The journey
Five days along Cambodia's south coast, from a pepper farm cooking class in Kampot to mangrove planting, a day as a fisherman, and snorkeling off Kep.
Cambodia's south coast moves at its own unhurried pace. This journey settles into two of its most charming towns, starting in Kampot, where a working pepper farm doubles as a cooking school and a cave hides a centuries-old temple, before continuing to Kep, once a glamorous seaside retreat and now home to a lively crab market and quiet stretches of coastline. Along the way, plant mangrove trees with a local conservation community, then spend a full day living as a Cambodian fisherman, casting a line from a traditional boat before snorkeling the coral reefs off Koh Po island.
Highlights
- Tour a working Kampot pepper farm and cook a Khmer meal with its own spices
- Explore a Funan-era cave temple and stop at the scenic Secret Lake
- Plant mangrove trees with the Trapeang Sangkae eco-tourism community
- Spend a day as a Cambodian fisherman, casting a line from a traditional boat
- Snorkel the coral reefs off Koh Po island
- Browse Kep's famous crab market and its quiet seafront
Included
Accommodation
4 nights across hand-picked hotels in Kampot and Kep
Activities
Pepper farm tour & cooking class · Phnom Chhngok cave temple & Secret Lake · Trapeang Sangkae mangrove conservation community & river cruise · Day as a Cambodian fisherman, boat cruise & snorkeling at Koh Po · Kep crab market
Also included
Private guide & air-conditioned vehicle throughout · Daily breakfast, plus 2 additional meals · Entrance fees
The route
Five days across Cambodia
2 stops · Kampot to Kep
Kampot
Kep
Stop 1 of 2
Journey's end
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Stop 1 of 2
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Phnom Penh to Kampot
Transfer this morning from Phnom Penh to the riverside town of Kampot, around 3 hours away. Still shaped by French colonial architecture and set against particularly scenic countryside, Kampot rewards an easy pace. Check into your hotel with the rest of the day free for an evening stroll through town. Overnight in Kampot.
Day 2
Kampot, Pepper Farm and Cave Temple
Meet your guide this morning for a drive into the countryside to a working pepper farm for an informative tour through the different varieties of Kampot pepper grown and processed on site, with tastings along the way. Stay on to learn a few traditional Khmer dishes prepared with the farm's own spices, then sit down to enjoy what you've cooked, along with a selection of seasonal juices and homemade iced teas. In the afternoon, take a scenic drive to Phnom Chhngok, a limestone outcrop home to a Funan-era cave temple dating to the sixth or seventh century, with a stop along the way at Secret Lake, a quiet spot with fine mountain views. Return to the hotel to rest. Overnight in Kampot.
Day 3
Kampot to Kep
Meet your guide this morning for the drive to Kep, Cambodia's prestigious seaside resort of the 1960s, now steadily reclaiming its former reputation. En route, stop at the Trapeang Sangkae eco-tourism community, set up by local villagers to promote mangrove reforestation and support the local economy. Learn about the role mangrove forests play in the health of the coastal province, then get hands-on planting a few trees of your own before a boat cruise along the river for a closer look at the mangroves. Arrive into Kep around lunchtime and check into your hotel, with the afternoon free to explore. Don't miss the town's popular crab market, a stretch of seaside restaurants serving fresh crab with Kampot pepper. Overnight in Kep.
Day 4
A Day as a Fisherman
Spend the day living like a traditional Cambodian fisherman, casting a line from a purpose-built boat along Kep's coastline and neighbouring islands. Should the fishing prove fruitful, the resort's chef will prepare your catch for dinner. After the fishing session, sail on to Koh Po island, where the boat drops anchor for a swim and some snorkelling among the island's coral reefs. Back on board, tuck into a seafood barbecue prepared by the onboard chef, then finish with a leisurely stroll along Koh Po's beach before returning to the coast. Overnight in Kep.
Day 5
Kep, Departure
After breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure before your transfer back to Phnom Penh, or onward to your next stop along Cambodia's south coast.
Moments
Along the way
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