Kep

Kep is a small, snoozy seaside town in the far south of Cambodia, surrounded by sprawling salt fields and family-run pepper plantations. Often treated as a stepping stone across the border to Vietnam, Kep is seldom seen as a destination in its own right. However, if you spend a couple of days here, you’ll quickly fall under Kep’s sleepy spell. Think long, lazy days with a good book, scenic walks in Kep National Park and more fresh seafood than you can shake a squid at.

The Crab Market is the beating heart of Kep and the only place to be at sunset. As the sun sizzles down into the sea, it’s a hub of hectic activity. Fishermen haul in their crab pots while a bidding war for their catch breaks out onshore, makeshift barbecues send rich, flavoured smoke into the tropical air and kids run around with seafood skewers like lollipops. Next to the market, there’s a row of rickety restaurants built out over the water, all of them selling local specialities such as tasty crab amok and banana blossom salad. It’s brilliant.