Visit Tonlé Sap Lake: Discover the most beautiful floating villages

You may be planning a trip to Siem Reap and wondering, "What to do besides visit the temples?" Well, one of the little-known gems that many travelers fail to discover, as they are naturally fascinated by the magic of Angkor Wat, is Tonle Sap Lake and its floating villages.

During the golden age of Angkor, the Tonle Sap lake and river, which separates from the Mekong in modern Cambodia, were to the Khmer Empire what the Nile was to the Egyptians. To learn more about things to see and do in Tonlé Sap, check out our article below.

Written by Hiep Bui (Local Expert) Updated on 29-11-2024

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1. Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Cambodia 

Located 25 km from downtown Siem Reap, about 30 minutes by car, Tonle Sap Lake is the largest body of fresh water in Southeast Asia. It is a true treasure trove for lovers of stunning landscapes and biodiversity, offering a nature reserve rich in fish and bird species, as well as an environment that nourishes millions of Cambodians. Indeed, thanks to its rich and diverse freshwater ecosystem, it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997.

An unusual phenomenon occurs on the Tonlé Sap river in Cambodia: its current completely reverses depending on the seasons. Between the months of November and May, Tonlé Sap heads towards the Mekong River near Phnom Penh. Then, from May, the torrential rains of the monsoon change the course of the river, which then rises towards the lake. This event is celebrated every year in Phnom Penh during the Water Festival, “Bon Om Touk”. This particularity of Tonlé Sap Lake makes it possible to regulate the quantity of water in the lower course of the Mekong (eastern Mekong delta) during the rainy season, thus limiting the risk of flooding.

In the Mekong river system, Tonle Sap Lake is considered the richest in living freshwater fish. Although mainly concentrated in the Tonlé Sap Lake area, Cambodian fishermen are joined by their Vietnamese counterparts who have settled here since the first half of the 20th century.

The life of these people is difficult because they mainly depend on fishing using rudimentary tools and boat trading for their livelihood. Despite their precarious economic situation, families are large and have on average 4 to 5 children, or even up to 10-15 children. So, when you visit this area, you will meet a lot of children.

When visiting Tonlé Sap Lake, you will see many houses floating and built on stilts. Depending on the water level, these houses can be mobile. When the water level rises, the floating houses drift close to the shores of Siem Reap town, but when the water level drops, they can be up to 2 km from the shore.

2. The floating villages of Tonlé Sap

There are four main villages on Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia that are open to tourism: Chong Kneas, Kampong Phluk, Mechrey and Kampong Khleang. These floating villages are easily accessible from Siem Reap , as they are close to the city.

2.1. The floating village of Chong Kneas

Chong Kneas is the most famous floating village in Tonle Sap Lake, located just 15 km from Siem Reap, making it an easily accessible place. However, due to its great popularity, it is also the most lively and touristy village in the region.

The floating houses in Chong Kneas are firmly anchored to the lakeside during the dry season. Built on giant rafts, they are equipped with tires on the sides to avoid collisions with other houses. The village is home to houses on stilts and floating houses, schools and even a church that move depending on the water level.

Chong Kneas is also the departure point for boats to Battambang and Phnom Penh. If you are planning to visit these places, taking the boat from Chong Kneas can be a unique experience.

The cost of entering the floating village is $30. However, excursions around the village are run by private companies, which do not benefit the local community. It is therefore important to be vigilant when shopping in the village, as scams are common. In particular, be wary of sellers offering to sell rice to support poor children, because in reality, no one knows what happens to the rice sold.

2.2 The village of Kampong Phluk

Kampong Phluk is a stilt village located at the main entrance to Tonle Sap Lake, approximately 30 km from Siem Reap town. The stilt houses are built about 10 meters above the bank of a stream that flows into the lake. During the rainy season, from June to October, the water level rises, making the houses appear to be floating on water, which is a truly unique experience. 

