Phnom Bokor National Park, Kep, crab market.

This is a fascinating excursion for the whole day, during which you will see the southern provinces of Cambodia, a natural park and architectural monuments of the French colonization of Indochina. Phnom Bokor is worth a visit for the unforgettable scenery, fresh mountain air and unusual atmosphere of this place.

Phnom Bokor was conceived as a resting place for the French aristocracy. Fleeing from the heat, they founded a settlement and resort on the top of the mountain, where it is cool even on the hottest day. However, times changed, the French were forced to leave Cambodia, a little later there was a civil war and from a large settlement there were only some buildings that now resemble a ghost town. To this day, the Catholic Church, the residence of the French governor and the casino with the famous “suicide square” facing the endless jungle have been preserved. Low clouds passing through the building create a fascinating and slightly mystical picture. Cinema could not ignore this place – scenes of the films “The Abandoned City” and “The Golden Ratio” were filmed here.

Nearby is also the abandoned royal residence "Black Palace". A great impression is made by the Buddhist monastery and the pagoda Sompau Pram (Five Ships), located on the very edge of the cliff. From here you can clearly see the island of Phu Quoc, which is only 20 km away.

From the top of the mountain, a large statue of Yei Mao looks up on everyone climbing the Bokor road. This mistress and patroness of the entire coast looks after the territory under her control. The locals always come here before the start of a big business, bring offerings and ask Yei Mao for permission.

Now Phnom Bokor is beginning to revive as a resort - hotel complexes and casinos are being built here. Perhaps in the near future, this place will lose the charm of antiquity and abandonment, which attracts travelers here.

Kep Town

Kep is a seaside town located 56 km from Bokor towards the Vietnamese border. It was the favorite seaside resort of the French aristocracy. The remains of many villas have survived, which were also abandoned after the departure of the French. Some of them are now recovering. The city itself is located around a mountain, which creates a special microclimate here. The decoration and one of the symbols of the city was a monument to a young girl waiting for fishermen from the sea, which is located in a small sandy bay.

The city of Kep is famous for its crab market, which is located right on the waterfront. Locals catch crabs in shallow water and bring them to shore in woven baskets, where they are immediately sold. Nearby there are many restaurants where you can taste the delicacies of local cuisine, admiring the seascape and views of the island of Phu Quoc.

In addition:

• Zoo in the city of Campot;
• Kampong Trach caves.