Jen

So, seriously considering a trip to Cambodia next spring-it will be my first trip to Asia, and I'll be travelling solo (nothing like jumping in with both feet!)I plan to hit Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, but then want to take a couple of days to chill on the beach. I had initially thought Sihanoukville, but Kep looks pretty damn cool. I'm ok with there being not a ton to do, and I like the non-touristy feel I get from it. Opinions?

thursdaysd

It's been six years since I was there, but there was absolutely nothing to do in Kep then, except chill out and maybe inspect some ruined buildings. You could consider Kompot as a compromise between Sihanoukville (bigger and touristy) and Kep, and as a base for taking a look at Bokor.

Jen

"chill out and maybe inspect some ruined buildings."

That actually sounds pretty good to me! Ha! I'd definitely take a day trip to Bokor. Speaking of which, has anyone been to Bokor lately? I've heard conflicting reports on whether it's open. Is it a big construction site right now? I hope not, because it's really high on my list...

MichaelBKK

I was in Kep not too long ago. It definitely is a place to chill out. I loved it, and have heard Sihanoukville makes Pattaya look staid.

The road up Bokor was closed for reconstruction just after I left, but I've heard it's reopened. They are building a new hotel at the top, but I think the ghost town is still intact.

Scotters

If you really like peace and quiet in a nice friendly town that does not have much nightlife then Kep is the place for you. It has some quite nice hotels (The Champey Inn and The Beachhouse) and some of the best seafood in Cambodia - there specialty is pepper corn crab. While the kep beach is nothing, you can take a boat over to Rabbit Island (20-40 minutes) that has nice white sandy beaches surrounded by coconut trees. Relatively clear, warm waters and you can snorkel around the rocks. While no coral there are lots of colorful fish.

Kampot which is 25kms away is also interesting with a couple of good hotels (Bokor Mountain Lodge), plenty of guesthouse, restaurants and bars and is more active than Kep. This is or used to be the jumping off place for a trip to Bokor Mountain to the Hill Station until they closed the road in early 2008. It has now been reopened to tours so the reports go at about $20 per person. No motorbikes are allowed up the road.

From Phnom Penh you can get to Kampot/Kep on route 3 (not a bad road) by bus or taxi. Takes about 31/2hrs by car and costs around $50-60 now with the price of gas. The bus is quite a bit cheaper of course.

During the week there are still not many tourist (but it is becoming more and more popular) but on weekends a lot of locals from Phnom Penh arrive.

If you want a true beach resort with plenty of bars and night life then Sihanoukville is the place to go. While the beaches cannot compare with those in southern Thailand they are quite nice (on a par with Hua Hin). Accommodation can range from two 4 star hotels, quite a few 3 star and many guesthouses and are very reasonable. This is a favorite area for backpackers. For more information see http://www.canbypublications.com/sih...le/ksintro.htm . The only thing I dislike about Sihanoukville is the attitude of the moto drivers, the roudest and most aggressive in the country.

Where Michael got the ideal that Sihanoukville was like Pattaya I don't know. Truly very misleading.

This October Siem Reap Airlines will start a new route from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville with four flights a week, Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun. This may mean a great many more tourists will visit the area in the future with everthing getting more crowded.

silverwool

I was in Kampot and Kep a couple of weeks ago and the road to Bokor was closed then. (something about a bridge) It was suggested that I could walk up but it was a 6 hour walk and it was a lot hotter than Northern Laos where I'd been trekking a couple of weeks before. Yes I'm a wuss!!!

Kep would be a great place to do nothing and eat crab but it is not a great beach. (Rabbit Island) Kampot is a laid back town and great after the bustle of Phnom Penh. I stayed at the Little Garden Guest House which, while maybe a bit downmarket for you, was very clean and the staff were friendly. Best restaurant I found was RikkiTikkiTavi.

You'll love Cambodia!

Jen

Wow, silver, that would be an ambitious walk!

Based on what I'm hearing, I think I like Kep. Thanks all, for weighing in.

Anyone know how the bus is from Phnom Penh-Kep?

Scotters

Bus is fine. From Phnom Penh the Sorya buse depart from the station on Charles de Gaulle, next to the Central Market at 7:30AM and arrive in kampot around 1:15PM. Cost about $5-6. From Kampot you can get either a Motodup or a tuk-tuk to Kep (25kms)

I don't think there is a bus direct from PP to Kep but I could be wrong

MichaelBKK

I could be wrong, but when I was in Kep last year, I thought I understood that the Sorya bus stopped in Kep on the way to/from Kampot. There's definitely a bus stop in Kep.

I just used a taxi service. Was something like $30 o/w but may have gone up with the price of gas.

silverwool

The Sorya bus to Kampot stopped at Kep on the way. It was $5.25 Phnom Penh to Kampot and $5 Kampot to Phnom Penh. You work it out. I like bus travel as it is a chance to get to know the locals a bit better.

There was one 'bush' toilet stop and one town stop on the way if that sort of thing is important to you.

I did a two day trek with Green Discovery up near the Chinese border (Nam Ha Valley) and did about 7 hours the first day and 6 the second. There were more leeches the second day!

Jen

I like the whole local bus scene too... just wanted to be sure it was a reputable company, and that the bus was not going to fall apart on the way. 'Bush' toilet stops I can deal with!!

Thanks so much for your info!