Kep Location Profile

Overview

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Kep (also spelled Kaeb) is part of Kep Province, which is the smallest of the Cambodian provinces, and it's also one of the newest in the Kingdom. The province was only formed in 2008, following a Royal Decree, and is one of the least populated areas in the country.

Kep Tourism has grown steadily since the 1990s and Kep is now among the top Cambodian tourist destinations. The Government is also working on a Kep Tourism Masterplan to be completed in 2020- the Ministry of Tourism aims to transform Kep province “to be a world standard tourism hub”.

The provincial capital is Kep District and the province contains the Kep National Park, while offshore there is a scattering of small islands in the Kep Peninsula. The Kep beach remains of the key tourist attractions.

There are dozens of boutique hotels, guesthouses, backpacker-focussed hostels and more accommodation options, mostly located in the main town, near the beach and north of the Crab Market.

Key Information

Under French colonial rule, Kep was a popular and developed beach town established in 1908. At the time it was known as Kep-Sur-Mer, and as a resort was used by the French and Cambodian elite until the early 1970s.

Between 1953 and 1970 Kep had several modernist villas constructed by famous architects such as Vann Molyvann and Lu Ban Hap. After the Khmer Rouge many of Kep's villas were abandoned, but some have seen recent renovations, while many can still be seen abandoned and derelict along the coast.

In 2019 there were over 80 hotels, ranging from a $5 home-stay to a $500-plus double story villa. The range includes guesthouses, resorts and hotels in Kep and it is currently one of the fastest developing tourist areas in Cambodia, with a focus on midrange to high-end businesses and eco-tourism.

The economy of Kep Province is limited to agriculture, fishery, tourism and salt production. 92% of the province's population was dedicated to agriculture in 2008 (75% of which was rice farming).

The Kep crab market is famous throughout the country and fleets of fishing boats operate from Kep with crabs being caught offshore from the market.

Tourism remains Kep’s biggest growth point with lodges, villas, hotels and guesthouses catering to the diverse local and international tourists. There has also been a small boom in the number of restaurants, dining choices and bars albeit the numbers are still quite small compared to nearby Kampot.

High-end holiday destinations and eco-tourism are also growing attractions in Kep, with the Kep Sailing Club and Mealea Resort good examples.

In May 2020, the Kep Governor said there had been the establishment of 91 schools across all districts and communes, 153 business enterprises with 1,243 employees and 92 hotels, guesthouses and resorts in Kep since the province was formed.

There have been several Sea Festivals also held in Kep, in December, to help promote the area and help boost tourism.

The population of Kep in 2019 was estimated to be 41,798.

The population of Cambodia has grown to over 15 million people by 2019, and the final results of the 2019 general population census are expected to be published in 2020.

Things To Do in Kep

Shopping is very limited in Kep. The Kep crab market is more limited to food, and there are some tourist souvenirs available in nearby shops. There is a promenade of shops near to the Kep beach and some wandering sellers who try to offload local made products.

There are some small stalls that sell beachwear and accessories and local marts to buy snacks, drinks, sun cream etc. The many guesthouses and resorts also sell a range of local products and Kampot Pepper.

Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) is located about 4.5 Kilometers southwest of Kep. The island is one of the few setups to accommodate tourism, albeit it is largely basic with bungalows and a few restaurants. The islands have some white beaches and are great for swimming and snorkeling.

Kep beach is very popular all year round, but especially on weekends and over one of the many Camodian public holidays. It is mostly kept clean and offers easy swimming conditions with shallow waters. Nearby are many hammocks and picnic places to eat and drink local food. There are also restaurants and guesthouses and a parking lot catering for all visitors.

The most photographed statues in Kep are The Crab and White Lady statues which are just offshore of the nearby Kep beach.

The Kep National Park rises above the beach and offers good day hikes and vantage points of the Cambodian coast and Kep. There is an 8km circuit, navigable by foot, mountain bike, or motorbike.

As part of the eco-tourism initiatives, the Butterfly Farm is a private ecological garden in the Jasmine Valley Trail dedicated to preserving the local environment.

Otherwise, Phnom Sar Sear consists of three small mountains spread across a total land area of approximately 1.5 square kilometers. The mountain rises to a height of around 40 meters holding a number of caves.

The Sailing Club Restaurant & Bar, which is attached to the luxury Knai bang chatt accommodation, offers some of the best food and most stunning dining settings in Kep. The eclectic menu, which includes plenty of seafood options, also offers a pier for romantic and beautiful sunsets views. The beach club house also hosts arts, music and special dining events.

The Kep Crab market is a must-try destination on everyone's visit to Kep. A line of rustic wooden and seaside restaurants are located near the fresh seafood market and a variety of fresh fried, grilled, curried carbs are available, as well as a range of seafood for reasonable prices. Holy Crab is an expat favourite.

A number of the villas and lodgings have fantastic food on offer, with many sitting along the coast or with a view of the oceans and poolside dining settings. These include the Kep Lodge and Veranda Natural Resort. The Beach House is located very close to the beach and offers all day dining with terrific sunset views.

Nearby the beach, the biggest concentration of bars and restaurants operate. A long-time favourite is the Italian Corner, while the nearby Beachside Tacos is a newer addition.

Kep Cafe, located near the Rabbit Island Pier, has some great coffee, comfort food, cakes and treats. L’epi D’or is another cafe popular for its French pastries and coffee nearby the Kep Beach.

The main Kep town also has many local Camboian food outlets and street food, while another small cluster of western restaurants and lodgings have popped up. These include Rusty Kep and Bamboo Cafe amongst others.

The nightlife is very subdued in Kep, but there are some bars and restaurants to relax at and enjoy some drinks and fantastic food. Occasionally some venues like the Kep Sailing Club will host events.

Backpackers also explode in numbers during the tourist season and some parties with live music and DJs might be arranged at some lodgings. One popular location is Man Groove Restaurant and Bar.

There is a small number of cafes, bars and restaurants also located near the Koh Tonsay pier which offer drinks.

There is no airport in Kep but it's only a few hours from either the Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville international airports, with a new airport also under construction in Koh Kong.

If you want to travel between Kampot and nearby Kep, famous for its crab market and beach, you can travel by water using The Crab Shuttle which offers a daily 2.5 hours boat shuttle.

There are also some tuk tuks in Kampot which can be hailed, or passengers can use the PassApp app, but these are less frequent than in other major towns and cities. Tuk tuks tend to congregate near the Crab Market or by the Kep beach.

Several busses run services between Kep to the Vietnamese border, Kampot, Sihanoukville and on to Phnom Penh. Many people also hire minivans or SUVs to reach Kep.

Boats are also used for day tours and to reach the islands off the Kep coast which set off from Koh Tonsay Pier. The coast from the pier to the Kep beach and onto the Crab Market has decent footpaths and seaside roads which you can travel by bike or car.

The province is crossed by the southern Cambodian Rail line linking Phnom Penh and the Port of Sihanoukville with a station in Kep. However, in 2020 it is still not operational.

A number of expats who reside in Kep, own business in the F&B ,and tourism-accommodation industry. There certainly still is a strong French flavour to the food, drinks and accommodation on offer in Kep.

The power grid situation has been vastly improved and there are fewer power cuts in Kep.

There are also more ATM’s nown near the Kep Beach and the seaside town is slowly modernising but remains a tranquil, easy going place that appeals to those looking to a relaxing and beautiful place to live and visit.