Cambodia holidays: Why families should visit Kampot and Kep

Cambodia holidays tend to conjure up images of Angkor Wat at sunrise or the buzz of Phnom Penh’s night markets and yes, both are worth every bit of the hype. But if you’re travelling as a family and you want something a little different, head south. Slow down and discover the historic riverside town of Kampot and the coastal town of Kep. These lesser-known spots will get under your skin and make you wonder why you hadn’t come sooner.

Here, the gang can relish Cambodia without the crowds; a destination where the days are easy and the food tells an (aromatic) story. For those dreaming of luxury Cambodia holidays or a more relaxed escape that still feels genuine rather than manicured, this corner of the south delivers something increasingly rare.

Kampot, Cambodia: The slow life, done properly

There’s a reason families keep coming back to Kampot, Cambodia: the Bokor National Park hills sitting just beyond the treeline, the tuk tuks trundling past guesthouses with cats asleep on the steps… Life here moves at a different pace and after a day or two, you’ll likely find yourself starting to move with it.

Why not try a cycle through the rice fields, a wander into a nearby village or a slow breakfast watching the Kampot River flow by? Nobody is in a rush, which means children have space to actually notice things: a gecko on a wall, perhaps, a fisherman casting his net, a monk crossing a bridge, workers raking the white crystals of a salt field or the rushing cascade of a waterfall deep in the national park hills…

Salt field workers

Things to do in Kampot, Cambodia

When it comes to things to do in Kampot, many of the finest Kampot attractions centre on the river and the surrounding countryside, which suits families perfectly.

Boat trips along the Kampot River are among the most beloved things to do in Kampot and the sunset ones are quite magical. As the light drops, fireflies appear along the mangroves in little clusters of gold, like fairies from Peter Pan’s Neverland. 

For early risers, a sunrise trip is equally rewarding – and from there, many families head straight to the salt fields to witness the morning harvest in action, the pans glittering white in the early light. Guided tours and transport can be arranged through any hotel reception.

Kayaking is another easy win (depending on your skill with a paddle!). The waterways are calm and the scenery gives you plenty to talk about. Even a leisurely evening stroll along the riverside earns its place on any Cambodia holidays itinerary.

Kampot is also something of a pilgrimage for tropical fruit lovers, and none more so than durian. If you’re visiting between May and July, you’re in luck – durian season brings the famously pungent fruit to roadside stalls across the region, and the town even has a giant durian statue at its main roundabout to prove it means business. Just check your hotel’s policy before you bring any back to your room.

For families who want a refined base for all of this, Amber Kampot is a high-end riverside stay that balances style and comfort with vistas over the water. For a more secluded stay just outside town, RiverTree Villa & Resort offers spacious villas set among lush gardens by the river, with family-friendly rooms, a pool and easy access to Kampot’s countryside attractions.

Kayaking is an easy win in Kampot

Kampot pepper farms: One of the most memorable things to do in Kampot

Ask anyone who has been to this part of the world about Kampot pepper and watch their expression change. It sounds like a niche interest until you are standing on a farm, learning that those familiar black peppercorns on your kitchen shelf share a plant with the red and white varieties (the colour comes from when they are harvested and how they are processed afterwards). Now that’s pub quiz knowledge…

Fun fact: Kampot peppercorns have earned a serious global reputation. In 2010, Kampot pepper became the first Cambodian agricultural product to receive EU Protected Geographical Indication status, placing it alongside Champagne and Parma Ham. Visiting a Kampot pepper farm is one of the most distinctive things to do in Kampot, Cambodia, and La Plantation is the standout choice for families. 

Located about 19km from Kampot town, La Plantation farm offers free guided tours in English that walk you through the full journey from planting and harvesting through to drying and sorting. The paths are well-kept and easy to navigate with younger children and the tasting session at the end means you can sample the differences between black, red and white Kampot pepper for yourselves. 

Visitors can also find the La Plantation shop in Kampot town centre, where staff can arrange guided tours and transport and visitors can buy the world’s best Kampot pepper.

If you want to stay a night on the farm itself, La Plantation Villa offers boutique rooms from where you can admire the pepper fields and the mountains beyond – a peaceful way to extend the experience.

Kampot peppercorns have earned a serious global reputation

Trapeang Sangke: Community-based tourism between Kampot and Kep

Sitting about 6km from Kampot town on the road towards Kep, the Trapeang Sangke community-based tourism project is one of the most rewarding stops on any Cambodia family holiday itinerary and one that not enough visitors make time for, if we’re honest.

What was once a fishing community under pressure from mangrove loss and depleting fish stocks has become a model for responsible ecotourism, winning two ASEAN Community Tourism Awards in 2023. Families can take a boat trip through the mangroves, try planting young mangrove saplings in the reforestation areas and hear directly from local fishermen about daily life on the water. Over 200,000 mangrove trees have been planted here by the community and visitors are now part of that effort.

Children will come away with a real understanding of where seafood comes from and why coastal ecosystems matter. Plus, every penny spent here supports community livelihoods, education and conservation directly. A guided tour of Trapeang Sangke and transportation can be arranged at any hotel reception desk.

Trapaeng Srakae

Kep, Cambodia: Where the sea air changes everything

Just a short 25km drive from Kampot, Kep feels like a different world. If Kampot is about rivers, countryside and farm life, Kep is about mountains meeting the sea and together they tell a complete tale of southern Cambodia.

