Thanks again to The Kampot Survival Guide for use of this “Not a Map”
Kampot’s “River” is actually a collection of rivers connecting directly to the nearby ocean. The rivers flow in both directions, (up to a point) depending on the tide. Sometimes the River is salty, sometimes not. Occasionally during the rainy season, July through October, the whole town of Kampot is a river, as the water overflows the banks.
When you hear about “The Kampot River”, it usually refers to the section of River that flows from the mountains upstream right through downtown and straight to the ocean.
However, you can see the Fish Island Bridge from downtown, and the River cuts to the right at this point, and then flows to the ocean around the other side of Fish Island. If it didn’t do that, then we wouldn’t have and island.
A couple dozen boats line the River between the New Bridge and Railroad Bridge, and half of these leave at 5:30pm for an hour and a half tour up or down River. They all have a downstairs with seating and and upstairs uncovered deck. $5 gets you the tour with 1 free beer or soda. To get here from downtown, drive (or walk) Upriver, and on the right side of the New Bridge, you’ll see a rock road. That’s it!
A few of the boats are just too lazy to go out, so they dock on the riverbank and have 2 floor restaurants right on the River.
Arcadia Backpackers has a kind of Booze Cruise with BBQ a few times a week.
… and most of the hotels, villas, bungalows on the riverfront rent out various boats / kayaks / paddle-boards / jetskis. (or they’re free for guests)
Downtown, you can find a few places on the River renting fishing rods and bait.