Tonlé Sap: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Siem Reap: Kampong Phluk Floating Village Tour by Boat

1. From Siem Reap: Kampong Phluk Floating Village Tour by Boat

Go aboard our minivan to the great Tonle Sap Lake (the biggest fresh water lake in South-east Asia) and gain fascinating insight into true Cambodian life. Be picked up from a Siem Reap hotel and be brought to the pier. Take a private boat to the floating village, located outside Siem Reap. Discover the tall, stilted houses, floating hospital, fishery, old lifestyle of the country and the natural landscape of the flooded Mangrove Forest. Enjoy an optional tour going through the flooded Mangroves forest on a small boat, a great break on the way to Tonle Sap to experience local fauna and flora. End the day by admiring the sunset over the lake.

Siem Reap: Kampong Phluk Floating Village Tour with Transfer

2. Siem Reap: Kampong Phluk Floating Village Tour with Transfer

Discover the floating village of Kampong Phluk, just a 45-minute drive from Siem Reap. Relax on a trip through authentic Cambodia, past markets in the small town of Roluos.  Enter a sustainable and self-sufficient community that has thrived since the civil war ended. The distinctive houses set among beautiful mangrove trees are raised on stilts reaching up to 9 meters high. In the wet season (May to Feb ), see the locals and able travel by boat to see school, work, and the pagoda as you explore the same way with your small group. On arrival, you will be introduced to a stunning Hindu and Buddhist church, covered in colorful murals that illustrate how the religions coexist in Cambodia. In the dry season, before the water level rises, there's an opportunity to walk along the main street to see local people's daily lives and the creation of new houses. They are content with their way of life and happy to see foreigners because tourism is an important part of the local economy. The majority of the 1,000 families are fishermen and farmers. The children in particular are friendly and inquisitive. Enjoy multiple restroom stops and chilled water that is provided throughout the tour. After making your way through the village, head out to the mighty Tonle Sap lake, where a riverboat will take you to the floating restaurant with delicious food and some exotic options. Chill out on the lake and watch an inspirational sunset that glows, a memory that you'll never forget. After sundown, together retrace your path from throughout the afternoon, and the minibus driver will take your group back to the city, with drop-off at your accommodation.

Phnom Penh: Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer and Drinks

3. Phnom Penh: Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer and Drinks

This tour is one hour and thirty minutes and will give you a great opportunity to explore the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Four Faces River, Diamond Island, Fishing Village, Stilted Houses, lifestyle of the people who live along the riverbank and the city sunset. Our Tuk Tuk driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to the boat. On the board the boat, you will be served by our tour guide with unlimited beer and soft drinks before he start to give a commentary of what we have seen along the riverbank such as: - Japanese and Chinese friendship bridges - Wat Ounalom - Royal Palace - Chaktumuk Conference Hall - Cambodiana Hotel - Conjunction of four rivers (Upper Mekong, Lower Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers) - Stilted houses - The fisherman who are working and living on their boats After the commentary by our English speaking tour guide, we will serve you a fresh fruit platter, more drinks and seeing the sunset.

Siem Reap: Kompong Phluk Floating Village Half-Day Tour

4. Siem Reap: Kompong Phluk Floating Village Half-Day Tour

Start with hotel pick-up or go to the meeting point to board your vehicle, a shared air-conditioned mini-bus with a tour guide, or private vehicle (with optional guide), according to the option chosen. Kompong Phluk is 30 kilometers south-east of Siem Reap. Visit the pagoda or local market first, then go by motorized boat on a tour of the stilted buildings. See where the people have courageously adapted to some of the most unimaginable conditions, all with a big smile on their faces. Enjoy the beautiful atmosphere in this one-of-a-kind village from the comfort of the boats. The guide, if present, explains the history, culture, and lifestyle of the villagers. The villages are surrounded by mangrove forest. Take an optional side-trip of the flooded forest on a rowing boat, available October to January. The motorboat stops at a small floating cafe, a good place to see the sun go down. After this awe-inspiring experience, you will return to the hotel around 1:30 pm for your own leisure time.

Siem Reap: Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise with Transfers

5. Siem Reap: Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise with Transfers

You will be picked up at 2:30 pm from your hotel in Siem Reap and visit SATCHA is the first Cambodian handicraft center that incubates local artisans, mixing traditional knowledge with contemporary design to showcase Cambodian’ talents to local and international visitors and to transmit these know-how over time while having a sustainable social, economic, and environmental impact, and then we'll go directly to the Kampong Phluk, flooded & fishing village of Tonle Sap lake, located just 21 kilometers from Siem Reap town. Once in the lake port, we'll take a local boat from the ferry to explore the famous floating villages of Kampong Phluk. There, you can see firsthand what everyday life is like for the many families who make their living primarily from fishing. Most families live on the lake shore in brightly colored houses on long poles, so the high-water levels are not a problem during the rainy season. Explore the flooded mangrove forest surrounding the area, which is home to a variety of species, including crab-eating macaques and 3,000 inhabitants. We will then take you to visit a Buddhist monastery built on an artificial island and enjoy seeing the sunset from a local boat on Tonle Sap Lake. Then we drive you back to your hotel or we can drop you off at the Old Market area.

