Getting to Kep

KAMPOT to/from KEP

The road from Kampot to Kep is paved, smooth and picturesque. It’s a 25km, 30-45 minute trip from Kampot though scenic Cambodian countryside. Have your camera ready. From Kampot, follow the road east to the White Horse Monument. Bear right at the monument (straight goes to Kampong Trach.) At the next main turnoff (a small roundabout,) turn right onto the oceanfront road to the Crab Market and Kep Beach area or continue straight to Kep Beach. Motodups from Kampot start at about $3-$4 one way and $8-$10 round trip. Tuk-tuks run about $8-$15 for a round trip depending how long you spend in Kep and number of passengers. Package day tours to Kep out of Kampot often include a visit to other nearby destinations such as Rabbit Island, the caves between Kampot and Kep and a pepper plantation. 

Getting AROUND Kep

Motorcycle and Bicycle Rental Motorcycle rental: 100cc ($4-$7/day) and 250cc ($5-$10/day). Sovann Sakor (012-608345) and Ratanak Kongkea (099-791679) in Kep both rent motorcycles and bicycles.

Kep Dining
Kep is known for its fresh seafood, especially the crab, which is absolutely excellent - literally straight from the ocean to your plate. In fact, Kep’s most popular tourist activity next to relaxing at the beach is partaking of a fresh seafood lunch or dinner at the oceanfront. The Kampot Pepper Crab is a local culinary classic - fresh crab fried with generous bunches of fresh green Kampot pepper corns and served cracked. Traditional dining venues include the Crab Market, a dozen rustic wooden oceanfront crabshack restaurants, most with a very local, friendly atmosphere, wonderfully unsophisticated dining at the water’s edge. At Kep Beach, picnic platforms line the road and another group of platforms line the oceanside park near the Big Crab statue. Just find an empty platform, sit down and the seafood vendors will come to you. Most of the vendors basic English language menus. Place your order and they’ll have your seafood cooked and served within 10 minutes.

Almost all of the hotels and guesthouses in Kep have restaurants and bars, many quite good. Most serve a wider variety of dishes than the local vendors including variety of western and international dishes as well as fresh seafood dishes. Several places are located along Road 33a within a few hundred meters of the oceanfront road traffic circle. After dark, most of Kep closes down, though a few places such as Riel Bar and a few of the guesthouse restaurants can be open into the late evening. The seafood shacks at the Crab Market stay open as late as 10PM or 11PM.

Botanica Inspirational world kitchen with an eye for presentation. Indonesian ‘Coconut Tumeric,’ Belgian ‘Vol-au-vent,’ Indian ‘Madras,’ Peruvian ‘Bistik a la pobre,’ other foods from around the world. Selection of Belgian beers (Leffe, Hoegaarden, Stella, Verboden Vrucht). Inventive shakes, mixes and cocktails. “Botanica Restaurant, bringing the taste of the world closer to you!” Wifi.

Tel: +(855) (0)16-562775
E-mail: info@kep-botanica.com 
Website: www.kep-botanica.com

Brise De Kep

Very pleasant oceanfront balcony restaurant at the Brise De Kep Guesthouse. Offering nicely done, reasonably priced French and Asian fare with the emphasis on seafood. Good breakfasts including a very nice Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup. Open 6:00AM-midnight. Located at the Kep Beach intersection.

Tel: 012-301017

Breezes Stylish new western-run restaurant and lounge set seaside in a green area with lots of old trees and, of course, pleasant ocean breezes. Smart lighting and design and agreeable jazz, lounge and classical music playing. An upmarket, seaside alternative to the usual crab market restaurants, but still comparatively reasonably priced. Serving small bites, Asian, western and some fusion dishes with the focus on seafood. Free pick-up from your hotel in Kep for dinner. Open 9:00AM - Late.

