Kampot countryside tour: Pepper farm, salt fields & lake

Kampot salt fields hand raking tour with historical Khmer Rouge lake insight

A shared countryside tour of Kampot visiting a pepper farm (La Plantation or a local farm like Botree), salt fields and a man-made lake, led by an English-speaking guide with hotel pickup and a bottle of water included. The tour runs about four hours and includes free time at the farm while other guests join optional activities. La Plantation charges a $2.50 entrance voucher per adult (free for children under 6), which can be applied toward the optional guided farm tour or products at the café.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kampot pepper farm and countryside

• Visit La Plantation or Botree Farm
• Join optional guided pepper tour and tasting
• Enjoy free time at farm café or restaurant
• Visit salt fields and learn about salt production
• See large man-made lake outside town

The experience

You start from your hotel in central Kampot and travel by tuk-tuk to one of the region's pepper farms: either La Plantation or a local operation like Botree Farm, depending on group preference. At La Plantation, you get a self-guided walk through the farm. If you're at Botree, a free guided tour and tasting come with entry. Either way, you spend roughly two hours at the farm. If you skip the optional guided tour, you can sit in the café or restaurant area while the rest of the group joins in, and you'll still get complimentary tastings of pepper products prepared on-site.

From there the tour continues to Kampot's salt fields, where ocean water is pumped into pans and left to evaporate, leaving salt that workers rake into piles by hand: a seasonal operation that only runs in the dry months. The final stop is a large man-made lake built during the Khmer Rouge era, situated on a dirt road outside town with minimal crowds. A 2:30 PM departure option is available if you want to catch sunset views over the water.

Your guide speaks English throughout, and the tour includes transportation, a bottle of water and hotel pickup as long as your accommodation is within 3km of central Kampot (near Epic Art Cafe). Food and drinks at the farm café are not included, though the entrance voucher at La Plantation can be used toward the guided tour or products if you choose to upgrade.

What’s included

• English-speaking driver and guide.
• transportation by tuk-tuk.
• entrance to a pepper farm (La Plantation or Botree Farm).
• complimentary pepper tastings.
• a bottle of water.
• hotel pickup within 3km of central Kampot.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 14:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (5 to 75 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 31 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Peppercorn private tour (Kampot & Kep)

Is this one for you?Book this shared tour if you're comfortable with group pacing and want the guided farm experience. Choose a private option if you prefer to move at your own speed.

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Top questions

What exactly happens at the pepper farm during this tour?

At La Plantation, you walk through the farm on your own for about 15 minutes. At Botree Farm, a guide leads you through and includes a tasting. In both cases, you get complimentary tastings of pepper products. You can also pay extra at La Plantation for a full guided farm tour, which costs $2.50 after your entrance voucher is applied.

How long do we actually spend at the pepper farm?

Total time at the farm is approximately two hours. If you don't join the optional guided tour, you have free time to relax at the café or restaurant area while waiting for the group to finish.

When do the salt fields operate, and what will we see there?

The salt fields only operate during the dry season. You'll see workers raking salt into piles by hand after ocean water has been pumped in and left to evaporate, and learn how salt production fits into Kampot's local economy.

Is the lake actually secret, and how far is it from town?

It's not secret at all. It's a large man-made dam built during the Khmer Rouge era. It sits outside town on a dirt road and is mostly unpopulated, offering a quiet, scenic stop on the tour.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, pickup is included if your hotel is within 3km of central Kampot, near Epic Art Cafe. If your accommodation is farther away, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes an English-speaking guide, transportation by tuk-tuk, a bottle of water and entry to the pepper farm. At La Plantation, a $2.50 entrance voucher per adult (free for children under 6) is provided. You can use it toward the optional guided farm tour or café products. Food and drinks are not included.