Tonle Sap Lake Floating Villages Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Tonle Sap Lake's floating villages
- Experience local life on the water
- Navigate through lush mangrove forests
- Witness unique stilted houses
- Enjoy a serene boat ride
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Boat ride through floating villages
- Visit to mangrove forest
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Enjoy a 5 to 6 hours tour as we pick up from your hotel at 8:00 AM. We will drive 15 km south of Siem Reap to the boat docks of Chong Kneas.
We’ll then board a local boat for a pleasant ride onto the Tonle Sap, passing through the floating village of Chong Khneas. Tonle Sap is the largest lake of Southeast Asia and stretches across the northwest portion of Cambodia. The lake is economically important as it serves as major source of many kinds of fishes. It swells to ten times its normal size during the wet season, bringing diverse aquatic resources. It also serves as habitat for several species of water birds. Chong Khneas is a floating village at the edge of Tonle Sap. Explore the floating households, composed predominantly of Vietnamese people, and recognizable because of the brightly colored houses. Take a glimpse of the floating village life as we pass along floating houses, schools, clinics, sports hall and even pig farms. We will stop at Gecko Environment Center where you can learn more about the ecology and rich biodiversity of Tonle Sap and its surrounding floodplains.
We will continue our boat trip to the fishermen village of Kompong Phluk. Houses here are built on stilts. This village is almost exclusively composed of Khmer origin. The villagers move houses depending on the season. They dwell on stilts during rainy season and move to small huts near at the banks during dry season. You will visit the pagoda, the only building in the village that is not built on stilts, and observe villagers going about their daily activities. You will then transfer to a small canoe (Aug-Jan as optional) to be paddled by villagers, to take you deep into the dense mangrove forest. The mangroves are uniquely adapted to the flooded environment and can impressively survive being completely submerged during a part of the year. We will transfer you back to your hotel in Siem Reap after visit Kampong Phluk Village.
Important information
Know before you book
- Confirm your booking at least 24 hours in advance to secure your spot.
- Be aware that the tour operates in all weather conditions; dress appropriately.
- Note that the tour may involve walking on uneven surfaces; proceed with caution.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for boat rides.
- Bring a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent for sun protection.
- Carry a camera to capture the unique landscapes and village life.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If due to poor weather (In very little chance may happen in rainy season between Jul to mid of Nov), so we will visit only Kampong Khleang and Kampong Phluk Villages by car instead and taking boat ride in Kampong Phluk as well as in Kampong Khleang Village.
Traveler reviews
Disappointing and tried to rip us off, unethical use of animals, recommended to give it a miss
Overpriced. Disappointing. Dropped us at a floating cafe, caged miserable scared looking animals, baby crocs handed to people to hold, unethical, and tried to rip us off by saying you could only go around the floating village if you paid extra 20USD. We thought that was the trip we were getting! Phoned our tuktuk driver and he made our boat take us around the edge, no stilt village as mentioned, we'd recommend giving this one a miss. Many other disappointed and pissed off tourists here too, they should explain before you go that you need to pay extra if you actually want to go around the village. And no respect for animals here, just put for show. Guide included was angling for tips. Felt pretty unprofessional. Recommend going to a further away lake spot for hopefully a much better and authentic experience, as this one wasn't.
My favorite thing we did in Cambodia
This was one of my favorite things we did in Cambodia. It felt like a sneak peak into rural life here and especially life in the fishing villages. You will stop at the floating villages and then also walk through the town (or canoe though depending on the water levels when you visit). We got to visit some of the locals home and see how they live, prepare food, and work. We also stopped in the school where the children were anxious to show off the English they are learning. Lunch at the restaurant was lovely! Thank you Nak and Sokhen for a great experience.
Fishing Village
The trip was amazing! The views are so beautiful, fishing village is something I’ve never seen before. It’s even difficult to find words to express fillings! Special thanks to our guid Choub! He made our tour even more interesting with telling a stories about history and local traditions.
Lovely and interesting visit
On a very hot day we had a lovely cruise on the largest freshwater lake in southeastern Asia. Although a long drive from Siem Reap, the journey was worth it. The floating village was fascinating with every conceivable facility available including Churches and restaurants.
Wonderful afternoon/evening.
Tom, the guide, was very good. Hope to see him again next year. And the sunset was amazing! Will definately be back next year.