Tel: +(855)(0)97-6759072  

Kep Lodge Comfortable restaurant with great views over the gulf of Thailand with a variety of Röstis (Swiss style potatoes), tasty sausages and serving some of the best pizzas in town. Homemade ice cream. Salads. Happy hour from 5.30 till 7.00 pm with great cocktails and cheap beers (13 different kinds) Visa/MC
Tel: +(855) (0)92-435330

Email: info@keplodge.com

Website: www.keplodge.com
 

Kukuluku Oceanside guesthouse, restaurant and bar serving very reasonably priced BBQ, Khmer and western dishes. Seafood selections. Full bar, cold beer, cocktails. Open 7:00AM - 10:00PM daily and late on the weekends. Breezy oceanside terrace seating. Located on Road 33a a few hundred meters north of the oceanfront road intersection.
Tel: 099-504320

Long Villa Restaurant Seaside restaurant situated right at the Koh Tunsay (Rabbit Island) Boat Dock. Like most places in Kep, the emphasis is on fresh seafood prepared both western and Asian style. Book a boat trip to Koh Tunsay at the restaurant. Tel: +(855) (0)92-788364
 

Le Bout du Monde French and Khmer cuisine served in a hillside restaurant with a sweeping view of the jungle and ocean. “The gourmets can come taste our French and Khmer cuisine : pancakes of Brittany, beef fillet in parsley butter, amok or the succulent fish or beef fillet in oriental sauce.”
Tel: +(855) (0)11-964181
Website: www.leboutdumondekep.com

Le Flamboyant Lovely French restaurant in the garden at Le Flamboyant bungalows. Concise, on-the-board selection of French and international dishes, both traditional and contemporary. Pleasant patio garden seating. Imported wines. Cocktails. Full bar. Some of the finest dining in Kep or Kampot. Nice place for a romantic dinner. Located on Road #33.

Tel: +(855) (0)16-713823
 

Ratanak Kongkea Restaurant Beachside restaurant serving fresh-from-the-ocean seafood as well as Cambodian dishes. Crab, shrimp, fish, squid, etc. Motorcycle and bicycle rental. Internet service. Located at the Kep Beach intersection. Tel: +(855) (0)99-791679

Riel Bar, Restaurant & Bakery Regular concerts, exhibitions, performances, dance events and 'be your own DJ - evenings.’ Full bar, reasonable prices, worth going early for a healthy meal and finishing with a late night drink. More than 50 different mixers and cocktails. Free pool table. Homemade pastry and ice cream. Khmer cooking classes on request. In case you are a traveler with artistic talents, the Riel is pleased to have you perform or exhibit. The Riel has a huge music collection with tunes from five continents. Update your collection. Customers that pay in Riels receive a discount on their bill. Located at the oceanfront road intersection. 

Tel: +(855) (0)17-902771 (English), +(855) (0)17-739336 (Khmer.)
Website: www.kep-riel-bar.com

Sailing Club

Ideal for watching sunset. A former fisherman’s house built with a pier and a dock. Offering a variety of cocktails and a great menu for lunch and dinner. A very popular Sunday brunch. While you are there, hire a Hobie Cat, do some windsurfing or kayaking on the ocean. Check the website for special event. Open Tue-Sun, 10AM-11PM.

Tel: +(855) (0)11-823552
Website: www.knaibangchatt.com 

Salt & Pepper Bakery Uniquely located western style, western run bakery and coffee shop on Road #33 between Kampot and Kep, right next to the White Horse Monument. Some of the best western style fresh baked breads in the country at a tiny bakery locally well out in the countryside. Fresh baked cakes, cookies and breads. Sourdough-rye and whole wheat bread. Unique specialty and designer breads. Coffees both western and Cambodian style, from espresso to Cambodian ice coffee with sweet milk. Great place to stop for a coffee and snack on your way between Kampot and Kep. Wholesale enquiries welcome.

