Kep highlights and travel guide

Kep overview

Cambodia’s smallest province in the coastal south-east of the country, Kep is a charming holiday spot known for its water-side life, seafood and coastal hiking.

Kep’s former heyday was in the first half of the 1900s, as a favourite holiday spot for French colonialists, and later, wealthy Cambodians, who made it the most prestigious beach town in Cambodia. It’s had a recent resurgence in popularity among those looking for a beach-side experience that’s slightly off the main backpacker trails. With a smattering of islands off the coastline too, Kep is a place to blend water-side adventures with laidback Cambodian life. Make the most of seafood, sand and sun in Kep!
 

See and Do

  Those who want to do a little activity out on the water should head to The Sailing Club at Knai Bang Chatt, where sailing courses are regularly run. It’s also possible to embark on other water sport adventures here, including kayaking, windsurfing and Hobie Cat Catamaran trips.
  It’s possible to get to Kep’s other, much less developed islands from either Koh Tonsay or the mainland at Kep. Koh Pos (‘Snake Island’) is home to a traditional fishing community and a pretty white sandy beach. Koh Svay (‘Mango Island’) doesn’t have a beach, but there is a hill by the mango orchard that offers good views.

The best beach in Kep Province is said to be Angkaul Beach, around 45 minutes outside of Kep town. At around 2km long and a little off-the-beaten-track, Angkaul Beach feels like a little Cambodian secret. There’s white sand, shallow waters for paddling and a few deck chairs and parasols.
  Kep Butterfly Garden is another place to visit in the national park. As well as a dome housing a multitude of brightly coloured butterflies, there is a nursery showing all stages of butterfly development. The butterfly garden also has benches and koi ponds in quiet corners, perfect for peace and reflection.

Many people visit Phnom Sar Sear from Kep – a series of three mountains with numerous fascinating caves. The most popular caves are Phnom Ach Prochiev and Phnom Dorei Sar, which also houses a mountain well. As well as caves, the mountain is home to nuns, monks and a Buddhist pagoda.
 

Culture and Arts

As a small and sleepy beach resort, the major pastimes in Kep relate to the beach, food and outdoor living. As such, this isn’t a destination for art and culture buffs, but there are a few points of interest worth noting.

One of the most visible pieces of art in Kep is the Sela Cham P'dey Statue, on a piece of land jutting out into the sea. This is a statue of a nude fisherman’s wife looking out to sea, waiting for her husband to return. It pays tribute to the strong fishing traditions of the locality. There is also a fun statue of a crab to be seen on a standalone platform over the water in Kep. Well-known for its crab delicacies, this statue is a nod to the food many people come to the locality to eat.
  For handicraft shopping, take a stroll around town and stop off at some of the shops which sell a range of goods, including local hand-made crafts. The Signature Designer Shop and Kep Souvenir are two shops that tend to sell some local crafts.
 

Festivals and Events

As a seaside resort for Cambodians as well as international visitors, many people choose to spend public holidays in this area. The main event is Khmer New Year, which usually falls in April each year. In Kep, people descend on the beach and the Crab Market to enjoy being outdoors and to indulge in delicious food. Unlike in cities and towns across Cambodia, most restaurants and bars are open in Kep during Khmer New Year because it’s such a popular spot to visit. Pchum Ben (‘Soul Day’ or ‘Ancestors Day’) is another public holiday when people flock to Kep. This is a 15-day Buddhist festival which usually falls in September or October each year. During this time, Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives and people bring food offerings to temples and pagodas. In Kep, there are a lot of people out and about enjoying the beach, the water and the seafood.

Many people also take boats out to Kep’s islands on public holidays  such as Khmer New Year, for general festivities and karaoke on the beach.

The Sea Festival takes place in a different location along Cambodia’s coastline each year, and Kep is sometimes the location for this. The event includes sporting activities, music and a range of festivities along the coastline.

Kep has captured the imagination of so many over the decades that there is even an annual Kep Expo in Phnom Penh celebrating the locality. It features an exhibition of photographs, music, films and special archives, as well as workshops on subjects such as architecture. There is also a book all about Kep for those who want a memento to take home with them.
 

Food and Drink

  For international flavours, Koki serves proper hand-made pizzas, while the Kep Lodge Restaurant and Bar serves Swiss specialities such as fondue, as well as Khmer cuisine.

For high end dining in Kep, Strand is a great option, with the opportunity to have a romantic meal on a dock directly over the sea. The restaurant at Veranda Natural Resort in Kep National Park is also of excellent quality, with stunning views over the surrounding natural vistas an added bonus.