Kep
Kep is a Gulf of Thailand town where you go for fresh crab at the market, a short boat ride to Rabbit Island and a slow pace after a day of walking in the hills.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Kep is a small seaside town in Kep Province, on Cambodia's southern coast, facing the Gulf of Thailand. It sits a short drive from Kampot, and trips often pair the two towns. Kep is known for its crab, sold at the seaside market and often cooked with Kampot pepper. The hills above town hold the ruins of colonial-era villas, and the forest on the hillside is part of Kep National Park, where trails lead to viewpoints over the coast. Road travel from Phnom Penh takes about three hours.
Rabbit Island, also called Koh Tonsay, is a short boat ride offshore, with a few beaches and simple places to eat. Kep suits travelers who want seafood, a slow pace and time outdoors more than nightlife. The best months are the cooler, drier ones from November to April. Plan two or three days to cover the town, the hills and the island.
Kep in five
- Order Kep crab at the market stallsKep is known for its crab, which the market stalls cook to order and serve with Kampot pepper. Agree the price by weight before the crab goes on the grill.
- Carry small US dollar notes and rielCambodia uses riel and US dollars side by side, and tuk-tuk drivers and stalls often need small change. Refuse torn or heavily marked dollar notes, since shops often will not take them.Money and costs
- Book your transfer from Phnom Penh aheadKep is about three hours by road from Phnom Penh. Book a van or private car from the capital before you travel, so you are not arriving at the bus station with no seat.Getting around
- Apply for the Cambodia e-visa onlineMany visitors need an e-visa, which you apply for on the official government site before you fly. Check which entry route your passport uses before you book.Visas and entry
- Buy a Smart, Cellcard or Metfone SIMThese are Cambodia's main mobile networks, and a local SIM is the easiest way to get maps and ride bookings on the road. Bring your passport, since shops register SIMs.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- Riel (KHR); US dollars also widely used
- Entry
- E-visa or visa on arrival, depending on passport Read more
- Emergency
- 117 police, 118 fire, 119 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; small tips appreciated
- Time
- UTC+7, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, coolJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry, pleasantFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotMarchRain
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Hottest, dryAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, dry
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh32°Low27°Rains startMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rainy seasonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 223 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rainy seasonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 206 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- SeptemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rainy, greenSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 306 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- OctoberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rains endingOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 368 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains ending
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry season startsNovemberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season starts
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, coolerDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
Average daily high and low in Kep, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kep
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 99%
Kep
04:14 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°23°99%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Wed30°23°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu31°23°88%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Fri31°22°80%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Sat30°22°82%Saturday: Rain. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sun30°23°96%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Mon30°23°63%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 63%.
Updated 12:36 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 4,107 KHR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Kampotabout 30 to 45 min by roadA riverside town with cafes, guesthouses and the pepper farms around it.
- Rabbit Islandabout 20 to 30 min by boatA short boat ride offshore, with beaches for a swim and a quiet afternoon.
- Bokor National Parkabout 1.5 hours by roadA hill national park with the ruins of an old French-era hill station.
Before you go to Kep
Rules for Kep, checked
- Check the entry route for your passport on the official e-visa site before you fly. Confirm the rules on that site and avoid resellers.Source
- Do not buy or export Khmer antiquities. Export of cultural objects is restricted, so check with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts before buying old carvings.
- Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas and temples, and take off your shoes before entering a sanctuary.
Plan around Kep
Entry, transport and money for a Cambodia route
Read the guideGetting around CambodiaTransfers from Phnom Penh and short rides in town
Read the guideVisas and entryWhich entry route applies to your passport
Read the guideMoney and costsRiel, US dollars and what things cost
Read the guideWhere to stayGuesthouses and hotels in Kep
Read the guidePhones and eSIMLocal SIMs and data for maps and rides
Read the guideKep FAQ
How do you get from Phnom Penh to Kep?
By road, in about three hours, by van or private car. Book the seat or driver ahead, since shared vans leave when full and the road is the only route.
Is Kep worth visiting?
Yes for crab dinners, a quiet seafront and short walks in the national park. It has far less nightlife than larger Cambodian towns, so it suits a slow trip.
How many days do you need in Kep?
Two nights cover the crab market, a boat to Rabbit Island and an afternoon in Kampot. One night is enough for the market and the seafront.
Can you visit Kep as a day trip from Kampot?
Yes, Kampot is about 30 to 45 minutes away by road, so a day trip works. An overnight stay gives you the sunset and a crab dinner without a rushed return.
What is Kep known for?
Its crab, served with Kampot pepper, and its quiet seafront. The town also has old French-era villas on the hill above the coast.
Is Kep or Kampot better?
Kampot is the larger riverside town with more cafes and guesthouses. Kep is smaller and calmer, so choose it for seafood and quiet nights.