Sunset Dinner Tour: Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village

6. Sunset Dinner Tour: Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village

Hear the sounds of water lapping up against the side of the boat and watch in awe as the incredible floating village rises against the backdrop of the great Tonle Sap Lake. In this idyllic village less than 10miles (15km) from Siem Reap, explore the village on this fantastic Sunset Tour. Departing from your hotel or guesthouse around 15.30, take a comfortable air-conditioned car or tuk tuk drive with your knowledgeable guide, who will be able to help point out the culture and life all around you in English (and Khmer, of course!). See this incredible village in a very special way. Pass by rice paddies and lotus fields for the opportunity to stop and take photographs of the lotus flower, highly important in Buddhist culture (please note that depending on the time of year, the views of the lotus and rice fields will vary). Upon arrival at the port, transfer to a mini Tara boat driven by an experienced driver. Once on the water, stop at the Crocodile and Fish Farm (depending on current water levels) and learn about some of the trades practiced by those living on the lake. Visit the souvenir shop to purchase gifts or snap some photos from the viewing deck. Depending of the time of year, the floating villages will be either in the river canals or the lake proper,regardless we cruise them all taking in the full floating villages on our cruisers, nothing much has changed here for hundreds of years,fisherman and their families working together, their is so much to explore and experience on this unique sunset cruise. After this visit, return to the boat and head through the floating village for a glimpse of the local Cambodians going about their daily life. After a tranquil glide through the town, arrive at the Queen Tara, the biggest boat on the lake, in the heart of the floating village. Here, enjoy a well deserved full buffet meal or fixed menu and all inclusive drinks.beers,cocktails,wines,soft drinks, spirits , and juices, Finally, the reason you've come: the sunset. Relax with a drink in your hand and soak in the beauty around you. After the last bit of light fades, head back to your guest house or hotel. both hotel pick up and return are included free with this tour.

Siem Reap: Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea and Tonle Sap Tour

7. Siem Reap: Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea and Tonle Sap Tour

Embark on a full-day guided tour from Siem Reap to Kulen Mountain, enchanting waterfalls, and the ancient temple of Beng Melea. Experience rural life in the floating village of Kampong Phluk by boat. Immerse yourself in Cambodian culture and nature on this enriching adventure. Start with a morning hotel pickup in Siem Reap. After securing your ticket for Kulen Mountain, the adventure unfolds with a scenic 1-hour drive through rice paddies and traditional Cambodian villages, offering a glimpse into local life and picturesque landscapes. Stop at the Palm Cake Village to witness traditional palm cake. Next, ascend to the hilltop of Phnom Kulen, guided by a local. Explore the park's highlights, including magnificent waterfalls, a reclining Buddha sculpture, and the River of Thousand Lingas from 802 AD. In the afternoon, stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading deep into a rainforest to explore Beng Melea, a mysterious 12th-century jungle from the Angkor Wat period overgrown with 300 years of vegetation, trees, lianas, and mosses. Continue the journey with a boat ride to Kampong Phluk, a floating village. Witness the daily lives of families dependent on fishing, residing in colorful houses on stilts. Boating along the flooded beauty of a mangrove forest, home to diverse species including crab-eating macaques. Conclude the tour with a visit to a Buddhist monastery on an artificial island, providing an immersive experience of Cambodia's cultural and natural wonders, before returning to Siem Reap.

Angkor Wat: 2-Day Sunrise and Floating Village Tour

8. Angkor Wat: 2-Day Sunrise and Floating Village Tour

Day 1Begin with an early pickup and travel to the main entrance of the Angkor Wat. Admire the stunning sunrise over this ancient and mysterious complex. Next, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom to marvel at the Bayon and Baphoun temples.  Hear historical facts about the place from your expert guide. Enjoy lunch before visiting the Terrace of the Elephant and the Terrace of the Leper King. Visit the beautiful Ta Prohm Temple and the  Banteay Kdei temple on your way back. Day 2Visit Tonle Sap Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Next, head off towards the floating village and discover the tall, stilted houses, floating hospital, fishery, and the natural landscape of the Mangrove Forest. Enjoy an optional tour through the flooded Mangroves forest and experience the local fauna and flora. Finally, admire the breathtaking sunset over the lake at the end of the day.

