The South-East Coast of Cambodia
Located on the Bay of Thailand, within sight of Vietnam, lay Kampot and Kep towns, and Bokor Mountain. Bokor Mountain is a popular destination because of the rough ride up the dirt track to the top, and the view of Southern Cambodia and Vietnam, and the cool temperatures; not to mention the abandoned casino and summer palace of the former King. (Note: Bokor is partially closed for the next few years for construction).
Kampot is known as a quiet town on a river and the base for day trips up to Bokor Mountain. There's also much sightseeing to be done in Kampot. Kep, the former seaside recreation area before SihanoukVille, is a small, spread out town on the ocean, with views from the hillside of the Islands of Cambodia and Vietnam. The area is still not too touristy, but that is changing quickly. Plans are for new construction on Bokor Mountain, and a host of small hotels and restaurants are popping up in Kep and Kampot. Now is the perfect time to visit.
What to do????
Kep is a small seaside town located on a group of hills going down to the beach. Bungalows, guesthouses, and hotels are available on the hillside and the beaches. There's not a whole lot of activity in Kep. Mostly a place for relaxation, enjoying fresh seafood, going for walks, and as a stopover on the way to or from Vietnam.
Kampot, a larger town than Kep, is located on a river close to the Bay of Thailand. The main activities in Kampot are sightseeing and relaxing. Walks along the riverfront, the Kampot Zoo and waterfalls (rapids), Kampot Pepper and Durian farms, salt fields, boat rides on the river, and exploring the small caves with ancient ruins inside. There are many small guesthouses and restaurants in Kampot, both in town and on the riverfront.
Bokor Mountain is both a trip and a destination. It's a long hard ride up the steep rocky trail to the top of the mountain. Most people either ride in the back of a pickup truck, or on a dirt bike made for rough roads.
At the top of Bokor Mountain, you have either a great view of Southern Cambodia, the ocean, and Vietnam, or you can see fog in every direction. The temperature at the top is much cooler than at the base of the mountain. At the top is a complex of buildings built around 80 years ago, and now weathered by years of abandonment. A casino, church, and buildings made for the King's holidays are scattered around.