Kep Beach, Cambodia, is not a party beach. What you get instead is clean air, calm water and the quiet pleasure of having somewhere beautiful largely to yourself.  Children can splash about while parents do very little with great enthusiasm, and after the activity and engagement of Kampot, Kep offers the perfect counterweight.

That said, for families who find stillness after adventure rather than instead of it, Kep has plenty to offer on the water. The Sailing and Discovery Center at Kep West runs beginner and intermediate sailing courses for both adults and children, with certified instructors and a range of boats to suit different ages and abilities. 

Island-hopping trips, coastal exploration and even dolphin-spotting expeditions give the days a gentle sense of discovery, while marine conservation experiences add something more meaningful to the mix. On land, guided countryside tours and cycling routes thread through the landscape at whatever pace suits you.

For parents in need of a proper reset, the Kep West Wellness Center adds another dimension to a Cambodia beach holiday. While children are entertained by sailing, beach time or nature experiences, adults can unwind with yoga classes, holistic spa treatments, sound healing and restorative wellness programmes designed to reconnect guests with both nature and themselves. Multi-day retreats and family-friendly experiences make it possible to balance adventure with downtime — something many family holidays promise but rarely deliver.

Sailing courses for both adults and children are available

Kep crab market: The food highlight of any Cambodia beach holiday

Food is central to Kep’s identity and the famous crab market is where that becomes obvious very quickly. Wooden stalls line the waterfront, crabs wait in baskets just pulled from the sea and charcoal smoke drifts through the air, it is lively and colourful, but never overwhelming. Families with younger children find it surprisingly accessible.

The signature dish is crab stir-fried with Kampot pepper and it really is as good as everyone says. The sweetness of the fresh crab against the warmth of the pepper is something you will be thinking about on the flight home. For a more relaxed setting with sea views and an impressive menu, Holy Crab is worth visiting. Their crab amok and grilled squid with Kampot pepper sauce consistently earn rave reviews, and the open-sided dining room over the water at sunset is hard to beat.

The signature dish is crab stir-fried with Kampot pepper

Where to stay in Kep, Cambodia

Accommodation in Kep, Cambodia, reflects the same nature-first, unhurried approach as everything else here.

Knai Bang Chatt by Kep West is one of the most distinctive places to stay in Cambodia, three restored villas originally built in the 1960s, set right on the seafront with 18 rooms, an infinity pool overlooking the sea and a fine dining restaurant, The Strand. The resort has a regenerative ethos at its core, with spa treatments, yoga programmes and guided excursions including a Marine Conservation Cambodia tour. For every international booking, the resort plants ten mangrove seedlings in partnership with local community members.

Samanea Beach Resort and Spa offers a different kind of escape, villas set within a private botanical park beside a protected mangrove forest, with an infinity pool overlooking the Gulf of Thailand and sunset views across to Bokor Mountain. The resort has dedicated family villas with twin and king bedrooms, outdoor bathtubs and private terraces. Dinner on the rooftop terrace or arranged privately in the mangrove forest is the sort of experience families remember long after the holiday is over…

When to visit Kampot and Kep

Cambodia holidays work year-round, and both Kampot and Kep have something to offer in every season.

The dry season, from November to April, brings warm temperatures and reliable sunshine, ideal for Kep beach and long days exploring the countryside. The green season, from May to September, transforms the landscape into something lush and dramatic, with waterfalls running full, cooler temperatures and far fewer visitors. It is particularly well-suited to families who prefer quieter travel.

Samanea Beach Resort and Spa offers villas set within a private botanical park

Why Kampot and Kep deserve a place on your Cambodia family holidays itinerary

Kampot, Cambodia, and Kep, Cambodia, offer a chance to let children discover things at their own pace and to come home with more than photographs. Whether it’s fireflies on a Kampot River sunset cruise, tasting world-renowned Kampot pepper at its source, witnessing the morning salt harvest, crab by the sea or an afternoon in a mangrove community that makes the world feel a little more connected, the experiences here are real and unforgettable.

And then there is Kep – where the pace drops, the sea air does its work and families find their way back to each other. Learn to sail together, hop between islands, join a marine conservation excursion or simply let the days unfold without an agenda. Few destinations offer both hearty engagement and rest quite so effortlessly.

For families planning Cambodia holidays or a southern Cambodia itinerary, Kampot and Kep are the destinations that will surprise you most.

Visiting a Kampot pepper farm is one of the most distinctive things to do in Kampot

Frequently asked questions

Is Cambodia good for a family holiday?
Yes, Cambodia holidays are well-suited to families, especially in destinations like Kampot and Kep, where the pace is slower, activities are accessible and experiences feel safe and engaging for children.

What are the best things to do in Kampot, Cambodia?
What are the best things to do in Kampot, Cambodia? The best things to do in Kampot include sunrise and sunset boat trips along the river, kayaking, cycling through the countryside, visiting the salt fields to watch the morning harvest in action and exploring a Kampot pepper farm for a hands-on experience. If you’re visiting between May and July, don’t miss durian season – the region’s famously pungent tropical fruit that locals take very seriously indeed.

Is Kep good for families?
Kep is ideal for families looking for a coastal escape, with calm beaches, fresh seafood at the crab market and excellent family-friendly resorts, including Knai Bang Chatt and Samanea Beach Resort and Spa.

When is the best time to visit Cambodia?
The dry season from November to April is the most popular time for Cambodia holidays, offering warm weather and clear skies. The green season from May to September brings lush scenery, fewer visitors and a cooler atmosphere, making it a great option for families who prefer off-peak travel.