If you visit the village in the dry season, you can stroll the dirt roads by bike or tuk-tuk, giving you a closer look at the daily life of the locals. Entrance to visit the village costs 5 USD in dry season and 20 USD in rainy season, which is quite affordable. 

Unlike other tourist villages such as Chong Kneas, Kampong Phluk offers a more authentic and less touristy experience. The inhabitants mainly make their living from agriculture and seasonal fishing, which is another reason why this village is unique.

If you want a more authentic experience, you can opt for a small boat to explore the mangroves or flooded forest. There are also a few floating restaurants that support the local tourism industry, allowing you to enjoy local cuisine while supporting the community.

2.3. The floating village of Mechrey

The floating village of Mechrey, located 25 km southwest of Siem Reap, offers a unique and picturesque experience. The tuk-tuk ride to get there is itself a memorable experience. Mechrey is located near the Prek Toal bird sanctuary, which is home to hundreds of bird species in a huge forest area. If you are passionate about nature photography, you will be delighted by the possibilities offered in this region.

Discover the unique lifestyle of the inhabitants of this floating village, whose houses are adorned with beautiful plants and verandas lined with piles of wood. You can also observe many animals living under the floating houses. The community of Mechrey mainly lives from fishing, but it is moving more and more towards the development of eco-tours.

If you want to support the local community, it is recommended to book a tour with a local tour company, Prek Toal Tours. A portion of the proceeds will be sent to Prek Toal Community Healthcare and Prek Toal Home and Life's Project to improve people's living standards. And don't forget to stop by Artisans Angkor to buy some handcrafted souvenirs from your trip, before returning to Siem Reap.

It is important to note that giving rice to local orphans may cause more harm than help. It's best to donate money to reputable organizations, like The Lake Clinic, that provide medical support to communities along Tonle Sap Lake. By doing so, you will help support local communities in a responsible and sustainable way.

2.4. The floating village of Kompong Khleang

Located about 50 km from Siem Reap town, Kompong Khleang is the largest floating village on Tonle Sap Lake and also the furthest from Siem Reap. Due to its remote location, Kompong Khleang does not have the same influx of tourists as other floating villages in the area, making it an attractive option for those seeking a more authentic experience and a more relaxed pace of life.

Unlike other floating villages which are often artificial tourist facilities, Kompong Khleang is a real local village where residents go about their daily lives. Apart from taking a boat trip to visit the village, you can also walk quite a distance along the different walkways that connect different parts of the village, discover the temples and houses.

Kompong Khleang is unique in that it combines floating houses and stilt houses. By visiting this village, you can explore the two types of typical villages on the great lake of Cambodia. During the dry season, the floating houses are anchored around the lake and only move during the rainy season.

If you had to choose only one floating village among the existing ones, it will depend on your preferences. Some offer a more interesting experience than others, so it is crucial to do your research to avoid a mundane or unpleasant sightseeing trip.

In villages such as Chong Kneas and Kompong Phluk, a boat trip to admire the colorful stilt houses is worth the detour. These villages are very popular with tourists and tourism is well developed there. However, services, such as boat rental, are managed by private companies. So the money spent on boat tours does not return to the local community.

It is important to emphasize that when visiting as a tourist, you must ensure that your money is well spent. Indeed, the floating villages of Siem Reap are not typical tourist attractions, but places where real people live their daily lives. It is therefore essential to respect their privacy and ensure that they do not invade their personal space.

4. Discovery of the mangrove forest and the Prek Toal ornithological reserve

In addition to floating villages and stilt houses, Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary is another interesting attraction in Siem Reap, located in the northwest of Cambodia's Great Lakes.

This ornithological reserve is one of the three main areas of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, home to many valuable bird species on the verge of extinction, such as the milky white stork, the gray-legged pelican, the eagle grey-headed loris and even the lazy loris, the smallest primate in the world. Don't miss the opportunity to go up to the observatory located high up to enjoy the panoramic view of this wild and preserved nature.

