.
The honest downside: evenings are very quiet, the town is spread out with no real centre to stroll, and Kep's beach is small. Don't come expecting a long stretch of sand. Kep also gets busy with Cambodian families at weekends and on holidays like Khmer New Year.
How to see both
Option 1: Stay in Kampot, day trip to Kep
The most popular choice. A full day of seven to eight hours covers the salt fields, La Plantation, Secret Lake, a crab lunch in Kep and time by the sea, with the salt fields saved for the late-afternoon light on the way back. If you only want lunch and a walk, a return tuk-tuk with the driver waiting costs about $20–25 per tuk-tuk. Details in Kampot to Kep by tuk-tuk.
Option 2: Split your stay
Two or three nights in Kampot for the river, Bokor and the countryside, then one or two nights in Kep for the sea, the park and maybe Rabbit Island. The move takes 35–45 minutes and costs around $8–12 for a tuk-tuk. Better still, hire the tuk-tuk for the day, stop at La Plantation and Secret Lake on the way, and arrive in Kep for a crab lunch with your bags.
Option 3: Stay in Kep, visit Kampot
Works fine for the countryside, which lies between the two towns. Bokor makes a long day from Kep, so start early. A sunset boat on the Kampot river means a ride back to Kep after dark.
Distances and travel times
| Route | Distance | By tuk-tuk | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kampot to Kep | About 25 km | 35–45 min | $8–12 one way per tuk-tuk |
| Kampot to Kep and back, driver waits | About 50 km | Half a day | $20–25 per tuk-tuk |
| Kampot to the Bokor turn-off | About 8 km | 1–1.5 h to the plateau, including the climb | Bokor day roughly $30–45 per tuk-tuk |
| Kampot to Phnom Penh | – | Bus or taxi, about 2.5 h | Bus $5–14 pp; taxi $35–50 |
Bus fares are per person, and tuk-tuk prices are per vehicle for up to about four people. More fares in Kampot tuk-tuk prices.
Our verdict
For a first visit of two or three nights, stay in Kampot and see Kep in a day. With four nights or more, or if the sea matters to you, give Kep one or two of them. For how to fill those days, see how many days in Kampot and Kep and things to do in Kampot.
Ride with Seth
Seth was born in Kampot, has guided for 12 years and is rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor. His Kampot & Kep Full Day is the easiest way to see both towns in one go, in a private tuk-tuk at your pace. He picks up at hotels in Kampot. If you're staying in Kep or moving there with your bags, tell him where and he'll say what works. For Bokor from either town, see the Bokor Mountain Day. Message Seth for a fixed quote on WhatsApp (+855 96 694 6137).
FAQ
Is Kep worth visiting?
Yes, for at least a day: the crab market alone is worth the trip, and the seafront, the old villas and the national park make it a full day.
How far is Kep from Kampot?
About 25 km, 35–45 minutes by tuk-tuk, around $8–12 one way per tuk-tuk.
Is Kampot or Kep better for a beach holiday?
Kep, but keep your expectations modest: the town beach is small. For a proper beach day, take the boat to Rabbit Island.
Can you stay in Kep and visit Bokor?
Yes, but it's a long day, because you add the ride to Kampot each way. If Bokor is a priority, sleep in Kampot.
