Three days is enough time to get a real feel for both Kampot and Kep without rushing — enough for the pepper farms and Bokor National Park, a proper seafood dinner at the Crab Market, and a slow morning or two by the river or the coast. This itinerary splits the time two nights in Kampot and one night in Kep, though it works just as well reversed if you would rather end your trip river-side instead of by the sea.
Day 1: Arrive in Kampot and Explore the Riverfront
Arrive in Kampot by late morning, whether coming from Phnom Penh (see our guide on getting from Phnom Penh to Kampot) or from elsewhere along the coast. Check into your riverside guesthouse — our roundup of the best riverside guesthouses in Kampot covers options for every budget — and spend the afternoon wandering the old French quarter, with its faded colonial shopfronts and quiet side streets that are easy to explore on foot in an hour or two.
As the heat eases in late afternoon, head to the riverfront for a sunset boat cruise, one of Kampot’s signature experiences: a slow one-hour ride past mangroves and fishing villages as the sky turns orange over Bokor Mountain in the distance. Cap the evening with dinner at one of the riverside restaurants serving Kampot pepper crab, a dish the town is famous for even before you reach Kep’s version.
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 — where you can walk the vines, learn how the peppercorns are dried and graded, and pick up a bag of the famous red, black, or white pepper 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 views back down over Kampot and the coastline on a clear day. Many tour operators combine the pepper farm and Bokor into a single half-day-plus-half-day package for around $20-30 per person including transport, which saves arranging two separate trips.
Day 3: Move to Kep and the Crab Market
Check out of your Kampot guesthouse and take a short tuk-tuk ride to Kep — see our guide on getting from Kampot to Kep for the options and pricing. Drop your bags at your Kep hotel (our list of the best hotels in Kep covers the boutique and mid-range options) and spend the rest of the morning at Kep National Park, where a loop trail through the forest brings you out at a viewpoint over the Gulf of Thailand in about two hours of easy walking.
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 trying to compress everything, since Bokor alone takes most of a day once you include the drive up and back. Those with four or five days can add a second night in Kep to properly relax on the coast, or extend the Kampot leg with a countryside cycling day through the salt fields between the two towns. If budget is a bigger factor than time, our Kampot and Kep hotel prices guide breaks down 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?
Where to Base Yourself Each Night
For the two Kampot nights, a riverside guesthouse makes the most of the town’s best feature — many rooms open directly onto the water, and it is a short walk or tuk-tuk ride to the pepper farm and Bokor tour pickup points. Our guide on where to stay in Kampot breaks down the riverside strip versus the old town versus quieter options further out, which matters more if you plan an early departure for Bokor. For the single Kep night, choose a hotel close to the Crab Market area so the walk back after dinner is short, or splurge on one of the boutique coastal resorts if a sea view matters more to you than proximity to the restaurants.
Budgeting for the Three Days
A mid-range version of this itinerary — private rooms with air-conditioning, a mix of local and Western-style meals, the combined 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 helps on both the Bokor trip and the coastal walk, since the midday heat can be intense on either.
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.
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 season.
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.