Tel: +(855) (0)99-219004

Veranda Bungalows and Resort Stylish hillside restaurant the Veranda Natural Resort with a sweeping view of the ocean and islands. Serving a wide variety of Khmer, Chinese and Western cuisine with a focus on seafood. Good wine selection. Bakery with homemade danishes, breads and cakes from chocolate tarts to blueberry turnovers. Ice cream shop offering more that 7 varieties of 100% natural Gelato ice cream. Full bar and a terrace with comfortable seating and a spectacular sunset view. Wifi. International standard

Tel: +(855) (0)12-888619

Kep Guesthouses and Hotels
 

The Beach House

Range: $40

On the hillside overlooking Kep Beach. Nicely decorated rooms with a/c, satellite TV, hot water, fridge, en suite bathroom and balconies with picturesque ocean views. Swimming pool. Restaurant/bar serving Asian and western food. Meeting room. Internet. Wifi. Located at the Kep Beach intersection.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-712750
E-mail: info@thebeachhousekep.com
Website: www.thebeachhousekep.com

Beach Town Guesthouse

Range: $12 - $20

Oceanfront guesthouse overlooking Kep Beach. Clean, affordable fan and a/c rooms with en suite bathroom. The beach and seafood restaurants 20 meters from the front door. Located at the Kep Beach intersection.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-763763, +(855) (0)16-616565, +(855) (0)97-7525777

Boat House Guesthouse

Range: $5 - $20
Newly opened guesthouse in a traditional Khmer-style wooden house nestled in a green area at the base of a hill, offering basic accommodation in a nicely decorated traditional style. Open air restaurant serving western and Asian food. Located just off Road #33a, 500 meters north of the Kep Beach intersection.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-715750
E-mail: theboathousekep@hotmail.com 
Website: www.theboathousekep.com

Botanica

Range $8 - $10

Friendly easy-going place with a smile along the main road, located 2km north from the Riel Bar. Restaurant and 5 bungalows with hammock in a nice garden setting where you can play boule or just relax. Serving world kitchen. Wifi/internet $1/hr. Home-made clothing and bags for sale. Pool table and Belgian beers. Book exchange, board games. Free bicycles for guests. Kep NP tours organized. Bus from PP/Kampot can drop you at our door, just ask the driver. "Botanica …not a flower shop." 

Tel: +(855) (0)16-562775
E-mail: info@kep-botanica.com 
Website: www.kep-botanica.com

Brise De Kep

Range: $10 - $20

New beachfront guesthouse offering clean, new, affordable fan and a/c rooms with CTV and en suite with hot water. The beach and seafood restaurants 20 meters from the front door. Located at the main intersection, Kep Beach. Nice balcony restaurant with an oceanfront view, serving French and Asian dishes, with the emphasis on seafood. Excellent Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) for breakfast. Located at the Kep Beach intersection.
Tel: 012-301017, 011-937117, 063-6336339
Email: brisedekep@yahoo.com

Duong-Raing Sey Guesthouse

Range: $40

Brand new quality wooden bungalows, each with picture window, private balcony, fan or a/c, CTV and en suite bathroom with hot water. Elevated restaurant with an ocean view. Picturesque setting, a garden setting at the base of the mountain, 500 meters from the Crab Market area. Located on the mountain road just 50 meters from the oceanfront road intersection. Tel: 011-558197
Website: www.raingsey-bungalows-kep.com

Jasmine Valley Guesthouse

Range: $19-$44

Five mud-brick bungalows built with natural materials found in the valley situated on the rainy-season creek. Two 'tree houses' mounted on single columns with spectacular views. Hot water. Café serving Khmer and foreign food, wood-fired pizza, and fruit and veggies grown onsite. Bar with pool table. Sauna and a 'natural swimming pool'. Jasmine Valley is very much in the jungle; a peaceful retreat with adventure close by.

