The coastal resort town of Krong Kaeb (also known as Kep) was the playground of French colonizers and the Cambodian elite during its early 20th-century heyday. After being almost abandoned during the 1970s, the town once known as the Cambodian Riviera is experiencing a new lease of life, with travelers flocking to its sandy shores and butterfly-filled national park. Popular with day-trippers from Kampot and overland travelers from Vietnam, things to do in Krong Kaeb include visiting the Kep Crab Market, salt flats, caves, temples, and Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island).
The best time to visit Krong Kaeb is during the dry season, roughly November to March. This is when the weather is warm and dry and perfect for exploring. However, it’s also the busiest time of year to visit Cambodia. If you prefer to travel out of season, the shoulder months of April, May, and October are still fairly pleasant, if a little hot and humid. On the other hand, June through September tends to be wet, muddy, and muggy.
Most travelers find tuk-tuks and walking the easiest way to get around Krong Kaeb. You can also take day trips, hop on a ferry over to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), hire bicycles, or join a cycling tour. Many of the main attractions are fairly close to town—the Kep Crab Market is a 25-minute walk from Kep Beach—and others, like Kampot, are about 30 minutes by taxi or bus and a little longer by tuk-tuk.
Seafood lovers are in for a treat—the Kep Crab Market is arguably the best place in Cambodia to eat the local specialty; fresh-caught soft-shell crab with Kampot pepper. It’s also a nice walk or tuk-tuk ride along the coast from Kep Beach. Other highlights include Kep National Park, which has some great walking trails and viewpoints over the ocean; Kep Butterfly Garden; and Koh Tonsay, a nearby tropical island perfect for a day trip or overnight getaway.
