Cambodia’s water world: the floating villages of Tonlé Sap

Cambodia is so much more than just Angkor Wat. It’s a cultural hotspot influenced by traditions, tragic history, and a diverse ecosystem few truly appreciate until they experience it firsthand. Yes, it has one of the most iconic ancient sites in the world, but step beyond the hum of this tourist attraction, and you’ll find a country teeming with opportunity. Discover the floating villages of Tonlé Sap, a truly unique part of this stunning country: if you can imagine floating houses nestled within a flooded forest as small boats cruise through the natural watery highways, you’re pretty much already there. If you’d like to learn all the ins and outs of exploring this magical part of Southeast Asia, keep reading our guide.

Interesting facts about Tonlé Sap Lake

Cambodia’s Tonlé Sap river system is also a lake with an unusual feature – its flow reverses twice a year. In the dry season (November to May), the river drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. In the wet and rainy season, silt in the Mekong Delta causes the river to back up and flood a huge area of Cambodia, forming the Tonlé Sap Lake.

Several communities near the lake thus have to cope with water levels that go from nothing to 30ft (nine meters). To combat this drastic change, these communities have created stilted villages. In the dry season, when walking around one of these villages, you’ll see homes built high above the ground, with people clambering up and down huge ladders. In the wet season, these same homes seem to float on the lake, with people zipping around by boat.

These so-called ‘floating villages’ are well worth a visit and are not too far from Siem Reap. Kampong Phluk is less-visited than others in the region, as it is a little further away. To reach it you must take a boat from the shore, crossing a vast expanse of water dotted with half-submerged trees, before arriving at a thriving collection of wooden buildings.

From stilted houses and schools to churches, shops, and police stations, you’ll find them all floating in the middle of the lake. Each building has numerous boats tied up outside, with traders rowing between houses selling their wares.

How to get to Tonlé Sap and Kampong Phluk

Fortunately, getting to Tonlé Sap isn’t too difficult. From Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, it’s just under an hour’s drive to Siem Reap. From there, the nearest floating town is Chong Khneas, which is roughly a 40-minute tuk-tuk ride away.

Most tours offer boat rides from Chong Khneas to Kampong Phluk, which take about an hour. While it is possible to drive to the village, the road is very bumpy – and more often than not, you’ll need to take a boat to get to the village, anyway.

The best time to visit Cambodia’s floating village

Now, this is a hot debate, as the best time to visit Tonlé Sap depends on what you want to see and do there. If you want to see the towering houses on their thin stilts, then the dry season between November and May is ideal. During this time, the lake recedes so you’re more likely to see the traditional way of life, with local children playing in the streets and townsfolk going about their usual business.

On the other hand, the rainy season from June to October is the optimal time to see the villages floating just above the lake. This is also a good time to go canoeing through mangrove forests, observe the local fishing practices, and see the floating villages at their brilliant best. Do note that the weather during the rainy season isn’t as ideal, with regular downpours.

5 things to do and see at the Tonlé Sap Lake floating village

Now that you know how and when to visit Kampong Phluk, it’s time to dive into the top activities you can enjoy while in the village.

Take a guided boat tour

With this being a floating village, a guided boat tour is an absolute must-do. These tours generally venture beyond the village as your captain takes you further out into the lake to discover the rich biodiversity of the area. Our tailor-made Cambodian tours can include a guided boat tour of Kampong Phluk, so chat to our local experts for more details.

Walk through Kampong Phluk village

As the water levels rise, the locals find ingenious ways to ensure traveling through the village is always possible. Whether it’s by boat or along makeshift bamboo bridges, there’s always a way to journey through this treasure trove of photo opportunities.

While in town, you can’t miss the Buddhist Kampong Phluk Temple, which, as you may expect, can be seen floating above the river in the rainy season.

Canoe through the floating forest

It’s not every day you get the chance to glide through a flooded forest, but that’s exactly what you can expect at Kampong Phluk. The village is situated near a mangrove forest, which also floods in the rainy season. As you float through the forest, you’ll find out why the region has such proud conservation efforts and how tourism helps fund these.

Enjoy sunset dinner at a floating restaurant

Admiring the sky as it paints a tapestry of color over the lake, while you sip and dine out on some traditional Cambodian food, is yet another memorable experience. For a luxury dining experience, the Riverside Restaurant is the only option out there. However, if you’re looking for something slightly more affordable, the Floating Restaurant is a great alternative.

Visit the other floating villages at Tonlé Sap

Seeing as you’re at Tonlé Sap, you may as well explore some of the other floating villages along the lake. One of the other top tourist attractions is Chong Kneas, largely due to its proximity to Siem Reap. It’s also a great alternative if you want to visit Tonlé Sap on a short half-day tour from Siem Reap.

What is the best way to visit a Siem Reap floating village?

Undoubtedly, the best way to visit Tonlé Sap is on a guided tour. Not only is this the most convenient way to explore the region, but it’s also the safest. Our guides take every precaution to ensure your safety. What’s more, you’ll be exploring Cambodia with a local expert, so every detail they share with you is genuine. Add the fact that you can customize your Cambodian tours, and there really is no better way to explore the Kingdom of Wonder.

FAQs about Tonlé Sap Lake, Cambodia

Before wandering off to this historical part of the world, here are some popular questions and answers about Tonlé Sap.

What is the largest freshwater lake in Cambodia?

Not only is Tonlé Sap the biggest in Cambodia, but it’s also Southeast Asia’s largest lake by a country mile. It’s also an extremely biodiverse region, having been named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997.

How many people live on Tonlé Sap?

Over 1.3 million people permanently reside along Tonlé Sap. Furthermore, over 300 people visit the region seasonally, which is a fraction of the 2.6 million tourists that visit Angkor Wat yearly. So it’s still very much an untouched gem of this breathtaking country.

How many floating villages are there in Siem Reap?

While there are hundreds of communities along this great lake, you’ll find four main floating villages in Cambodia’s Siem Reap region. These include Chong Kneas, Kampong Phluk, Mechrey, and Kampong Khleang.

Make it happen

The floating villages of Tonlé Sap, including Kampong Phluk, combine well with the Roluos group of temples, which are well worth a visit in themselves and receive far fewer visitors than the main Angkor complex – for more suggestions of off-the-beaten-track experiences to add to your tailor-made itinerary, chat to one of our local experts. Our Cambodia destination page is also on hand for more details of what to do and see, as well as itinerary ideas.