If you turn left reaching the main road coming from the Kep Lodge, turn to the right at the roundabout, you will arrive at the Crab Market (Psar Gadam), home of the most delicious seafood in Cambodia. If you are opting for a delicious dinner, try the Shrimps with spices at the Kimley restaurant (the only one with a sign). Continuing this road, will bring you to the Beach of Kep. It is about 1km long and is bordered by some shady umbrella trees (there are shower and changing cabins behind the beach). Dining platforms, seafood and fruit vendors line the road behind the beach. On the elevated peninsular to your right you can see the royal palace, constructed for King Sihanouk, although he never lived here. A bit further away lies the coconut beach, not as nice as the Kep beach and hardly no shade. Another 2 km on this road will bring you to Kep City, a small town with a small market located in the former casino. To your left, on the mountain you can see a recently finished Temple (also a Vipassana Meditation Center), with stunning views to Vietnam and to the islands.

On the elevated peninsular to your right you can see the royal palace, constructed for King Sihanouk, although he never lived here. A bit further away lies the coconut beach, not as nice as the Kep beach and hardly no shade. Another 2 km on this road will bring you to Kep City, a small town with a small market located in the former casino.

To your left, on the mountain you can see a recently finished Temple (also a Vipassana Meditation Center), with stunning views to Vietnam and to the islands.

Activities? – Explore the charm of Kep, its friendly people, the great seafood and its quiet streets.

How to get there? – The best way to explore Kep is by bicycle, if you want to avoid the heat, rent a motorbike and drive around.

What does it cost? – We have bicycle free of charge, can also arrange mountain bikes for a cost of US$ 2.50/day. The daily rental of a small motorcycle is US$ 5.

The small Rabbit Island lies just 15 minutes offshore of Kep City and offers one of the most beautiful beaches in Cambodia. White sand, plenty of coconut trees, fishermen and a few very basic guest houses which also cater fresh seafood make this destination one of the most popular places for our guests.
It is also possible to make a three island tour, where you first visit the Mango Island, then stop for swimming and lunch at the Rabbit Island, before you continue to Koh Poh.

Activities? – Swimming, snorkeling (equipment from Kep Lodge), enjoy fresh Crabs or other seafood, walk around the Rabbit Island (about 2 hours), relaxing.

How to go? – You either take a motorbike-taxi (Motodub) or a Tuk Tuk to the pier in Kep City, from there you hire a boat to the island.

What are the costs? – A motorbike-taxi to the pier is US$ 1 one way, a Tuk Tuk
US$ 2.50 one way, the return boat trip to the island costs US$15 per boat.

With over 1000m in height, the Bokor Hill Station, which was built in the 1920s by the French, provides a refreshing break from the heat on the coast. The views over the dense rainforest towards the sea are some of the most impressive in Cambodia. The things to see are the Bokor Palace and Casino (picture), a church, the black Palace and the Five Boat Pagoda and the Popokvil Waterfalls, that only has water during the rainy season. There is now even the possibility to stay over night at the ranger station for US$5 to US$25 and there are some small food stalls, which serve simple snacks and drinks.

Activities? – Visit and wander around the ruins, enjoying the breathtaking views across the Gulf towards Phu Quoc Island, jungle trekking, watching the wildlife (it is said that elephants, tigers and leopards live in the jungle).

How to go? – The 33km road to Bokor takes about two or more hours and it is probably one of the worst in Cambodia. You can either go by organized tour from Kampot on the back of a pick up, which gives you the full jungle feeling, hire a 4WD with air-con or drive up by yourself with a dirt bike (you still see people drive up on their 100ccm Honda Dreams, but this is NOT recommended!).

What are the costs? – The organized tours from Kampot costs around US$ 8 (including a small lunch and soft drinks, but not including the return trip from Kep to Kampot by motorbike-taxi for US$ 6 or buy Tuk Tuk US$ 10). A private 4WD is around US$ 90 with driver. The cost of hiring a dirt bike and drive by yourself is US$ 10.
The entrance fee to the park is US$ 5 per person.

The Kep National Park is of medium size and is located around the Kep Mountain (just behind the Kep Lodge). There is an 8km trek which leads around the mountain with beautiful outlook points to Kampot, the islands and to Vietnam. Next to the three big antennas near the beach is a small Pagoda, where you can buy tea made from wood, which is good against head ache or stomach pain! The walk around the mountain takes between two and three hours. It is a nice place to escape the hot temperature on the coast.
Alternatively you can hire a guide, leave the trek and explore the dense jungle. Good shoes and a portion of adventuress are recommended for the dense jungle.

Activities? – Explore the jungle; see some wild animals and beautiful plants, views.

How to go? – From the Kep Lodge, there is a small trail going up the mountain that leads to the Jungle Trek. Alternatively, you walk towards the roundabout on the main road and then turn left up the hill (better road).

What does it cost? – Free of charge; a guide costs you per half a day US$ 4.

The Secret Beach of Kep is a remote beach to the east from Kep. The white beach is quite long and many coconut trees border the beach. There is a small fishing village and a small temple on the hill behind. The possibilities of food or drinks are very limited, so it’s best to bring a lunch pack.