Tel: +(855) (0)97-7917635, 097-7917636
E-mail: info@jasminevalley.com 
Website: www.jasminevalley.com

Kep Lodge

Range: $28 - $38 (Breakfast included) New swimming pool. Fan and sea breeze-cooled thatched bungalows with big terrace. Six nicely decorated, spacious wooden or concrete bungalows surrounded by a garden and fruit trees. Rooms equipped with comfortable 1.6m mattresses, bathroom with hot water, mini bar. Free Wifi access throughout the lodge. Free bicycle. Restaurant serving outstanding Khmer and Western food. Comfortable bar with pool table. Western-managed, very friendly staff.

Visa/MC
Tel: +(855) (0)92-435330, +(855) (0)17-879526, +(855) (0)17-879153
Email: info@keplodge.com

Website: www.keplodge.com

Knai Bang Chatt Resort

Range: $134+

“The essence of Kep” A lifestyle property with three modern houses and 11 rooms. Open structure, beautiful views and spacious garden. Large infinity edge swimming pool, full spa and Sailing Club bar and restaurant. Outstanding service. One of the better resorts on the coast. The Sailing Club and spa are open to outside guests. Located just off Road #33a, 50 meters north of the oceanfront road intersection.

Tel: +(855) (0)17-917452

      +(855) (0)11-823552
E-mail: info@knaibangchatt.com
Website: www.knaibangchatt.com

Kukuluku

Range: $5 - $18

Oceanside guesthouse, restaurant, bar. Basic fan and a/c rooms with amenities. Dorm beds available. Breezy restaurant and bar often open well into the evening. Located on the ocean side of Road #33A, a couple of hundred meters north of the oceanfront road intersection.
Tel: +(855) (0)99-504820, +(855) (0)12-607877
Email: info.kukuluku@yahoo.com

Le Bout du Monde

Range: $15 - $85

Individual and separate bungalows/residences/suite in traditional Khmer architecture, built on piles and made of wood and stones. Located in landscaped gardens at the top of a breezy hill with view on the Gulf of Thailand French and Khmer cuisine with fresh ingredients. Hot water, mini-bar, fan and safe in room (Khmer villa and residences/suite).

Tel: +(855) (0)11-964181
E-mail: contact.leboutdumonde@gmail.com
Website: www.leboutdumondekep.com 

Le Flamboyant

Range: $35 - $80

Stylish, very well appointed boutique bungalows in a peaceful, spacious garden setting. Fully air-conditioned, large flat screen TV with satellite, DVD, en suite bathroom with hot water and sun shower. Veranda and private roof top patio. Swimming pool. Superior restaurant serving French and international fare. Located just off Road #33A, a couple of hundred meters north of the oceanfront road intersection.
Tel: +(855) (0)16-713823
E-mail: seillerr@yahoo.fr 
Website: www.flamboyant-hotel.com
 

Lida Khmer Guesthouse
Range: $5 - $8

Large, clean, basic fan rooms at the Lida Massage. On the main road about 1 km north of the Crab Market intersection, just past Kep Lodge. Located just off Road #33A, a few of hundred meters north of the oceanfront road intersection. Look for the sign.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-953427, +(855) (0)89-803930

Ponleu Chhner Tra Cheak Chit Guesthouse

Range: $10 - $22

New guesthouse overlooking Kep Beach offering clean fan and a/c rooms with CTV and en suite bathroom with hot water. Seafood restaurant serving Khmer and western dishes. Motorcycle and bicycle rental. Island tours $12. Located at the Kep Beach intersection.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-894684, +(855) (0)12-765832

Ratanak Kongkea Guesthouse & Restaurant

Range: $15-$20 Beachside guesthouse overlooking ocean. Clean, new a/c rooms with CTV and en suite bathroom with hot water. Restaurant serving fresh-from-the-ocean seafood and Cambodian dishes. Motorcycle and bicycle rental. Internet. Located at the Kep Beach intersection.

