Kep: A Small Seaside Province with A Great Deal to Offer
Kep is the smallest province in Cambodia, covering 336 square kilometers of land. Photo: Nhek Sreyleak
- By Nhek Sreyleak
- and Rin Ousa
- November 23, 2023 9:50 AM
KEP — Kep is the smallest province in Cambodia, covering 336 square kilometers of land. Located along the Gulf of Thailand, the province has a great deal to offer visitors such as beaches, islands, flooded forests and mountains. And it’s near Phnom Penh.
Those who want to escape from the city for a few hours can take a one-day trip to the province to breathe fresh air, lie on the beach or connect with nature. And there is a great deal to explore for those who want to stay longer.
This coastal province was a well-known beach destination in Cambodia during the French Protectorate and after Independence in the 1950s and 1960s. Many villas were built in this coastal province, including the one of King Norodom Sihanouk. However, those villas were abandoned during the Khmer Rouge regime of 1975 to 1979.
Today, Kep province is an attractive destination for visitors with its beach, island, forests, biodiversity, wildlife, and so on. Different from Sihanoukville with its kilometers-long beaches and busyness, Kep has its own style that makes it a peaceful destination that families as well as individuals enjoy.
Kep province also means the Kep National Park. With its small mountain range and many trails, tourists can hike in the park and watch the beautiful scenery as they breathe fresh air.
With its small mountain range and many trails, tourists can hike in the park and watch the beautiful scenery as they breathe fresh air. Photo: Nhek Sreyleak
The province has always been a must destination for those who like seafood. Visitors can enjoy their favorite seafood at the Crab Market and the province’s many restaurants.
The beach, which is a kilometer-long stretch of white sand and azure waters, attracts those who like to swim or just relax and soak up the sun. Not far from the beach is Koh Tonsay, or Rabbit Island, where people can go camping or diving.
In addition to its beach, Kep province is known for its pepper farm. Green, red, and white pepper is produced there without chemical fertilizers. In December 2020, the “Kampot Pepper” was entered in the International Register of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, making this pepper the more unique.
A recent addition in Kep province is the Kep Butterfly Farm. In this private ecological garden, tourists can watch hundreds of species of butterflies.
Visitors can enjoy their favorite seafood at the Crab Market and the province’s many restaurants. Photo: Ou Sokmean
The Kep Tourism Development Master Plan 2023-2035 was officially launched on Aug. 7, 2023 with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The plan outlines the strategy to make the province a high-end eco-tourism destination and resort in a context of sustainable development and smart tourism.
Moreover, the provincial authorities are building a road along the coastline to link the city to Angkor beach. The road is 80 percent complete.
From Phnom Penh, people can go to Kep province by train or bus. Those travelling by car or motorcycle can take the National Road 2 via Takeo province or the National Road 3 via Kampot province.
