Cambodia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 553

like to hang out around the wat. From the wat an 11km trail (four or five hours) leads to
two-tiered Popokvil Falls .

Getting There & Around

To visit the park you can take private transport up the new road, or you can join an organ-
ised tour. Trekking trips used to be very popular, but treks were recently banned due to all
the development underway, a rather surreal scenario, as we have not heard of banning
trekking in national parks before. Standard day trips still operate for around US$10 to
US$15 per person depending on numbers. Many travellers prefer to rent a motorbike and
travel under their own steam.

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Kep

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The seaside resort of Kep-sur-Mer is a province-level municipality that consists of little
more than a small peninsula facing Bokor National Park and Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island.
Famed for its spectacular sunsets and splendid seafood, it was founded as a colonial re-
treat for the French elite in 1908.
Some find Kep a bit soulless because it lacks a centre and accommodation options are
spread out all over the place. Others revel in its sleepy vibe, content to relax at their resort,
nibble on crab at the famed Crab Market and poke around the mildewed shells of modern-
ist villas, which still give the town a sort of post-apocalyptic feel.

Sights & Activities

Kep National Park
(admission 4000r) The interior of Kep peninsula is occupied by Kep National Park, degraded
in recent years by illegal logging but finally guarded by a complement of rangers. An 8km
circuit around the park, navigable by foot or mountain bike, starts at the park entrance be-
hind Veranda Natural Resort. Fuel up and grab a map of the park at the Led Zep Cafe (
9.30am-6pm) , which is on the trail 300m into the walk. The map is also reprinted in the ubi-
quitous Coastal guide to Kep and Kampot.

PARK