Major city · Cambodia
Kepកែប
Go for 2 nights: crab market lunch, a 2–3 h loop of Kep National Park, and a Rabbit Island morning boat. Skip if you want big beaches.
Kep is a small seaside town on a peninsula in southern Cambodia, about 25 km from Kampot. It was the country's elite beach resort until the 1960s, and ruined French villas still stand in the trees above the water. Today it is a Khmer weekend spot with a crab market, a hilltop national park and slow boat trips to Rabbit Island. Two nights covers it; three if you add Kampot or the pepper farms.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- avoid May–Oct (rain, rough sea for boat trips)
- Airports
- KOS · PNH
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kep117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kep, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.Cambodia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSmart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.Cambodia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Cambodia-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.Cambodia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/G. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cambodia-wide
- SafetyKep is calm and low-rise; the real risks are motorbike rental without a licence, one-way road fines…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road.Cambodia-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben; government offices close all public holidays; Angkor temples open every day.Cambodia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckKOS Sihanoukville International (About 2 h by road; limited scheduled flights, check before booking).
- Getting aroundTuk-tuks cover the town: US$1–2 for short hops, US$12–25 for a full day.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or cold drink4,000–8,000 riel
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a shopUS$0.75–1.50
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Tuk-tuk around townUS$1–2
- Museum or sight ticketKep National Park entryCollected by the ranger on the way in.US$1
- Budget bedFan guesthouse double, a night, per roomUS$10
- Mid-range bedFan guesthouse double, a night, per roomUS$18
- High-end bedFan guesthouse double, a night, per roomUS$30
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$30 · Mid US$55 · High US$120
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KOS Sihanoukville International (About 2 h by road; limited scheduled flights, check before booking) · PNH Phnom Penh International (About 4 h by bus or 2.5–3 h by private taxi)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
May
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Aug (19 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kep: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
3 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
5 rd
Apr
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
19 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
19 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Tuk-tuks cover the town: US$1–2 for short hops, US$12–25 for a full day. Small motorbikes rent for about US$7 a day, 250 cc for about US$14. Bicycles are also available. The beach loop road is one-way and cars pay 2,500–5,000 riel to drive it; motorbikes and pedestrians are free.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kampot
goDoor to door: 30–45 min
Bus or tuk-tuk on the paved road, 25 km (16 mi)Bus or tuk-tuk on the paved road, 16 mi (25 km)
River town with pepper farms and caves; easy half-day or a move-on stop.
Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay)
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Boat from Kep Beach pier, about 20 min
Go before 09:00 to share a boat (about US$20) or join a tour (US$8–10 return).Go before 9:00 AM to share a boat (about US$20) or join a tour (US$8–10 return).
Kompong Trach caves
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Tuk-tuk or motorbike east toward the Vietnam border
Limestone caves and a swimming cave; arrange the return with your driver.
Angkaul Beach
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Road east near the Vietnamese border
Long empty beach with a small drinks shop; go with a driver who waits.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kep Beach area
Walk to the sand, the pier and the crab market; guesthouses and mid-range hotels.
Crab Market and seafront
Seafood restaurants over the water; noisier, best for one night and early dinners.
Kep Mountain hillside
Bungalows with sea views below the national park; you need a tuk-tuk for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- US$25–40 excl. bed
- Mid
- US$40–70 excl. bed
- High
- US$70+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Air-con bungalow1 × 2 nights × US$45 | US$90 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$55 | US$220 |
| Tuk-tuk, full day1 × US$18 · US$12–25 depending on distance and bargaining | US$18 |
| Rabbit Island boat, return2 × US$9 · US$8–10 on a tour; about US$20 to share a whole boat | US$18 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$10 | US$20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$37 |
| Trip total≈ US$101 per person per day, bed included | US$403 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; long-distance transport excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Kilogram of crab at the crab marketVendors steam your purchase in the market pots. | 10,000–20,000 riel |
| Seafood restaurant main near the crab market | From US$3 |
| Coffee or cold drink | 4,000–8,000 riel |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | US$0.75–1.50 |
| Tuk-tuk around town | US$1–2 |
| Motorbike rental, 125 cc, per day | About US$7 |
| Kep National Park entryCollected by the ranger on the way in. | US$1 |
| Massage (Thai, oil or steam) | About US$7 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Bargain before you agree: seafood and tuk-tuk prices are often quoted high for visitors.
- The beach loop road is one-way only; police do fine drivers who go the wrong way.
- Rabbit Island boats leave in the morning; there is no reliable afternoon return.
- May–Oct brings rain and choppy crossings; check the sea before booking a boat.
- There is one main ATM near the pharmacy; bring enough US dollars.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Kepកែប
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
សូមជូនខ្ញុំទៅអាសយដ្ឋាននេះPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Kep; most are in Phnom Penh. The US embassy is in Phnom Penh (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Kampot → Kep, bus: about US$3, 30 min (check)
- Phnom Penh → Kep, bus: US$5–6, about 4 h (check)
- Sihanoukville → Kep, minibus: about US$7, 2 h (check)
- Kep → Rabbit Island, boat: US$8–10 return on a tour, about 20 min
Say or show
- សួស្តី — Hello (suostei)
- អរគុណ — Thank you (aw kohn)
- ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? — How much is it? (thlai ponman)
- ថ្លៃពេក — Too expensive (thlai pek)
- ខ្ញុំមិនចង់បានទេ — I don't want it (khnhom min chong ban te)
- បង្គន់នៅឯណា? — Where is the toilet? (bongkon nov ae na)
Prices in US dollars; riel is used for change at about 4,000–4,100 per dollar.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kep. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid May–Oct (rain, rough sea for boat trips) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KOS and PNH: last bus times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kep Beach, the crab market, the national park trailhead, the hillside bungalows.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (crab market, national park, Rabbit Island pier) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-season and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.