Tel: +(855) (0)99-791679

Tree Top Guesthouse

Range: $6 - $20

Unique stilted bamboo bungalows on the hillside overlooking the ocean, standing from 1 to 3 meters off the ground. Clean, basic, private bungalows with fan room, mosquito net and en suite bathroom. Bar/restaurant serving Khmer and international food, with the emphasis on seafood. Located just off Road #33A, a couple of hundred meters north of the oceanfront road intersection.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-515191, +(855) (0)36-636324

Vanna Bungalows

Range: $10 - $20

Quality-constructed fan and a/c bungalows with en suite and hot water. Wifi. On the hillside with a fantastic view overlooking the ocean. A real ‘feel at home’ atmosphere. Free wifi. Restaurant with home cooked Cambodian food. (Try the Amok.) Western also available. Dining area large enough for functions/meetings. From Road #33A, turn east (toward the hill) at the oceanfront road intersection.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-755038
Website: www.vannabungalows.com 

Veranda Bungalows and Resort

Range: $25-$80 (including breakfast)
Stylish fan and air-conditioned rooms and bungalows with veranda on the hillside overlooking the ocean. Beautiful sunset views. En suite bathroom with hot water. Fully outfitted luxury rooms and family bungalows available. 24 hour security. 24 hour electricity. Free wifi. Very popular resort, receiving very good reviews. Book ahead. Restaurant and bar. Bakery and ice cream. Boutique. Swimming pool coming soon. Traveler’s check exchange. Wifi. From Road #33A, turn east (toward the hill) at the oceanfront road intersection.

Visa/MC
Tel: +(855) (0)12-888619, +(855) (0)92-948093
E-mail: verandaresort@gmail.com  
Website: www.veranda-resort.com  
 

Things to Do and See Around Kampot and Kep
 

Kampot and Kep are so close to each other that they share many of the same sights and attractions. Kep Beach, Bokor Hill Station, Rabbit Island, countryside tours and river trips are perhaps the most popular day tours out of Kampot and Kep with tour operators offering very competitively priced tours. The Kampot/Kep area also offers several other attractions including pre-Angkorian ruins and caves, jungle trekking, bicycling tours, river cruises, island trips, fishing trips, isolated beaches, pepper plantations, bamboo train rides and some beautiful rural countryside.

Whether you plan to do-it-yourself or book a tour, transportation and/or tours can be found through one of the many local tour operators or through your guesthouse. Shop around for the best price and for exact type of tour you would like to take.

KeyMan Tours
Tailored tours, trekking, daily mini vans Kep-Kampot-Sihanoukville, sunset river cruises, bicycle rental...
Located in Kampot on the river road.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-981437

Smile Tours
Bokor, jungle trips, Rabbit Island, ox-cart trips, fishing, visas, mini-bus, cooking classes, coastal mini-buses...
Located in Kampot
Tel: +(855) (0)12-908619

+(855) (0)97-8811069
smiletours@hotmail.com 

Sok Lim Tours
Kampot packages, sunset cruises, Rabbit Island, Bokor, jungle trekking, countryside tours, Takeo...
Located in Kampot, ear Blissful Guesthouse.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-719872
www.soklimtours.com

Wild Orchid Adventure Tours
At Orchid Guesthouse, Kampot
Tel: +(855) (0)92-226996
orchidguesthousekampot@yahoo.com

 

Architecture of Kampot
Though suffering a bit the ravages of time, the architecture of Kampot is pleasantly provincial, a mix of red tile-roofed shophouses and old French colonial government buildings. Kampot has been an active settlement for centuries but the location and layout of the modern town was established during the French colonial period in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Many of the buildings along and near the river were constructed during this period. The south end of town harbors several European-style buildings including the governor’s mansion and the old prison. Most of the other colonial era buildings employ the classic 2-storey ‘Chinese shophouse’ design, many displaying European design elements. Unlike many other Cambodian cities, the shophouses are often individuated in design and facade, lending to Kampot town’s quaint air.

