The Best Places to Stay in Kep, Cambodia

Enjoy a chilled holiday with Gulf of Thailand views when you stay at Knai Bang Chatt
Enjoy a chilled holiday with Gulf of Thailand views when you stay at Knai Bang Chatt | Courtesy of Knai Bang Chatt / Expedia.com
Culture Trip Travel Team

Whether you’re looking for coral reefs, oodles of fresh crab or an adventure in Kep National Park, this coastal town in southern Cambodia has beach bungalows and boutique hotels to suit every taste. Here are the best places to stay in Kep – all bookable on Culture Trip.

Kep offers a laid-back coastal getaway for those who want to dial back the pace on their Cambodia adventure. Founded as a seaside retreat during the early French colonial era, it went on to have a 1950s and ’60s heyday among well-heeled Khmer (who called it Kep sur Mer, or the Saint-Tropez of Southeast Asia). Today, it lures backpacking travellers and boutique hotel lovers who come for fresh servings of seafood and hikes in the tropical interior of bird-rich, butterfly-fluttered Kep National Park.

Kep Bungalows

Guesthouse, Villa

An outside swimming pool area at Kep Bungalows, with stylish sun loungers, parasols, palm trees and colourful flowers
Courtesy of Kep Bungalows / Expedia.com

At the base of Kep National Park, Kep Bungalows offers a serene stay bordered by lush greenery. It’s the perfect base if you plan to explore the park (boat tours, tuk-tuks and taxis can all be summoned), and this smartly styled stay is also somewhere you’ll want to return. The large central pool is especially attractive, with loungers, parasols and palms. By night, tuck into delicious Khmer food (spiced with locally grown kampot pepper, naturally) and washed down with French wines.

Knai Bang Chatt

Resort, Hotel

A rustic dining area at Knai Bang Chatt, with a wooden table and chairs on decking, lights, plants and sea views
Courtesy of Knai Bang Chatt / Expedia.com
With stylish villas, restored by French architect Francoise Lavielle, and Gulf of Thailand views, Knai Bang Chatt is a real treat – and even more so when you discover this hotel has heart: underpinned by an ethos of giving back, rather than taking away, it invests in the Kep community by improving health facilities, access to clean water, livelihood opportunities and children’s education. Antiques and artefacts are sourced locally, at least half the fruit and veg served at the restaurant is grown on site and the whole resort is super-low-impact (it’s won awards, don’t you know). That doesn’t mean you’re missing any luxuries at the infinity pool, bordered by cabanas and loungers, or in the vast rooms, housed within various villas throughout the grounds – one of which formerly belonged to the governor of Kep.

Le Bout du Monde

Resort, Hotel

An outside view of the rustic Le Bout du Monde, Krong Kaeb, surrounded by trees
Courtesy of hotels.com

You can’t get any closer to nature than this. Le Bout du Monde – a series of traditional thatched huts, set into foliage-trailed hillsides – is located within Kep National Park, so it’s ideal if you want to immerse yourself in the tropical natural wilds of southern Cambodia. The rooms follow the traditional Khmer design and feature plenty of wooden furnishings. It’s all very ecofriendly, too: the resort has been harnessing solar energy since 2011 and encourages native flora and fauna to thrive throughout the grounds. Even the pool is natural – it’s chlorine-free and atmospherically covered in water lilies.

Raingsey Bungalow

Hotel

A sunny garden area at Raingsey Bungalow, with a pool, many plants and trees and colourful parasols
Courtesy of Raingsey Bungalow / Expedia.com

This peaceful boutique hotel is situated a butterfly’s flutter from the entrance to Kep National Park and the Kep Crab Market – the hub of the town’s crab industry, where you can hear music played, watch locals fire up grills, and dine on fresh, affordable crab for a couple of riels. There’s also plenty to do within the property itself. Take a dip in the large pool, tuck into Khmer cuisine at the rooftop dining area or kick back in your private terrace overlooking the beautiful garden.

Samanea Beach Resort and Spa

Resort, Spa Hotel

An illuminated outdoor pool at Samanea Beach Resort & Spa, with sun loungers, orange parasols, trees, grass and sea views
Courtesy of Samanea Beach Resort and Spa / Expedia.com

With a private beach, large outdoor pool and expansive villas (each with their own terrace), this luxurious resort is primed for guests who prize exclusivity. Tuck into a meal at the restaurant, where you’ll be treated to the likes of lok lak (black-pepper beef) and amok (Cambodian seafood curry). Cap your evening with a stroll down the resort pier – the longest in the region.

Veranda Natural Resort

Hotel, Resort, Eco-Lodge

An outdoor pool at Veranda Natural Resort, with sun loungers, a red parasol, chairs and plants
Courtesy of Veranda Natural Resort / Expedia.com

Tucked into the hillside of Kep National Park, this 2.5ha (6 acre) site is a rustic retreat surrounded by nature. Choose from suites, bungalows and villas that combine traditional wooden furnishings and local materials (such as stones, bamboo and shells) with contemporary style. Our tip? Go for one with a hammock-strung balcony to eyeball views of the coast. The dinner menu showcases the freshest regional seafood, while mornings begin with oven-baked pastries and artisanal breads.

Atmaland Resort

Hotel, Resort

A stylish seating area at Atmaland Resort, with cushioned armchairs, plants and tables
Courtesy of Atmaland Resort / Expedia.com

This resort of eight bungalow-style rooms sits at the foothills of Kep National Park. There’s an on-site pizzeria, so it’s great for families with children (there’s even a playground and a large pool) plus they bake their own bread each morning. Off-duty parents who want to pamper themselves can kick back in the gardens or head to the spa for massages, manicures and pedicures.

Tara Lodge

Hotel, Independent Hotel

An outdoor swimming pool at Tara Lodge, with white sun loungers and parasols, plants, trees and mountain views
Courtesy of Tara Lodge / Expedia.com

This tropical-themed resort features plenty of lush vegetation and a large swimming pool for afternoon dips. The nine rooms, hidden within five bungalows, feature rustic wooden furnishings and private terraces – stay on the first floor if you want to be closer to the garden; choose the second floor for a better view of the sunset. The hotel also has a library and wine cellar, and you can book a massage.

Q Bungalows

Hotel, Villa

An outside view of Q Bungalows, with a sheltered porch area with chairs, a pathway, plants and trees
Courtesy of Q Bungalows / Expedia.com

With 10 bungalows and a garden overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, this is a picturesque hotel to call home during your time in Kep. Rooms are spaced relatively far apart, which ensures privacy, and feature wooden and rattan furniture that gives them a rustic vibe. You can make use of the saltwater swimming pool or head out to explore the surrounding Kep National Park and Kep Crab Market.

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