Is Kampot Safe in December 2026?

A seemingly friendly local — often well-dressed and fluent in English — approaches tourists near Kampot's riverside strip or at guesthouses and invites them to a private home for a card game or social gathering. Once inside, victims are pressured or coerced into playing rigged card games and lose large sums of money. In more serious incidents reported across Cambodia, victims have been forced at gunpoint to withdraw cash from ATMs. Multiple government advisories including the US State Department, Australian DFAT, and Canadian DFAT have flagged this as an active scheme.

How to avoid: Never accept invitations to private homes from strangers you have just met, regardless of how friendly or legitimate they seem. If someone insists on showing you a "local experience" or card game, decline firmly. Tell your guesthouse where you are going if you accept any invitation from a new acquaintance.

Rental shops in Kampot photograph your motorbike before rental but claim new scratches or damage upon return that were pre-existing. Inflated repair costs are then demanded, sometimes holding your passport as leverage. This is one of the most reported scams in town, particularly targeting long-term renters who cannot monitor the bike constantly.

How to avoid: Photograph and video the entire bike from all angles before leaving the shop. Never hand over your passport as a deposit — use a photocopy instead. Pay only for documented damage from the rental period.

Multiple travelers on TripAdvisor have reported purchasing bus tickets from travel agencies along Kampot's riverfront strip — particularly near the old bridge — only to discover the tickets were fake or for services that did not exist as described. In documented cases, travelers who paid for express bus service received an inferior minibus, were dropped in the countryside short of their destination, or found their ticket rejected upon arrival. Hidden fees of $5 per person for motorbike transfers to the border were charged without prior disclosure. One agency near the old bridge displayed a large Virak bus company sign but was not an authorized Virak seller.

How to avoid: Buy bus tickets only from official company offices or verified online platforms (e.g., CamboTicket, Giant Ibis website). Do not purchase tickets from agencies displaying bus company logos unless you can verify they are authorized resellers. A legitimate bus ticket from Kampot to most destinations should cost no more than $7–$10. Confirm the departure details with the bus company directly.

Tuk-tuk drivers in Kampot have no meters and often quote tourists three to five times the local rate, especially from the bus station and ferry docks. Drivers also inflate prices for trips to Bokor Hill Station or the pepper farms. Some agree on a price then demand more upon arrival, claiming the distance was longer than expected.

How to avoid: Ask your guesthouse for standard fare prices before you travel. Agree on the exact fare before getting in and confirm there are no additional charges. Apps like PassApp sometimes work in Kampot for comparison.

Bokor Hill Station — Kampot's most visited attraction — has been identified as an active area for organized criminal compounds operating online fraud and human trafficking operations. In August 2025, a 22-year-old South Korean student was found tortured to death near a criminal complex on Bokor Mountain, prompting South Korea to issue a Level 4 "do not travel" warning specifically for the Bokor Mountain area of Kampot province. Cambodian authorities warned in late 2025 that scam compounds displaced from Sihanoukville were relocating to the Bokor Mountain area. While regular tourist visits to the main ruins still occur, the surrounding areas and roads leading away from the main site have been flagged by multiple governments as having active criminal operations.

How to avoid: Visit Bokor Hill Station as part of a reputable organized tour group rather than riding solo on a rented motorbike, especially after dark. Do not explore off-trail areas or buildings beyond the main tourist sites. Avoid accepting rides or invitations from strangers near the mountain. Check your government's current travel advisory before visiting — South Korea, Australia, and Canada had active warnings for this area as of late 2025.