The Best Places to Stay in Kep, Cambodia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.