Bokor Hill Station

Tours to Bokor are perhaps the most popular out of Kampot. The Bokor Hill Station on Phnom Bokor (Bokor Mountain) is a mountaintop collection of buildings (hotel, casino, church, royal residence, etc.), constructed by French authorities in the early 1920s as a complement to the already popular Kep resort area. In the 1990s a travel author referred to Bokor as ‘the eeriest place in the world’, and it lives up to that reputation. In its time, Bokor was an elegant getaway for French officials and foreign visitors to old Indochina - a classic colonial ‘hill station’ located in the mountains to allow foreigner visitors accustomed to more temperate climes to escape the tropical heat. But years of neglect have left ghostly ruins - vestiges of a different age, often shrouded in fog and clouds. One thing that the years have not changed is the absolutely spectacular view of the coast and the cool (sometimes cold) mountain air. Bokor Mountain is heavily jungled and trip beyond Bokor, including jungle trekking, can be arranged. Wild elephants and other jungle animal are occasionally seen. The is a small guesthouse near the hill station with $5 rooms, good toilets and very few other services. It can get cold on the mountain, especially at night. Bring warm clothes. News: The road up Bokor Mountain and the area of the old hill station are currently undergoing a development project, including refurbishing the casino and hotel and the addition of a new hotel complex. The area was initially closed to all visitors, but then access was allowed irregularly, sometimes limited to tour groups or trekkers only. As of February 2010, access was again partially open to visitors but limited to trekking up at least part of the mountain. Overnights at the mountain top guesthouse are also possible. Organize a trek through one of the local tour operators. Access rules will probably change again. Check with a local tour operator for the latest information. The Park Office and turn-off to the Hill Station are 37km west of Kampot on National Route 3.
 

Caves near Kampot

Limestone mountains (‘phnom’) dot the landscape between Kampot and Kep. Many contain limestone caves, some adorned with exotic rock formations, and almost all containing Buddhist shines. Make sure to bring a torch and wear shoes suitable for climbing on rocks.

The caves of Phnom Chhnork - Cave #1 Pre-Angkorian ruin set in a limestone cave amongst stalagmites and stalactites that are slowly growing back into the ruin. Small, 4th-5th century AD brick structure associated with the ancient state of Funan. A bit of carving is still visible. Look for the limestone formations near the entrance of the cave in the shapes of elephants. Cave #2 The entrance is about 300 meters from Cave #1 in the same limestone outcropping. Very little in the way of formations, but quite deep, requiring climbing over piles of rock and through small openings. Small shrine.

The cave at Phnom Sla Ta'aun Plain by comparison to other caves, but still an interesting climb. Look for the huge rock balanced in a hole in the ceiling. Small shrine.

The cave at Phnom Sasear, also known as the ‘White Elephant Cave.’ Located next to an colorful pagoda. The stairs up the side of the outcropping provide a beautiful view of the countryside, especially during the wet season. The cave contains a shrine at the base of a limestone formation alleged to resemble a white elephant. 

Countryside/Area Tours

Kampot and Kep provinces harbor some beautiful rural countryside just outside the town areas - bucolic scenery, rice paddies and water buffalos with white egrets riding their backs, countryside pagodas and little villages filled with traditional stilted houses. There is some very nice rural scenery along the road between Kampot and Kep. Keep your camera at the ready. Tour operators offer full and half day area tours the can easily be customized to your requirements, often including visits to the caves, a pepper plantation, Kep, Rabbit Island, Kampong Trach and a sunset cruise on the Kampong Bay River.