Activities? – Swimming, sun bathing, relaxing, snorkeling (equipment from Kep Lodge).

How to go? – You can go by motodub, or can explore it by yourself. It is quite easy to find. On the road to Phnom Penh/Kompong Trach you turn right and follow the electricity poles, before the salt fields you turn right (there is a entrance gate for the temple) and just follow this road. It takes about 30 – 40 minutes from Kep.

What are the costs? – A motodub for the whole day is US$ 10, a Tuk Tuk US$ 15, hiring your own motorbike costs US$ 5 per day.

The Provincial capitol Kampot is 24km away from Krong Kep and is quite different than the much more touristy beach town Sihanoukville. Quiet streets, few tourists, beautiful French colonial buildings and an interesting market make this town a lovely daytrip.
The very good infrastructure with several internet cafés, banks (but no ATM yet), western grocery shopping, book stores (Blissful Guesthouse also has a variety of books to sell or trade), and a variety of excellent Khmer and western restaurants serve all the travelers needs.

Kampot is home of one of the best restaurants on the southeast coast, the Rikitikitavi, located on the riverfront. For a truly English bar feeling, try the Rusty Keyhole, also on the riverfront.

Activities? – Visit the market, Internet and Email, excursion on the Kamong Bay River, ice cream shopping, fine dining.

How to go? – You can go by motodub, by Tuk Tuk or drive your own motorbike.

What are the costs? – A motodub charges one way US$ 3, return US$ 6, a Tuk Tuk is one way US$ 6, return US$ 10.
A visit of Kampot is good in combination with the Tekchhou water rapids.

Kompong Trach and its caves are about 35km to the northeast of Kep. The town itself is not really appealing, has a few basic guest houses and only one or two decent restaurants (the one behind the temple is the best choice you get there). A good idea is to bring your own lunch. The reason to go there are the caves, which are located to your left after the Temple

in the middle of the city. From the turn it is another 20min drive, before you see the cave entrance to your right. The limestone caves are quite big and there are many children waiting to guide you. Inside of the cave you find a big reclining Buddha as well as some smaller statues. Very interesting is also the purple earth. There is also a small lake inside the cave, located about 10min drive from the main cave, following the train tracks.

Activities? – Cave exploring, swimming in the lake, see the beautiful countryside on the way there.

How to go? – You can hire a motodub or Tuk Tuk or can drive by yourself (easy to find). It is a beautiful drive through the countryside. You can also drive along Phnom Voir and visit a Pepper Plantation on the way.

What are the costs? – To go by motodub it cost you around US$ 7, by Tuk Tuk
US$ 10 roundtrip. The cost of hiring a motorbike for a day is US$ 5.

The Caves are good in combination with the Pepper Plantation or Angkul Beach. The price for this one day excursion is per motodub US$ 12, per Tuk Tuk US$ 16.

The Tekchhou falls are located about 12km from Kampot, offer very good swimming
possibilities in the cool rapids and a pleasant river breeze. There are plenty of food stalls around which cater you with a big variety fresh fish, squid or shrimps. It is a very popular place for Khmers on the weekend, so it is best to go during the week.
You can also pass the picnic area (with the hanging bridge to your right) and drive further up, until you reach a small waterfall, with almost no people.

Activities? – Swimming, relaxing, enjoying the fresh fish, ride down the river on a inflated tire (check at the Utopia guest house along the way for tires).

How to go? – You can go by motodub or drive yourself. After you arrive in Kampot, cross the river and after 400 meter turn to your right. From there it is another 20 min drive, just follow the road.

What does it cost? – The motodub charges about US$ 10 for the round trip, Tuk Tuk US$ 15, again hiring your own motorbike is the cheaper option and it is very easy to find. On weekends there might be an entrance fee to the rapids of US$ 1 to 2 per person.

Kampot and surroundings are one of the major salt producers of Cambodia. You see some salt fields near the White Horse Market (Psahr See Sor) or near Angkul Beach, so it is best to do this in combination with another activity.

The Kampot Pepper is one of the best in the world and has even been exported to France during the French regime. One of the major site of producing Pepper is near Phnom Voir, about 20min drive from Kep. It is possible to buy fresh and/or dried black pepper directly from the fields.

Activities? – Explore the salt fields, buy fresh pepper and see locals cultivating it.

How to go? – You can go by motodub or drive your own bike. The pepper plantations next to Phnom Voir are a bit difficult to find, we recommend to take a guide.

What does it cost? – It is best to combine the salt fields and the pepper plantations. The cost of a motodub, who is also your guide, is about US$ 7, a Tuk Tuk about
US$ 12. Hiring your own motorbike costs US$ 5 per day.

Good in combination with Kompong Trach or Angkul Beach. The Salt Fields are good together with Kampot town or the Tekchhou Water Rapids.

To go to Vietnam directly from Kep via the recently opened Hat Yen border crossing, the transportation costs are by motodub US$ 10 or by Tuk Tuk US$ 15. If you want to go by air con car, the costs are around US$ 20.


(prices may vary,compiled in August 2007)