The Salt Field Tour is paused for the rainy season and returns in November. Message Jason to be notified
Kampot salt fields community tour
The Salt Field Community Tour
Half day, 8 am–12 pm Dry season, Nov–Apr $25 per person 20% donated
ស្រែអំបិលThe salt fields of Kampot
Thousands of tourists visit Kampot's salt fields for their stunning beauty. The workers in the fields are often overlooked, and are not compensated for those visits. We hope to change that.
Offered with the support of the Chumkriel Language School, this community tour gives you a close-up look at salt production and the lives of the people behind it. Guided by members of the community, you'll visit the fields, meet the workers, and see the local projects your visit helps support.
20% of every booking is donated to the Chumkriel Language School to help improve the lives of salt field families.
Salt
The half-day tour starts at 8:00 am with pickup from your hotel, heading far into the salt fields where the workers have been at it since before dawn.
You'll meet local salt workers, watch the harvest up close, and even try it for yourself. Your local guide shares stories, explains each step of the process, and bridges conversations with the workers through translation.
- Explore Kampot's famous salt fields and see why they're a favourite for photographers.
- Learn how seawater is moved, dried, and collected using traditional techniques.
- Meet workers in the fields, hear their stories, and try gathering salt with your guide's help.
Struggle
Next, we visit the village where many salt workers live and learn about the challenges the community faces.
Life here is tough. Many salt workers can no longer continue in the fields by the age of forty because of the demands of the job. During the Khmer Rouge era these communities were forced into labour, and some buildings from that time are still in use today. Even now, children from salt field families often miss school, sometimes because their parents can no longer work, or because they need to help care for younger siblings.
- Visit the village where salt worker families live and see daily life firsthand.
- Learn how weather, poor harvests, and low wages affect the community.
- Hear how local organisations support families with housing, sanitation, and education.
Hope
Finally, we visit the Chumkriel Language School and meet the people working just as hard to create new opportunities for their community.
Many involved at the school grew up in salt field families themselves and now work to support the next generation. The school does much more than teach: its team helps families overcome barriers to education, supports students with practical skills like hygiene and nutrition, and works directly with parents so children can stay in school. You will see these projects in action and meet the teachers and students your visit helps support.
- Visit the Chumkriel Language School and see its education, nutrition, and life-skills work.
- Learn how the school helps children stay in school by working with their families.
- Meet people from the community opening new opportunities for the next generation.
The Chumkriel Language School
In 2005, Mr Thy established CLS to give rural children extra education, with a philosophy of helping people to help themselves. Offering English lessons at night in a small, dilapidated room, he expected just a handful of enrolments. On the first night, 100 students arrived.
From those beginnings the school grew into its own building with a playing field and agriculture garden. Alongside classes, its outreach programme builds small homes and toilets for the most needy families in the salt field community.
- Founded in 2005 by Mr Thy to help salt-field families help themselves.
- 100 students packed the first night class in a single dilapidated room.
- Today CLS teaches 100+ primary students by day and 500 evening learners.
- Community teams build homes and toilets and address essential needs.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the tour?
About 4 hours, starting at 8:00 am with hotel pickup and finishing around 12:00 pm.
When does the tour run?
The tour runs during the dry season only, usually November through April. Salt production stops during the rainy season, so the fields cannot be visited for the rest of the year.
Will the tour happen if it rains?
Since the workers are unable to work after it rains, we sometimes have to cancel the tour when the weather is poor. We will always let you know as early as possible.
Is photography allowed?
In the salt fields, photography is fine. In the village, please ask before taking photos of people. At the school, no photography please.
Where does the donation go?
20% of your booking goes directly to the Chumkriel Language School to fund teachers, meals, and sanitation projects for salt field families.
Book the Salt Field Tour
Dry season only · November – April · 8:00 am hotel pickup
Message Jason on WhatsApp, or buy tickets in person at Monkey Republic Hostel or Orchid 101 in Kampot. You pay cash on the day, with no deposit.
20% of every booking is donated to the Chumkriel Language School.
$25 per person · half day
Book this tour