Kampong Trach

Kampong Trach is the district that borders Vietnam. The road trip from Kampot to the main town passes though some picturesque rural areas. There is a new side road to Kampong Trach town that skirts the base of Phnom Voar, (where the victims of the 1994 Khmer Rouge kidnappings were held.) These mountain areas of Kampong Trach were one of the last Khmer Rouge holdouts. Kampong Trach town is small and relatively uninteresting. The area’s main attraction is a series of limestone caves and tubes that have been carved into a nearby mountain. The roof of a large cave in the center of a mountain has collapsed, making a small, enclosed jungle. Pagodas and shrines have been built amongst the caves, providing for some excellent photo possibilities. Bring a flashlight and wear good walking shoes. 

From Kampot, take the Kep road, bear left at the White Horse Monument and follow to Kampong Trach. After a few kilometers the road changes to badly broken pavement. The side road mentioned above requires a left turn onto a graded dirt road about 7 km past the White Horse Monument. It is not a straightforward route and it may be better if you go with a guide. Set aside the better part of a day for the trip to the caves and back.

Kampot Pepper and Pepper Plantations
Kampot pepper, grown in Kampot province, has been renowned for more than a century as some of the highest quality pepper in the world - its distinct flavor and pugnacity, intense but light taste with fresh lingering aromas has long been a prized as an essential spice in the finest French kitchens. It is also featured in local Kampot/Kep cuisine such as Pepper Crab (local crab fried in black or green pepper corn) and beef steak in fresh pepper corn sauce. At the beginning of the 20th century the Kampot plantations were in full operation and Cambodia was exporting more than 8000 tones of pepper annually. In 1960, there were 1 million pepper poles in Kampot. But the wars from the 1970s through the 1990s put an end to regular production for almost 30 years. Production was renewed in the late 1990s but faced new challenges. Pepper plantations now dot Kampot province. Most general Kampot area tours pass through the pepper plantations near Phnom Voar. The plantations of Angkor Chey near Phnom Voar offer a particularly good look at the process or growing and preparing the pepper. And it’s a good place to buy the Kampot pepper straight from the source.

Kep Beach

A single, kilometer-long crescent of sand near the tip of the Kep peninsula, bounded by rocks at either end and the oceanfront road along the back. Coarse sand, shallow, warm water. Very average swimming beach. But still lounge, have an oceanside seafood meal and enjoy the cool sea breeze. Dining platforms and seafood vendors line the road behind the beach as well as the oceanfront further down the road near the Big Crab statue. The beach can be quite busy on weekends, but often deserted during the week. The road through Kep traces the coastline to the beach and then circles back on itself. Sometimes cars and vans must pay admission to drive the oceanfront road along the beach area (2500R-5000R). Motorcycles and pedestrians are free. Be aware that the oceanfront road along the beach area is a one way street and the police do occasionally enforce the law.

Khmer Cultural Development Institute
Located in Kampot town. Local school of traditional Khmer music and dance for young Cambodian students. The school allows visitors to observe the students in practice and occasionally holds formal performances.. Check the bulletin board in front of the school for visiting hours to observe practice sessions and performance announcements. Whether attending a training session or a performance, donations are welcome.
 

Massage

Akashi Café - Massage at Akashi Café  For problems such as backache, neck ache, joint and nerve pain, Loss of mobility, etc. Work on the points, lines and nerves. 10 years experience. $12/session (1-1/2 - 2 hours) By appointment only. Located in Kampot at the Akashi Café. Call Michael at 012-423180
 

Kampot Massage by the Blind on the river road in Kampot near Bokor Mountain Lodge offers foot and body massage and Japanese Shiatsu-style massage by seeing-impaired masseurs and masseuses. $4/hour. Tel: 012-662114

Lida Khmer House Massage Traditional Khmer massage - oil, foot, full body for $5-$12. Receiving good reviews from customers. In Kep, on the main road about 1 km north of the Crab Market intersection, between Kep Lodge and Botanica. Open 7AM-10PM .Tel: 012-953427

Seeing Hands 5 Massage NGO-based massage shop offering Shiatsu-style massage by seeing-impaired masseurs and masseuses. Located about 50 meters off the riverfront in Kampot. Tel: 012-503012  

