Sihanoukville and the south - The Rough Guide to Cambodia - page 271

5 KEP ORIENTATION

Kep is a sprawling place. The road for town branches away from NR33 at the prominent White
Horse Monument , from where it's 5 or 6km to the right turn to Psar K'Dam , the famous crab
market. From here the road runs along the seafront for 1km or so to Kep Beach , where the
narrow, dark-sand beach broadens out fractionally. Set back in a circular precinct is the transport
stop, as well a couple of hotels, some local stores and several of the ubiquitous huts furnished
with mats and hammocks that Cambodians love to rent out for a day's relaxing (it gets busy here
at weekends). Getting back from here to the crab market , the one-way system dictates that you
head north away from the beach and take the first left at the roundabout. East of Kep, the paved
road runs to the Vietnamese border , and the crossing at Prek Chak (for Ha Tien and Phu Quoc).

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE KEP

By moto/tuk-tuk A moto/tuk-tuk to Kampot costs
$10/$15, or to the Vietnam border, $12/$18.
By bus Phnom Penh Sorya, Hua Lin and Capitol buses stop
en route between Kampot and Phnom Penh, dropping off
by the tourist o ce on the beachfront near the showers in
Kep Thmei. There are plenty of motos to take you to your
guesthouse ($3-5).
Destinations

By minibus and shared taxi Kampot Tours, has
minibuses between Kampot and Kep ($2), Sihanoukville
and Ha Tien. You can also get a shared taxi to Phnom Penh.
Rith Travel ( T 016 789994, E [e-mail]), in
the crab market, runs minibuses to Kampot, Sihanoukville
and the Vietnam border.
Destinations Ha Tien (daily; 2hr); Kampot (5 daily; 1hr);
Phnom Penh (8 daily; 3hr); Sihanoukville (3 daily; 3hr);
Takeo (daily; 2hr).

Kampot (5 daily; 1hr); Phnom Penh

(5 daily; 3hr).

INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist o ce On the beachfront near the showers in Kep
Thmei, though it has little to offer. The free information
booklet Coastal is the most up-to-date info source on the
town.
Travel and tour operators A string of small tour
operators cluster around the tourist o ce, including

Green Tours ( T 036 630 3666, E greentours2010@yahoo
.com) who offer countryside and Rabbit Island tours and
fishing/snorkelling trips to Rabbit Island and Koh Poh as
well as Phu Quoc and the Vietnam border (tours $14-25).
Rith Travel (see above) can also assist with Vietnamese
and Laos visas.

ACCOMMODATION
Kep accommodation ranges from stunning converted villas to rustic guesthouses; the very best are sumptuous and
stylish while the cheaper places are generally basic, but clean. Options are spread widely, with possibilities at Kep Thmei,
on the road east of town, towards the national park and near the Rabbit Island pier.

Beach House Centre of Kep near the beach T 012
712750, W thebeachhousekep.com. Smart, modern a/c
rooms, some with sea views, at a newish hotel on t he h illside;
swimming pool with jacuzzi, spa and terrace café. $40
Brise de Kep Opposite the transport stop in the
shopping precinct T 012 301017, W brisedekep.com.
Well located by shops, the beach and the transport stop,
offering decent fan rooms with attention to detail, and
good management. The first-floor restaurant isn't bad,
either. There's a more upmarket sister branch, Brise de Kep
Boutique , with lo vely sea-facing a/c rooms near the Rabbit
Island pier ($28). $15
★

tastefully decorated with personal touches (no fans or a/c).
It's working towards total self-su ciency, with fruit and
vegetables in the elaborate gardens and fish in the ponds;
they even brew their own starfruit cider. Fam ily friendly,
and a great place to meet other travellers. $28
Kep in Touch Street of the Old King T 092 877193,
E kepintouchbedandbreakfast.com. Charming French-
owned Khmer-style timber guesthouse with its own boat
for fishing and island-hopping trips. Just three cosy fan
rooms share a bathroom, and there's a nice communal area
with games such as backgammon, chess and carom. Fri
night is movie night, and t he y offer good home-cooked
food and lovely milkshakes. $8
Kep Lodge 1km north of market roundabout,
signposted on the right with Treetop Bungalows T 092
435330, W keplodge.com. Each of these hillside
bungalows, decorated with original watercolours on the
walls, is named after the plant that grows in its own patch

Jasmine Jasmine Valley, at the base of Kep National
Park T 097 791 7635, W jasminevalley.com. Gorgeous
ecolodge, tucked away, with dense forest views on one side
(with the chance of spotting nesting great hornbills) and
the ocean on the other. The mud-brick or open-sided
timber bungalows, some built at dizzying heights, are