Kampot

Not centrally located, €56 a night including breakfast. The staff were friendly and tried to make our stay pleasant, but the accommodation was very noise-sensitive since the rooms sit right by the pool. Many families with small children showed little regard for quiet hours, the pool was used late into the night, and we were woken as early as 6:30am.

Other points: staff spoke only limited English, which led to some misunderstandings, and breakfast had only a few vegetarian options. The transfer to Ha Tien (Vietnam) booked through the hotel also only went as far as the border rather than into the city, without us being informed beforehand, and was noticeably more expensive than a taxi booked via the Pass app would have been.

Italian restaurant with a relaxed vibe and homemade pasta, open Friday to Wednesday, 11am to 9:30pm. The pasta was really good, plenty of vegetarian options, the atmosphere pleasant if nothing special. A solid choice if you're craving Italian food in Kampot.

One of the highlights of our trip. This farm is known for growing high-quality Kampot pepper, prized for its unique aroma and outstanding quality. Free tours give fascinating insight into cultivation, processing and history, and we especially enjoyed the tasting at the end with the different pepper varieties, a real range of flavors.

Good to know: the last tour starts at 4pm. You can conveniently buy products on site with a credit card, starting at around $20. Tip: arrange with your tuk-tuk or taxi driver to wait and drive you back, since it can be hard to spontaneously find a ride there (no signal for booking apps). Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

We especially loved the food stalls, a great classic selection of local dishes and snacks. By chance a boxing match was happening during our visit, a great way to close out our time in Cambodia. Open daily 8am to 10pm.

One of the region's most popular destinations, with hiking trails through picturesque landscape and spectacular waterfalls. From the top there's a breathtaking panoramic view over the surrounding area and the sea, plus the chance to explore abandoned buildings and casinos from the former hill station.

For anyone interested in sustainable farming. High-quality organic products like pepper, rice, fruit and herbs, plus tours and cooking classes featuring regional specialties. Open daily 9am to 4:30pm.

A fascinating destination where you can watch how salt is harvested and processed, with the option to buy salt products right on site. A lovely glimpse into local cuisine, since many specialties are made with this natural resource.