5. How to get there?

• From Siem Reap

Tuk-tuks are the most common and fun way to get to the lake. Tuk-tuk rentals can be had in the downtown area of Siem Reap. Travel time is about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the specific location being visited (Chong Kneas or Kampong Phluk, for example).
Taxicab: Those who want to travel with greater comfort can take a taxi. The fare is comparatively higher than that of the tuk-tuk, but it is faster and more convenient.

• From Phnom Penh

Bus: There are numerous bus companies operating the route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. When arriving at Siem Reap, you can extend your journey to the lake by tuk-tuk or taxi.

6. When is the best time to visit Tonle Sap?

This period of heavy rain floods the surrounding plains and trees, creating a complex and fertile ecosystem. This is also a great time to explore Tonle Sap's many floating villages on organized boat tours. 

On the other hand, from December to April, the bird sanctuaries are at their peak and worth a visit. During the dry season, you can organize your own trip by reaching the village by tuk-tuk, car or motorbike and then start walking through the villages

7. How to integrate the discovery of Tonlé Sap Lake into an itinerary in Cambodia?

• If you're visiting Cambodia, a visit to Tonle Sap Lake is an easy excursion to incorporate into your travel itinerary. This tour will only take about half a day, and the lake is located close to Siem Reap town.
• If you are departing from Siem Reap, you can start your excursion from the floating village of Mechrey or Chong Kneas. You can explore the Prek Toal biosphere with its migratory bird sanctuaries and the flooded forest of Kompong Phluk.
• If you start your trip from Phnom Penh, it is recommended to visit the floating village of Kampong Kleang before continuing your route to Battambang or Kompong Thom.
• It is also possible to reach the villages by boat from Phnom Penh. The speedboat trip will take six to seven hours when the water level is high.

8. FAQs

• Is it free to visit Tonlé Sap Lake?

When you visit Tonlé Sap Lake, you will have to pay the tour fees, which will also include the boat ride fare. If you travel here on your own, without the services of a tour operator for organizing your trip, you might incur other expenses, like a cost of renting a boat or an entrance fee for certain sites. Sailing on the lake is almost always included as part of the experience and is typically a paid service.

• How does the size of Tonlé Sap Lake change throughout the year?

This dynamic lake experiences considerable fluctuations in size with the seasons due to rainfall and the Mekong River.

During rainy seasons, the rising water levels swell the lake's area to about five times the usual size, fetching it to an area almost reaching 16,000 km² and a length of about 250 km.

But during the dry season, the lake shrinks to about 2,500 km², and its length is reduced to just about 160 km. 

Source: Global Nature Fund.

• How do the lives of people in the floating villages of Tonlé Sap Lake change with the seasons?

"The seasons affect the floating villages of Lake Tonlé Sap inhabitants in great ways, mainly because of changing water levels.

The rainy season sees the lake rising to about four times its height compared to the other part of the year. Floating villages at this time of the year get within cheaper proximity to the forest as they gather resources from all around them. The water recedes during dry seasons, exposing houseboats and forcing habitation to go towards the center of the lake for water and food.

Although their mainstay is fishing, economy depletion has affected many of these residents and has forced many of them to go searching for other means of mining income." - Bui Hiep, the author's newsletter, I had the opportunity to ask questions of the local people whenever I toured with his family to Tonle Sap.

• How are houseboats in Tonlé Sap Lake built?

The houses here are usually made of bamboo and wood, built on floating platforms or high stilts, which allows them to float on the water and adjust to changes in water level depending on the season.

• Is it safe to travel to Tonlé Sap Lake?

Traveling to Tonlé Sap is generally safe, but it is recommended to take precautions. Being a popular tourist destination, it is important to be aware of the local conditions and socio-economic situation of the region. Read more: 7 essential things to understand: 

In addition, visitors should choose responsible tour operators to avoid contributing to problems such as tourism exploitation. As for costs, lake visits and boat trips usually have an associated cost, which varies depending on the tour chosen.

The last words

For a complete immersion in nature and the lives of local people, Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia is a must-see destination. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information to plan your trip or share your experiences in the comments below!

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