Sail Kampot: A Rare Way to Experience Cambodia from the Water
When people think of Kampot, they usually picture pepper farms, riverside sunsets, Bokor Mountain, and quiet evenings along the waterfront. But there is another side to this part of Cambodia that most visitors (and even long-term expats) never truly see: the coastline, islands, fishing villages, and the wider river delta, experienced from the water.
That’s exactly what makes Sail in Kampot such a standout experience.
This is not a standard boat tour where you sit back and take photos while someone else does the work. Sail in Kampot offers something genuinely different: a sailing experience guided by an instructor with decades of knowledge, where you can choose to fully take part, learn a new skill, and understand the basics of sailing… or simply relax, enjoy the scenery, and watch the landscape drift by.
With only a handful of unique activities in Cambodia that truly feel exclusive, this one lands firmly in that category.
A Sailing Experience That’s Actually a Learning Experience
For first-timers, it’s not just about floating along the water. The entire trip is designed to give guests a real introduction to sailing.
When asked what someone can expect to learn during their first experience onboard, the answer makes it clear this is a skills-based activity as much as it is a scenic adventure:
“Learn the fundamentals of sailing and how to harness the wind to traverse across the water, experience the local area and see some interesting features and beautiful natural sights,”
That’s the difference here. You’re not just being taken somewhere, you’re learning how to move through the water using wind power, with the added bonus of being immersed in one of Cambodia’s most beautiful coastal environments.
Discover Kampot’s River Delta, Islands, and Coastal Communities
One of the most exciting parts of sailing in Kampot is what you get to see from this perspective. The river delta opens up into a landscape that is far bigger and more diverse than most people imagine when they only experience Kampot by tuk tuk or motorbike.
From the boat, the route can reveal coastal villages and features that feel completely hidden from land travel:
“Kampot river delta. The fishing villages, the local fishing and crabbing communities. Mangroves and palm fringed tropical beaches and islands. The Elephant hills and Bokor, the island in Kep and over to Phú Quóc in Vietnam.”
It’s not often you get an experience that blends nature, local livelihoods, and dramatic landscapes in one trip. The delta is alive, the coastline changes constantly, and the views towards the hills and Bokor create a backdrop you simply cannot replicate from land.
Hands-On or Fully Relaxed: You Choose
Some guests want to switch off, have a drink, and take in the sea breeze. Others want to try something new and get involved. Sail in Kampot works because it caters for both.
If you want to be hands-on, you can be genuinely hands-on:
“Learn to sail, take command of the vessel. Turn through the wind, full control of the boat under the calming watchful eye of an experienced sailor. Learn the principles of sailing or simply lay back enjoy a drink and lulling sounds of the catamaran slicing through the water.”
That’s a very rare offering in Cambodia. Many tours promise an “experience”, but few allow guests to actively learn and control the journey. Here, you can go as deep into the sailing mechanics as you like, while still feeling safe and supported.
Sunsets, Wildlife, and Swimming Stops in the Gulf of Thailand
Beyond sailing itself, Kampot delivers what it always delivers: stunning natural moments, especially as the day draws to a close. This experience isn’t only about learning – it’s about those standout memories people will talk about afterwards.
When asked what moments tend to stand out, the response covers everything you’d hope for on a sea journey in Cambodia:
“All of the above are possible as we sail into the gulf of Thailand, catch the majestic golden sunset, where the sky is on fire. We get spoilt in Kampot with outstanding sunsets. Birds and jumping fish and dolphins have been sighted too.
Can stop on a deserted beach and have a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf.”
That combination is hard to beat. Sailing, sea air, a Gulf sunset, and the chance to jump into warm water off a quiet beach. It’s the kind of day that feels like a holiday even if you’ve lived in Cambodia for years.
Perfect for Beginners, But Still Exciting for Experienced Sailors
This isn’t an activity limited to those who already know what they’re doing. In fact, it is designed to work for everyone, including total beginners.
With a strong teaching background, the experience can be adjusted depending on what guests want from the day:
“With over 22 years of teaching sailing, this activity is for everyone. From experienced sailors to complete land lovers. You can get as involved as much as you like. Want to captain the boat, can do. Want to lay back and enjoy the scenery, can do.”
That flexibility is important. It makes Sail in Kampot not only accessible, but also ideal for groups where different people want different levels of involvement.
A Unique and Exclusive Experience in Kampot
At the heart of it, Sail in Kampot is about perspective: seeing Cambodia differently, learning something new, and experiencing the Kampot coastline in a way most people never will.
And for many guests, that combination stays with them long after the day ends:
“Hopefully a fully holistic experience , from learning the basics and understanding the principles of sailing to seeing a beautiful and unique area of the Kampot river mouth and the surrounding land and sea scape of the Gulf of Thailand.”
What makes it even more appealing is the exclusivity. There is simply not much else like it in the area:
“We are the only sailing vessels in Kampot making this an exclusive and distinctively unique experience.”
How to Book / Contact
To find out more or book your sailing experience:
Sail In Kampot on Facebook
+855 (0) 977906547
 | Cambodia |
 | https://www.cambodialifestyle.com |
 | +855 9 678 01791 |
Popular Posts
Recent Posts
- Canon EOS R6 Mark III Launch Brings Cambodia’s Photography Community Together
- Sail Kampot: A Rare Way to Experience Cambodia from the Water
- Phnom Penh’s Hospitality Scene on Show as Ascott Leads a New Way to Stay
- Jungle royalty lands on the Mekong: Jumping Jack Frost plays Cambodia for the first time
Author: Tom Starkey
Tom Starkey is an International Development graduate from Sussex University with 12-years of experience across 4 continents, Tom's goal is that he wants to showcase his love for Cambodia, where he lives, works and now happily calls home.
