PAILIN CITY

Kep is the coastal tourist city located southwest of Royal city of Phnom Penh of Kingdom of Cambodia.
    Kep was once the top beach destination in Cambodia. This now quiet beach town is near the border with Vietnam. It is easy to reach Kep from Phnom Penh. It is 5-6 hours from Cambodia’s capital, and a mere 45 minutes from Kampot. Kep is definitely scenic, but in a rugged way, compared to Sihanoukville, which is now Cambodia’s top seaside town. While Sihanoukville boasts endless stretches of sandy beaches, Kep has a short stretch of sand surrounded by mangrove forests and rocky coastal areas.

    In Kep, tourist can enjoy a variety of tourist attractions such as natural mountains, evergreen tropical forest, mangroves, islands, sea grass coral reefs, pure sea air, beaches, and sea food.

    Every weekend, hundreds of Khmers pour out of Phnom Penh in trucks, pick-ups and taxis to travel the four hours south to Cambodia’s forgotten beach resort of Kep. Their mission is simple – to enjoy a traditional pastime.

    Kep's most popular tourist activity is having a fresh seafood picnic on the waterfront. The road opposite Kep Beach is lined with picnic platforms. Just rent a mat or find and empty platform and the vendors will present you with live crabs, fresh prawns, squid and fish from which to choose. Be clear about how much food you want and the cost before they begin to prepare your meal.

Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay)
    Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay in Khmer) is a great day trip which takes approximately half an hour by boat from Kep Beach. Bring your swimmers and have a paddle in the warm sheltered water, or just sun bathe on the beautiful beaches. There are a few vendors on the island serving crab curry and occasionally, a cold beer (you might like to pack your own.) A boat to Rabbit Island will cost you $15 for a return trip. Make sure to protect yourself from the sun as most boats don't have shelter.

Teuk Chhou Zoo, near Kep

    The Teuk Chhou zoo is a half hour tuk tuk ride from Kep in Cambodia. This small private zoo features an large collection of animals including monkeys, gibbons, sun bears, deer, elephants, lions, tigers, birds and snakes. If you come at the right time of year you may even see lion and tiger cubs. Entry is $5 for a foreigner with a small charge if you want to drive your car through the zoo. The ticket includes access to the national park and you can have a nice swim in the cool and clean water of the Teuk Chhou River.

Phnom Sar Sear

   Phnom Sar Sear is a nature and cultural site located about 14 Kilometers southwest of Kep city. this mountain is called Phnom Sar Sear because, according to Khmer legend mentioned above, when Prince Sakor Reach led the troops to this place, he got off his horse and moved furtively2  ahead of his pursuers along the mountainside, where at that time there was an island to which he fled. Thus, the mountain was called Phnom Sar Sear.

    Phnom Sar Sear is composed of three small mountains about 1.5 square kilometers. It is about 40 meters high. The site features two natural caves-Phnom Dorei Sar and Phnom Ach Prochiev-which tourists can explore. In Phnom Damrei Sar cave, there is a beautiful mountain well called Viel Sre Muoy Roy. In the past, this site was also popular with filmmakers.

Spa

    At the foot of the mountain are a number of small halls where clergymen and nuns meditate. Along the way to the mountaintop, there is a Buddhist pagoda where monks live. On the mountaintop sits a colorful, finely sculpted stupa built in 1964 by Prince Rasmei Sophoan. A place of worship, it also houses a Buddha relic.

    The fresh air and beautiful natural scenery make Phnom Sar Sear popular with tourists throughout the year. From the mountaintop, visitors have an excellent view of rice pad-dies, the islands and the sea below, as well as the distant mountains. Buddhists go there to pray for good fortune.