Nestled along Cambodia’s southern coastline, Kep is a tranquil beach town that offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Known for its serene beaches, lush national parks, and vibrant crab market, Kep is a haven for seafood lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.
From the peaceful Rabbit Island to the historic Wat Samot Reangsey, every corner of Kep has a unique story to tell. Explore the famous pepper farms, hike through dense forests, or savor freshly cooked crabs by the seaside.
Just a stone’s throw from Vietnam, Kep promises an unforgettable escape into Cambodia’s coastal charm and cultural richness.
If you love to try new and exotic seafood then planning a trip to Kep will be a great decision. Along with enjoying the sunset, relaxing at the beach, and hiking in dense and deep forests, Kep offers you a closer look at its villages, and markets, and a chance to try amazing seafood in the famous crab market.
It is a few kilometres away from the border of Vietnam. It is the best beach town in Cambodia.
Things to do in Kep:
1. Rabbit Island:
This is also known as Koh Tonsay Beach. It is about 30 minutes away from the town of Kep or Kep’s Beach. This island is only accessible by boat.
You can find many little bars and restaurants by the shoreline, where you can enjoy the drinks and delicious and fresh local seafood at a very reasonable price. While walking to the seaside you can see a few bungalows and shacks where the few locals live.
There is no electricity on this island, the only source of electricity is the generator which is turned on at night only.
This place is peaceful. This place is perfect for reading a book, relaxing at the beach, or detoxing yourself after partying hard on the mainland. Nothing is interesting here except the beach, so it will be better not to expect too much from this place.
If you want to stay here overnight, bungalows transformed into guesthouses are the best and cheapest option.
2. Kep’s National Park:
After enjoying the beaches, hiking in the forest, and eating delicious and fresh seafood at the crab market if you are left with time, then you should visit the Kep’s National Park. It has a $1 entry fee for foreigners.
The main circuit overall is about 8 kilometers or 5 miles. You must wear decent shoes and carry plenty of water during your trip to Kep National Park.
On the way to your trek, you will find a few cafes, where you can take a break and enjoy the tasty beverages and food. The canopy will cover your head and protect you from the hot sun most of the time.
The trail is well-marked with yellow-colored signboards. The path deviates into 2 paths from the Led Zep Cafe. You can either choose the main trail or the interior trails.
As you walk inside you will see Sunset Rock, Phnom Kep, and Little Buddha. From Sunset Rock you can have a mindblowing view of the town and coastline.
3. Wat Samot Reangsey:
It is about 2 kilometers away from the Kep’s beach. If you have an interest in knowing details about the history and culture of Kep city then you must visit this historic place.
Wat means temple in the local language of Kep. Nobody knows the exact time when this temple was built, but its design and architecture suggest that it is a historical place for sure.
The entry is free and you will need about 2 hours to completely explore this place.
4. Kep’s Beach:
It is a one-kilometer-long beach located near the tip of the Kep peninsula. The road through Kep traces the coastline to the beach and then circles back on itself. If you are traveling through a car or van you have to pay a fee of about 2500R – 5000R to drive through the loop.
While roaming on the beach if you feel hungry, there are lots of dining and local seafood options available on the road behind the beach. You can try the famous crab dishes at the vendors along the coastline. This beach is crowded on the weekends but also deserted during the week.
5. Coconut Beach:
It is located a few hundred meters away from the Kep beach. On the way forward you will reach the famous Giant Crab. This beach is not famous for its beauty and sunsets, but if you love to try new food then this place is for you.
Here you will get lots of options where you can try delicious and fresh seafood. There are also many restaurants where you can enjoy luxury dining with a soothing view and environment.
6. Wat Kiri Sela:
It is located near the town Kompong Trach which is 28 kilometers northeast on NH 33. From The Kompong Trach town take the dirt road for 2 kilometers to reach Wat Kiri Sela.
It is a Buddhist temple at the foot of Kampong Trach. Here you will find about 100 caverns and passageways. It is surrounded by vine-draped cliffs that open to the open sky.
7. Crab market:
Crabs are what the Kep is famous for. The crab market is the busiest in Kep. Here you will find vendors selling crabs and other stuff of different sizes and varieties. Be careful while buying the crabs because the vendors ask for a double price from the tourists.
Learn some bargaining skills or join the locals while buying the crabs in this market. If you want to eat the crabs in the market you can ask the vendor to cook the crabs for you. There is a separate place at the end of the market for cooking the crabs.
Cooking will add about $2 per KG of crabs. After getting your cooked crabs now find a vacant table to sit at. You can find lots of tables in the center of the market. You have to buy a drink or rice to use these tables.
8. Sothy’s Pepper Farm:
This is a place that you should not miss on your trip to Kep. It is about 17 kilometers far away from the crab market. This is an organic and natural farm where you will see trees of mango, papaya, and rambutan.
This visit is free of cost. Along with observing the farm, you will also get a lot of knowledge about organic peppers. On your visit, you will be offered free pepper tasting in their open-air restaurant. The guide will take you to the place where the peppers are sun-dried.
The guide will tell you the differences between black, white, and red peppercorns. The tour will take about 45 minutes to complete and in the last, the guide will take you to the outlet of Sothy’s Pepper Farm, where you can buy the organic peppers for your friends and families, there is no pressure to buy.
How to reach Kep:
1. Bus to Kep:
You can go to Kep from Phnom Penh by bus. Many service providers allow you to book tickets online. It will take up to 3-5 hours and the fare will lie between $5-$10.
2. Mini-bus
Mini-bus service is also started by Giant Ibis for foreigners now. The buses from Phnom Penh to Kep and vice-versa run at 8 AM and 1:30 PM from both sides. The tickets are available online and cost $10 each way.
The minibus from Kampot to Kep runs at 10:45 AM and 5:15 PM. The ticket is for $3 per person. The journey is of 30 minutes.
3. Hop into a boat to Kep:
The Crab Shuttle leaves at 9:30 AM from Kampot and reaches Kep Rabbit Island at 11:30 AM. The one-sided and return fare is $9.50 and $13.50 respectively.
4. Geat a taxi to Kep:
Taxi will cost you around $40-$50 from Phnom Penh to Kep. The travel will be of 3.5 hours.
From Kampot, it will cost you about $3-$6 to reach Kep by moto-taxi. A private car taxi will cost around $20 one way trip.
5. Take a Tuk Tuk to Kep:
It will take about 35-45 minutes to reach Kep from Kampot. The cost will lie between $10-$15 one-way trip.*
