Kep Province is the smallest province in Cambodia, covering only 336 square kilometers with a population of just over 41,000 people. Established as an official province in 2008, Kep was separated from Kampot Province and became one of Cambodia’s newest provinces. Despite its small size, Kep is one of the country’s most charming coastal destinations, famous for its peaceful atmosphere, seafood, beaches, and colonial history.

Located along the Gulf of Thailand, Kep was once Cambodia’s most prestigious seaside resort during the French colonial era. Known as Kep-sur-Mer, the town became a favorite holiday destination for French officials and wealthy Cambodian families in the early 20th century. Today, visitors can still see beautiful remains of modernist villas built between the 1950s and 1970s, inspired by the famous New Khmer Architecture movement led by architects such as Vann Molyvann and Lu Ban Hap.

Kep is also home to the scenic Kep National Park, offering jungle trails, panoramic sea views, and peaceful natural surroundings. Nearby islands and fresh seafood, especially the famous Kep crab, attract many travelers seeking relaxation and authentic coastal experiences.

Just west of Kep lies Kampot, a historic riverside city known for its well-preserved French colonial architecture and laid-back atmosphere. Situated along the Praek Tuek Chhu River near the Elephant Mountains, Kampot was once Cambodia’s most important seaport before the development of Sihanoukville.

Kampot is internationally famous for its high-quality Kampot pepper, regarded as one of the finest peppers in the world. The region is also known for fish sauce, tropical fruits such as durian, and its growing reputation as a cultural and culinary destination. The historic old town of Kampot has been proposed for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its rich heritage and beautifully preserved colonial buildings.

important attractions:

Rabit Island Rabit Island or Koh Tonsay is located about 4.5 Kilometers southwest of Kep. Tourists are drawn to the two white sand beaches, and the sea is shallow and proper for swimming. At the sea bottom are a variety of corals, sea animals and plants which attract researchers and ecologists. The name Koh Tonsay is derived from the word Rumsay. While trying to avoid the commander's troops, Prince Sakor Reach grew hopeless because his own troops began to tire. He led his remaining troops across the sea to an island in front of Kep city, where the troops spread out. Accordingly, the island was called Koh Rumsay, Koh Ormsay, Koh Ornsay, and Koh Tonsay, as it is known today. Another version is that, according to many locals who spent their youth in Kep before 1975, the island was previously called Koh Antai. There is no apparent meaning for this word.	Teuk Chou Teuk Chhu is located in Snomprampi village, Makprang commune, Kampot district, about 8 kilometers north of Kampot provincial town. Its main attraction is a stream that flows from Phnom Damrei via Phnom Kamchay. The cool, clear water flows over large rocks year round. This is a good place for swimming or bathing. There are many kinds of decicious fruit available, including durian, mangosteen, rambutan, mak prang, pineapple, grape fruit, custard apple and coconut. Only the durian, however, is available year round. Not far from Teuk Chhu is a zoo and plantation organized by His Excellency Nhim Vanda. The zoo raises animals, while the plantation grows a variety of fruit trees, including durian, rambutan and other fruits.	Crab Market Quietly tucked away on the southeastern shore of Cambodia, is the town of Kep. This seaside town once bustled with Cambodia’s elite. As home to country’s intelligentsia, the town’s wealth and excesses naturally became the target of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Dilapitated mansions riddle the mountainsides and stand as a monument to Kep’s former glory. Today they provide a surreal backdrop to this lazy fishing village. At the heart of Kep is a vibrant market that has given this town new life. While most Asian markets lore you in with colorful fruits and elaborate displays of local produce, this market has one purpose: seafood. Local fisherman can be seen carrying in the day’s catch and sun bleached fishing boats line the water’s edge. Whether you prefer shrimp, fish, or crab, it can all be found here. The hardest decision you will have to make is whether you want them raw, dried, cooked, or still alive. For just a few dollars you can buy several pounds of fresh caught crabs and for a few cents more, you can have a local cook and serve them while you wait.	Pepper Farm The primary crop on Bo Tree Farm is organic pepper, though we also grow a variety of fruit including mango, jackfruit, mangosteen, durian, coconut palms and rambutan. We also grow turmeric and ginger, the former being a notable health food that, when taken together with pepper, becomes even more valuable to the human body. Kampot is renowned for the very high quality of its pepper where the best soil, climate and hydrology conditions converge to provide an ideal growing environment. As a result, Kampot Pepper is the only pepper in the world to have attained Protected Geographic Indication (PGI), similar to Champagne, Cognac, Parma Ham or Stilton Cheese. The PGI status was ratified by the European Union on 18 February 2016.	Kep National Park Kep National Park is a national park in Cambodia's Kep Province that was established in 1993 and covers an area of 66.64 km2 (25.73 sq mi) The nearest town lies at Krong Kaeb. The Park includes a small mountain range with tracks and trails which are popular with tourists. The trails boast incredible views of Phu Quoc and the Bokor Ranges on the south and west sides, and views across islands of the vast Vietnamese marine reserve in Kiên Giang to the east side.
Bokor Hill Station Bokor Hill Station refers to a collection of French colonial buildings constructed as a temperate mountain luxury resort and retreat for colonial residents in the early 1920s atop Bokor Mountain in Preah Monivong National Park, about 37 km (23 mi) west of Kampot in southern Cambodia. Abandoned for long periods of time, modern infrastructure has made the location easily accessible as re-development is taking place. It was used as the location for the final showdown of the movie City of Ghosts (2002) and the 2004 film R-Point. To the north-east are the Povokvil Waterfalls.	River Park Zipline Kampot Zipline River Park officially opened on the 16th of March 2016, and contrary to what you may think, this action-packed experience receives most of its customers among Cambodian thrill-seekers. So far, 80 percent of the customers have been Cambodians, while the remains 20 percent have been expats living in Cambodia and foreign travelers visiting Kampot. The River Park gives Cambodians a unique opportunity to try out ziplining in a fun and safe environment while not having to empty their pockets. The experience currently costs only 5 USD and includes safety equipment and instructions, an exciting walk up the spiralling bamboo stairway to the zipline platform at the top of a tall tree, ziplining over the Kampot river, and a pleasant rowing trip back across the river.	Salt Farm Salt, not pepper. That's what Kampot is really famous for. With the added Iodine, (or "Iod" in Khmer), hundreds of thousands of Khmer children's lives have been saved. The salt fields are close to the ocean, and water is let in from the ocean to the fields. The fields are then blocked from the ocean, and the water is allowed to evaporate, leaving salt crystals. This process is repeated many times. Salt production is from around the beginning of December to April. This is when it doesn't rain too much. The raw salt is then collected and piled up in warehouses in the salt fields. Then, it's delivered to the salt factory, where it is cleaned, Iodine is added, and packaged in 50 Kilogram bags, for shipment throughout the country. Find salt fields on the road from Kampot to Kep, just outside of town, and also, from downtown Kampot cross any bridge, turn left, and keep going for about 15 minutes. Thar she'll be. Fish Island. The famous Salt Fields of Kampot.