If you are looking for a bustling night life or almost any activity besides lounging on the beach and possibly renting an old car tyre to go floating in the water with, then this might not be the place for you. But, if you want to take a couple days off from reality and immures yourself in everything Crab then pack your bags and head on down.

You might not be able to understand when getting a first glimpse of Kep, but this sleepy sea side town on the Coast of Cambodia used to be referred to as the St. Tropez of Southeast Asia. Sadly, like a lot of places in Cambodia, once the Khmer Rouge came in cities like Kep were completely abandoned and fell apart, although some old french style buildings are being converted in the form of Boutique Hotels, but nothing of what its formal self once was.

As for the time being, Kep still remains somewhat of a untouched destination. There are some high end resorts scattered throughout, mostly on the mountainside, and a few beach resorts here and there but it does not feel touristy. There are certain cycles that happen when a place gets “discovered” and it is refreshing to be able to see what it is like before all the craziness decends upon it. If you look at places like Maya Beach off of Koh Phi Phi where “The Beach” was filmed you understand.

The food in Kep is also something that needs to be highly noted, although admittedly our diets did consist mostly of different preparations of Crab. You can have everything from $3.00 bags of palm size crabs to the $20.00 crabs that are very reminiscent of Dungeness. At first we were a little weary to order the bags of pre cooked crabs being sold on the side of the street, not knowing where they were coming from but as we followed the trail 30 minutes down the sea wall to the source we were pleasantly surprised. I would call these crabs a small labour of love and they are dishing them out just as fast as they are pulling them in.

First, they start by collecting the crab traps floating not too far off of the market shores. Then, as they start pulling them out of the water they are quickly divided up and the selling begins.

After being sold, they are then taken to the large pots of salted water to begin the cooking

After they are all cooked, they are slightly cooled, bagged, then taken down the boardwalk to the beach where you will find countless families sitting on day mats picking at these little treats all day long. Then the process starts all over again.

Kep remains an ideal getaway on the Cambodian coast, relaxed, relatively untouched and rich with food and history.

 

Places To Eat:

–Holy Crab (Crab Market): Holy Crab was one of the first stops we made and it didn’t dissapoint. Serving fresh buckets of crab and the best Crab amok we had in Cambodia. They only sell the crab they buy that day to insure you are getting the best product so make sure you are early. They also serve other seafood dishes such as squid and shrimps, bbq dishes and fresh spring rolls worth ordering.

Price Range: $5 – $15

–Sailing Club: Set on the water beside the Knai Bang Chatt Resort, this open air restaurant is a perfect setting for a long lunch with friends or for a sunset cocktail. It looks fancier than any of the other restaurants in Kep but don’t be put off by it as it is not as expensive as it looks. Their menu focuses mainly on seafood and crab but there are also salads, wraps and a few poultry dishes. In true sailing club form, they also rent out Hobie cats by the hour ($15.00) as well as Kayaks ($5.00.) If you are feeling in a fancier mood, head next door into the Knai Bang Chatt hotel to The Strand for an extensive cocktail and wine menu and fine dining by the sea. Dress code in effect

Places To Stay:

–Veranda Natural Resort: A beautiful and luxurious resort set upon a mountain hilltop over looking the sea. There is a garden pool as well as an infinity pool which is a perfect spot to watch the sunset. The rooms are large, spacious and made of wood and beautifully placed stonework. The free breakfast in the morning is also not just your average morning spread with daily fresh made pastries, home made noodles, cheese and meats and a fresh egg station.

Rooms: $100.00 – $500.00 Depending on Room

www.Veranda-resort.asia

Veranda Natural Resort
Kep Hillside, Kep, Cambodia
T: (855) 12 888 619

 

–Rock Royal Hotel and Resort: Located a 5 minute drive from the local “Crab Market” or a 45 minute walk along the boardwalk, this hotel is truly worth noting for the pool alone. Set across the street from the hotel on the waters edge with a poolside bar (Seasonal), 24 hour room service, a full service spa and gym with steam room. The Rock Royal Hotel has all the amenities of a 5 star hotel at only a fraction of the price.

Rooms: From $50.00 a night

Rock Royal Resort
Street 33, Kep Village, Cambodia
T: (855) 88 886 6636