Kayaking in Kampot: Salt fields, pepper farm & sunset paddle

The Green Cathedral is a narrow river so thick with mangroves you paddle through a tunnel of leaves.

A full-day tour of Kampot combining countryside stops (salt fields, an ancient cave, Secret Lake and a pepper farm) that ends with a kayak trip down the Green Cathedral and the Kampot River at sunset. An English-speaking driver guides the route. Lunch and soft drinks are included. Children from age 4 are welcome, and hotel pickup is arranged.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kampot countryside highlights

• Visit Kampot salt fields
• Explore ancient limestone cave
• Relax at Secret Lake with drink
• Tour La Plantation pepper farm
• Lunch at Bopha Pey restaurant
• Kayak through Green Cathedral river
• Watch sunset by Kampot River

The experience

Start with the salt fields, the largest in Kampot, where you walk through the working area and watch how sea salt is harvested and dried. The driver explains the process as you move through, and you can photograph the workers or handle the salt itself. Next comes an ancient limestone cave, a prehistoric site worth exploring on foot, then Secret Lake: a large reservoir built during the Khmer Rouge era, set in the hills with views across the water. The guide brings you to a local restaurant by the lake for a break and a provided coconut drink.

La Plantation pepper farm comes next, a guided walk through the organic crops with a tasting (the tasting costs extra, but the tour itself is included). You'll spend roughly an hour there, though the pace is yours. Take time to shop, grab coffee or just sit. Then you head to Bopha Pey, a riverside restaurant where the kayak trip begins. Lunch is provided here, and you'll have time to eat, rest and chat before pushing off into the water.

The paddle itself moves through the Green Cathedral, a narrow river so dense with mangroves that you kayak through a tunnel of leaves, then opens onto the wider Kampot River. You stay on the water until sunset, timing the day so the light fades as you're still paddling. The whole experience runs nine to ten hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Kayak and paddle.
• lunch at a riverside restaurant.
• soft drinks and drinking water throughout the day.
• English-speaking driver-guide for the full route.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except FridayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Visit Kampot/Kep with Micki

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day free and want countryside, caves, salt fields, and a sunset paddle in one go. Skip it if you're arriving mid-afternoon or leaving early.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens at the salt fields in Kampot?

The salt fields are the largest in the region, and you walk directly through the working area where sea salt is harvested and dried. Your guide explains how the salt is produced, and you can touch it, photograph the workers, and see the process firsthand, though the fields are only accessible during the dry season.

Is the kayaking part suitable for someone who has never paddled before?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The kayak trip happens on calm water through the Green Cathedral and the Kampot River, and the pace is gentle. Children from age 4 can join, though the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the lunch at Bopha Pey?

Lunch is provided at the riverside restaurant where the kayak trip starts. You'll eat there, rest and have time to chat before paddling. Soft drinks and drinking water are included throughout the day.

Does the pepper farm tasting cost extra?

Yes. The guided tour of La Plantation pepper farm is included, but the pepper tasting is not. You'll have time to walk the crops, shop, have coffee or relax at your own pace while you're there.

When does the kayaking start, and how long does it last?

The kayak trip begins in the late afternoon at Bopha Pey restaurant after lunch. You paddle through the Green Cathedral and the Kampot River until sunset, staying on the water as the light fades. The entire day runs nine to ten hours from hotel pickup.