Kep is a sleepy seaside town in southern Cambodia. It is a popular destination on many people's SE Asia itinerary due to its close proximity to the Vietnam border and the expat town of Kampot in Cambodia. Kep is best known for its crab dishes, villa ruins from the old French resort town that it once was, and its butterfly-filled national park. We stayed in Kep for 2 nights, and this was the perfect amount of time to relax on our stop-over to Kampot, get a feel of the town and explore what's on offer. We have detailed all the best things to do in Kep below.
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>> 5 Things to do in Kep
>> How to Get to Kep
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5 THINGS TO DO IN KEP
1. Relax on Kep Beach
For another relaxing option, head to Kep Beach. There is a tiny strip of white sand in front of the town. Although the sand has been imported from Kampot and Sihanoukville, it is still feels like a real beach. This is also a great opportunity for some people watching, especially on the weekends, when local Cambodians holiday in this small town. Then at sunset, head up to the Beach House for some sunset cocktails.
2. Hike in the Kep National Park
Kep National Park covers 53 square kilometres of small mountains just outside of the town. You can visit the café Led Zep, and ask which trails to take depending on your time and abilities. It is a $1 USD to enter the park (which is open between 7am and 4pm), but it isn't always monitored. There is a network of beautiful trails through the park and incredible views of the coast. You can choose to go for a leisurely stroll in the morning, or a longer hike throughout the day.
3. Watch the Sunset from Sunset Rock
Sunset Rock was a beautiful little surprise for us. We were travelling on our scooter along the road to the Kep National Park and found the Sunset Rock lookout on Maps.me. We decided to follow the road that lead us to a small trail. It was only a short 350m to the view point, and it was so worth it! This rocky outlet out the side of the mountain, above the jungle below and around us, was the perfect sunset spot overlooking the town and coast below.
4. Visit Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay)
Unfortunately, the weather wasn't in our favour when we were in Kep, and we had to miss a trip over to Rabbit Island. However, if you find yourself in Kep on a calm and sunny day, we recommend taking the short 30-minute boat ride here. This is a perfect location to relax on the beach, swing on a hammock or go for a swim. There is also a hike around the island, for the energetic travellers. A perfect activity to add to your Kep itinerary.
5. Eat at the Kep Crab Market
The Kep Crab Market is a local buzzing spot along the ocean front. Locals bring in fresh crabs straight from the ocean into the market. You can select your own fresh crab, and then get it cooked by one of the stalls in the markets. There are also plenty of other local food options as well. You can also buy other souvenirs from the markets as well.
HOW TO GET TO KEP
You can get to Kep from any popular tourist spots in Cambodia. The best way is by mini-van or bus.
How to Get to Kep From Phnom Penh
Bus - The Giant Ibis Bus Lines has buses doing the Phnom Penh - Kampot - Kep route 3 times a day, and a 4-hour journey in total.
>> PREBOOK YOUR GIANT IBIS BUS TICKETS HERE
Alternatively, use the 12GoAsia booking form below:
Mini-van - If you would rather a mini-van, you can also pre-book mini-vans through Bookmebus.com and Bookaway.com.
>> PREBOOK YOUR MINI VAN TICKETS WITH BOOKAWAY.COM
>> PREBOOK YOUR MINIVAN TICKETS WITH BOOKMEBUS.COM
How to Get to Kep From Kampot
Travelling from Kampot to Kep is a short 30-minute to 1-hour drive, and best done with a mini-van. You can book through Bookmebus.com.
>> PREBOOK MINIVAN TICKETS WITH BOOKMEBUS.COM
How to Get to Kep From Siem Reap
From Siem Reap you can catch 2 buses over 20 hours to get to Kep. However, as it is a very long journey, we suggest staying the night on your stop-over in Phnom Penh. Use the form below to book.
How to Get to Kep From Sihanoukville
The best mode of transport from Sihanoukville is by mini-van. It is a 3-hour ride with a stop over in Kampot.
>> PREBOOK YOUR MINIVAN TICKETS WITH BOOKMEBUS.COM
How to Get to Kep From Koh Rong
To get to Kep from Koh Rong, you will need to catch a ferry to Sihanoukville and then take the mini-van option listed above. The ferry journey is only 45-minutes and can be booked through 12GoAsia or Bookaway.com.
>> PREBOOK YOUR FERRY TICKETS WITH BOOKAWAY.COM
Or use the 12GoAsia Form Below:
How to Get to Kep From Vietnam
If you are travelling to Kep from Vietnam, we have written a full blog on how we crossed the Vietnam-Cambodia border from Phu Quoc to Kep.