Angkor Region: 3-day Private Tour of Top Temples

9. Angkor Region: 3-day Private Tour of Top Temples

Day One:  Get picked up from your accommodation at 8:00 am by your driver and tour guide and travel directly to Beng Mealea, a sprawling jungle temple that covers over one square kilometer. Enjoy the adventurous and mysterious feeling of exploring a temple complex largely overrun by vegetation and off the beaten tourist path. Discuss your lunch preferences with your guide before stopping at a local restaurant. Afterwards, head to the floating village Kampong Phluk on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. Enjoy a guided boat trip through the floating village. Then get dropped off back at your accommodation. Day Two:  Get picked up again at 8:00 am and purchase a 3-day temple pass before heading to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Visit some small temples, including Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon, and Ta Keo. Then head to the jungle temple Ta Prohm where the movie Tomb Raider was shot. Refuel afterwards with lunch at a local restaurant. Then make your way to the Buddhist temple of Banteay Kdei. Gain insight into the history of the powerful Khmer Empire before heading to Phnom Bakheng to see a gorgeous sunset. Day Three:  Get an early start at 5:00 am on the final day of the tour. Get picked up and see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Following this, you can choose to visit more temples including Pre Rup and Banteay Samre. Then head to Banteay Srey, arriving before most of the crowds. Marvel at the most intricately carved temple in all of Angkor. Afterwards, see a traditional Khmer village and learn about palm sugar production. If you are interested, visit the Landmine Museum and learn how decades of conflict, foreign occupation, and brutal civil war and genocide have impacted Cambodia.  Afterwards, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. On the way back, stop at a few more temples such as East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan, a fascinating vast monastic complex. The return trip will take you through many beautiful villages and provide you with great photo opportunities. Get dropped off back at your accommodation at the end of your day.

Kompong Phluk Floating Village Tour from Siem Reap

10. Kompong Phluk Floating Village Tour from Siem Reap

Depart Siem Reap and travel south-east through rural villages and rice fields to reach the Tonlé Sap Lake designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1997, due to the high biodiversity of the rivers and lakes, it truly is a unique place to visit. here we will go as far as you can by road to board one of our waiting long tail boats, and then sail down the Kompong Phluk River, into the Stilted township of Kompong Phluk. Kompong Phluk is a traditional Khmer village of about 3,000 inhabitants who mainly make a living from fishing and farming. Depending on the weather and tidal conditions, sail along the main street or explore on foot and experience up close what life is like in rural Cambodia. Visit a few schools and see the large pagoda temple, along with many stilted homes, some up to 10 meters tall. Connect with a less hectic lifestyle and soak up the peace and quiet. Relax as you are rowed by small boat through the flooded forest to Tonlé Sap Lake, where the level can vary by up to 10 meters depending on the season. this unique village also has a small floating village attached, as very few tours make there way out to this village its always an interesting and educational trip, it has a very productive ecosystem in this lower Mekong basin area , your guide for this tour is from this very village giving you a great opportunity to learn about the daily life and struggles, the children are always smiling and playful, making this a very enjoyable time spent away from the hustle and bustle of the Temples . after having explored the villages and flooded forest we will head further out to the great tonle sap lake, its a sight to be seen, the largest fresh water lake in se asia and the richest fishing lake in the world, 75% of all khmer protean comes from farming the tonle sap lake of the numerous species of fish, here also we have observed some very rare and unique large water birds, if we are lucky we may just see a few fishing in the shallows or flying over head, or a few water buffalo cooling down in the river systems, an awesome sight for sure, its important also to note Kompong Phluk is actually 2 villages and yes this tour visits both , they are separated by a large pergola which is on our list to also visit,all in all a most enjoyable ,educational and eye opening experience not to be missed, a very traditional fishing village, slowly as we make our way back from the great lake and into the river systems to meet up with our waiting driver, to travel back to your hotel.

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What people are saying about Tonlé Sap

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 976 reviews

Excellent afternoon/evening tour visiting the floating village & out on the lake to watch the sunset. Our guide Sean was super hospitable & knew his stuff & he made the whole experience really fun. Definitely recommend these guys although tuk-tuk are great, there are 5 miles of uneven dusty ,dirt tracks to get you there/back so with the private vehicle transport you avoid the slower pace of travel, especially once the sun's set on return. We did 2 tours ASEAN ANGKOR GUIDE both tours were perfect, they were ready for us on time. Air-con transfer was great with cold waters freely available and cooling towels too. (Didn't realise how much we needed them). Definitely book with them!!

Cherry was the absolute best guide , he was so informative and great humour and was very interested in other peoples culture. He didn’t rush and was genuine in his approach. Lovely guy!! Great English too. We love you Cherry !

A really enthusiastic guide, Adam who knew a bunch of interesting details about the site but also about Cambodian culture and lifestyle. Highly recommended.

Mister Tear is an excellent guide. Even if it' dry season, this tour was really good, with awsome sunset on the lake floating bar.

A great trip . A good and clear guide on board and very well looked after with drinks. A very good short trip.