Rabbit Island

Rabbit Island is a small tropical island located about 20-40 minutes south of Kep by local boat. The island is blessedly undeveloped and lacks most services except for some rustic bungalows and a couple of rudimentary beach shack restaurants. Secluded white sand beaches dot the edges of the island, backed by a hilly coconut palm interior. Most services are near the west side beach. The surrounding waters are relatively clear and warm, offering some snorkeling opportunities around the rocks. Coral is scarce but colorful fish abound. You can stay on the island or make a day trip of it - go in the morning, lounge on the beach and return to Kep in the afternoon. Rooms/bungalows on the island run $10 or less. Arrange a boat trip to the island through your guesthouse in Kampot or Kep or just go to the Koh Tunsay Boat Dock in Kep town next to the Long Villa Restaurant (see Kep map on page 113.) Boats are almost always available. A round-trip trip to the island and back runs $20 for the whole boat, so bring some friends to split the cost. The round-trip price is the same whether you stay a few hours or a few days. Tour operators and guesthouses in Kep offer day packages starting at about $7/person inclusive.

River Trips

River boat trips out of Kampot on the picturesque Kampong Bay River are becoming more popular. The tour companies and many of the guesthouses (Little Garden Bar) are offer several different sorts of boat trips including short sunset trips upriver to the Tekchhou Rapids; longer cultural/wildlife/eco trips upriver, often combined with trekking in the National Park; downriver trips to the ocean to explore the beaches and sand spits near the river’s mouth; do a bit of ocean swimming; photograph the fishing boats at work or go ocean fishing. A couple of the tour operators including those listed can supply fishing gear. Boat trips are relatively reasonably priced and the tour operators are generally amenable to customizing the trip to your requirements.

Sailing Club
Located in Kep. Hire a Hobie 13', 16' or 18', speedboat, water-ski, windsurf, kite surf, kayak and canoe. Private and group sailing courses available. (Phone instructor Rogier at 012-304332.) Ping-pong, Petanque, volleyball, badminton, motorbike, trail and bicycle rentals
Tel: 011-823552

Tekcchou Resort and Zoo

A long-popular local picnic area on the Prek Chha river near a set of rapids with riverside dining platforms and lots of food/drink vendors. Though the cool rapids and river breeze can be quite pleasant, the new river dam/hydroelectric project just upstream of the rapids have diminished both the atmosphere and popularity of the area. Nearby Asian-style mini zoo displaying a variety of local fauna. 8km. Good road. Officials sometimes collect an entrance fee, especially at peak times. At last report, $3 for foreigners and 1000 riel for Cambodians.

Trekking around Kep
Offering a fairly easy hiking experience, a trail/service road snakes through national forest land around Kep Mountain - the small mountain near the tip of the peninsula between Road 33a and the Kep town area. The gently sloping trail winds past a couple of old pagodas, though light jungles where you may spy monkeys or other wildlife, and provides many picturesque overlooks along the way. Kampot and the Elephant Mountains can be seen in the distance from the northwest viewpoint, and the trail on the other side of the mountain provides some striking views across the valley to a pagoda on the next mountain and the beaches in the distance. The trail is actually a small, dirt service road that rings the mountain in an 8km loop, part of the road in pretty good condition, some narrow and overgrown. Suitable to hike of for a mountain bike or dirt bike. The trail is most easily and conveniently accessed from the road next to Le Bout du Monde and Veranda Guesthouse. The hiking is fairly easy, but wear stout shoes and take water and mosquito repellent.

Volunteer Work

For those interested in contributing some of their time to the community, Kampot has many volunteer opportunities with NGOs and other charitable organizations (teaching, assistance with children and disabled people, reconstruction projects, etc.) Contact Kampot Interact or check out the Kampot Dar-laing for more information about volunteer opportunities in the area.

Last updated 02/10