Three days is enough time to get a real feel for Kampot and Kep without rushing. This plan uses two nights in Kampot and one in Kep, though it works just as well reversed if you’d rather prioritize the coast.
Day 1: Arrive in Kampot and Explore the Riverfront
Arrive in Kampot by late morning from Phnom Penh (see our guide on getting from Phnom Penh to Kampot) or from elsewhere along the coast, and check into your riverside guesthouse. Spend the afternoon wandering the old French quarter — its faded colonial shopfronts and quiet side streets are easy to explore on foot.
As the heat eases in late afternoon, head to the riverfront for a sunset boat cruise — most run about an hour and cost $5-8 per person — then cap the evening with dinner at a riverside cafe serving Kampot pepper crab, the dish the town is known for.
Day 2: Pepper Farms and Bokor National Park
Devote your second day to Kampot’s two signature day trips. Start early with a visit to one of the region’s pepper farms — see our guide to Kampot pepper farm tours for what to expect. There you can walk the vines, learn how peppercorns are dried, and pick up a bag to take home; most farm visits take about two hours including a short tasting.
In the afternoon, head up to Bokor National Park for cooler air, the eerie ruins of the old French hill station, and sweeping coastal views — if you’re visiting during the wet season, Popokvil Waterfall on the plateau is worth the extra stop, since it’s at its most impressive during those months. Many tour operators combine the pepper farm and Bokor into a single half-day package for $20-30 per person including transport.
Day 3: Move to Kep and the Crab Market
Check out of your Kampot guesthouse and take a short tuk-tuk ride to Kep, a roughly 25-minute journey that runs $15-20 by car or less for a shared ride — see our guide on getting from Kampot to Kep for the full options and pricing. Drop your bags at your Kep hotel, then spend the morning at Kep National Park, where an roughly 8km loop trail through the forest leads to a Gulf of Thailand viewpoint after about two hours — keep an eye out for monkeys along the way, and bring water since shade thins out near the top.
Save the evening for the main event: dinner at the Kep Crab Market, where wooden stilt restaurants serve the town’s famous crab cooked with local Kampot pepper, straight from the boats moored just offshore. Arrive before sunset to watch the fishing boats come in and grab a table with a water view before the dinner crowd arrives.
Adjusting the Itinerary
Travelers with only two days should skip either the sunset cruise or Bokor National Park rather than try to compress everything in — Bokor alone takes most of a day, including the drive up and back. Those with four or five days can add a second night in Kep to relax on the coast, extend the Kampot leg with a countryside cycling day through the salt fields between the two towns, or add a day trip out to Rabbit Island from Kep’s pier for actual beach time.
If budget is a bigger factor than time, our Kampot and Kep hotel prices guide explains what to expect at each comfort tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is three days enough for Kampot and Kep?
Yes, three days covers the highlights comfortably: a day for Kampot’s riverfront and boat cruise, a day for the pepper farms and Bokor, and a day for Kep’s national park and Crab Market.
Should I stay longer in Kampot or Kep?
Most travelers find two nights in Kampot and one in Kep works well, since Kampot has more day-trip activities, but travelers who prioritize beach and seafood time can flip that split.
Where to Base Yourself Each Night
For the two Kampot nights, a riverside guesthouse plays to the town’s best feature — many rooms open directly onto the water, and it’s a short walk or tuk-tuk ride to the pepper farm and Bokor tour pickup points, which matters more if you’re planning an early departure for Bokor. Our Kampot stay guide compares the riverside strip, the old town, and quieter options in more detail.
For the single Kep night, choose a hotel near the Crab Market so dinner walks are short, or splurge on one of the boutique coastal resorts if a sea view matters more than being close to restaurants.
Budgeting for the Three Days
A mid-range version of this itinerary — private air-conditioned rooms, a mix of local and Western-style meals, the pepper-and-Bokor tour, and one seafood dinner at the Crab Market — runs roughly $120-180 per person for the three days, transport between towns included. Budget travelers sharing a motorbike and staying in fan-cooled guesthouse rooms can bring this down to $60-90, while travelers adding a boutique night in Kep should budget an extra $50-100 depending on the property. See our full Kampot on a budget breakdown for a day-by-day cost comparison across tiers.
What to Pack for This Trip
Light, breathable clothing covers most of the itinerary, but bring a light jacket or sweater for the Bokor National Park visit, since temperatures at the summit run noticeably cooler than at sea level and it can be windy and misty even when Kampot town is hot and clear. Comfortable closed shoes are worth packing for the Kep National Park loop trail, and a reusable water bottle and sun protection help on both the Bokor trip and the coastal walk, since the midday heat can be intense on either.
Do I need to book tours in advance?
Pepper farm and Bokor tours can usually be booked the day before through your guesthouse, though booking two to three days ahead is safer during the busy November-to-February high season when demand is highest.
Is this itinerary doable without a private driver?
Yes, tuk-tuks and organized day tours cover every stop in this itinerary, so a private car is a comfort upgrade rather than a necessity.
For where to stay, see our best hotels in Kampot and our best hotels in Kep guides.
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