Tonle Sap Lake - Fishing Village & Flooded Forest
Description
Experience the essence of Cambodia with our enriching countryside tour. Enjoy a captivating boat cruise through fishing villages and the mesmerizing flooded forest, offering a unique glimpse into local life. Explore the cultural and ecological significance of Tonle Sap Lake, the world's second-largest freshwater lake. This distinguished tour offers an unparalleled connection to the heart and soul of Cambodia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our journey out to the village takes us through small communities and we stop along the way for a tour of Rolous Market. This is a great chance to take photos of the interesting local foods and vegetables found in the more rural markets.
The Tonle Sap one of the world’s most productive bodies of fresh water. In the wet season, the Tonle Sap Lake swells to 12,000 km². During the dry half of the year, the lake shrinks to as small as 2,500 km², draining into the Tonle Sap River. Each year, millions of fish come to spawn in the seasonally flooded forest surrounding the lake, attracting a myriad of water birds as well as people, who have settled in villages along the shores and who live with the rhythm of the water. This ecosystem was classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997. Take a boat trip to ‘Kampong Phluk’ a collection of three small fishing villages in an atmospheric flooded forest setting. Cruise through the village and see unique houses on stilts, and Cambodians at work in the floating forest. Our boat will meander slowly through forest canals, allowing you to catch glimpses of flora and fauna, and see a truly beautiful eco-system.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Enjoy hassle-free pickup from your Siem Reap hotel at 8:00 am (timing may vary slightly by location). If your hotel isn’t listed, simply mention it in your booking—we’ll take care of you.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This half day tour is available both morning and afternoon depart
Reviews(41)
Visiting this lake and village at the beginning of the rainy season had its advantages (for us) because it was not crowded with many tourists. Our guide, Sopheap Rath, was originally from the village so we felt like we had a very personalised tour and good insight into what the daily life was really like. You can tell he has a love of learning and of Cambodia and its history. 🇰🇭 Our driver, Seyha, was a confident driver negotiating all the intricacies of the Cambodian roads! We also appreciated his politeness and preparedness with cool face cloths and cold bottles of water upon our return to the van. Sopheap was our guide for our three day stay in Siem Reap. This was our first time to Cambodia and he made a good impression! We really enjoyed our time in Cambodia. Thank you, Sopheap 🙏
Dear Michele, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a beautiful review of your first visit to Cambodia. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the peacefulness of the early rainy season and felt so welcomed. Sopheap and Seyha will be absolutely delighted to read your kind words. Sopheap truly loves sharing his village roots and Cambodia's rich history, and we are so glad his passion made your three-day stay in Siem Reap so memorable. Thank you for choosing us for your first Cambodian adventure. We hope to welcome you back again in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
We had a lovely time with our guide, Sopheat Rap. He grew up in the fishing village we visited, and had so much knowledge about the area. We would highly recommend this tour.
Dear Elias, Thank you so much for the lovely review! We are thrilled to hear you had such a great time exploring the fishing village with Sopheat Rap. Having grown up there, he loves sharing his personal connection and local knowledge with our guests. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to him. We hope to welcome you back again someday. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Beautiful visit to the village with Pal and Narro At first, a nice walk followed by taking a boat accompanied by a lady with her son, both very kind Pal was a great help in guiding us and explaining everything in a very kind and passionate manner Even during the car ride, he helped us by sharing some history, religion, and culture of Cambodia A beautiful afternoon, to be repeated Recommended
Dear Genny, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're so happy you had a wonderful afternoon with Pal and Naro. Pal is a fantastic person and always shares his passion for Cambodian history and culture. We look forward to welcoming you back for another wonderful tour in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
I had a wonderful time during the tour on Tonle Sap Lake: an experience not to be missed for those who want to experience local life and see unique places in the world. The boat ride on the lake is the highlight of the excursion: it allows you to observe the typical floating communities, the stilt houses, and the aquatic landscapes that change with the seasons, a true glimpse into the daily life of the residents. Guided by Pal, the visit was even more special: he was very kind and well-informed, telling us the history of the country and explaining how life on the lake works with clarity and passion. A special mention also goes to Narro, the driver: always courteous and punctual, he made the transfers comfortable and relaxing.
Dear Lorenzo, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're so happy that your Tonle Sap Lake tour was a memorable experience and that you enjoyed the life of the floating communities. Pal and Naro will be delighted to read your compliments: it's essential for us to not only offer timely service, but also to share our history and culture with passion. We hope to welcome you again in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Our tour guide Pal was great. He had a lot of knowledge about the area. Our driver Verey was great as well. Would definitely do another tour and then.
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience exploring the area with Pal and Vireak. Pal takes great pride in his local knowledge, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to both of them. We look forward to welcoming you back for another tour in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
We had a fun time today half-day tour, on a trip to Tonle sap. It included market walk, boat ride, walk through fishing village and floating restaurant stop. Our guide Sopheap Rath kept us entertained throughout with stories about Cambodia and village life. We went to a school at the village and spoke to the children there who were learning English. Our driver Ra Da kept cold towels and cold water ready for us, he drove very well which was an hour return trip through scenic countryside.
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the journey to Tonle Sap. Sopheap Rath is indeed a storyteller at heart, and he’ll be so happy to know his insights into village life resonated with you. It’s also great to hear that Ra Da kept you comfortable—those cold towels are a lifesaver in the Cambodian heat. We hope to see you again soon. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
This was a brilliant tour. We loved our guide, he was so knowledgeable and interesting throughout. Ever thought we were in dry season we still saw everything and found the village so welcoming and interesting to look round. Small warning if your whole group don’t want to go in the forest you don’t go in the forest. But we looked at it from the edge. Wasn’t a big deal but just something to be aware of.
Dear Amber, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that you found the tour "brilliant" and that your guide’s knowledge added so much depth to your visit. We’re especially glad that even during the dry season, you found the village welcoming and interesting. It’s a side of Cambodia that many people miss, and we love showing the resilience and beauty of these communities year-round. We hope to welcome you back to explore even more of Cambodia in the future! Best regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
An informative tour with a very dedicated guide. Gave us insights into life in a floating village.
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for your kind review! We are very pleased that you enjoyed the informative tour and the insights into life in the floating village. We will pass your praise directly to our guide. It is very important to us to not only show our guests the sights but to provide a genuine understanding of the local culture and way of life in Cambodia. We are glad our team's efforts contributed to a positive experience. We hope to welcome you back soon! Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Amazing leader Mr Pal and my driver Keao. It was 2nd trip and the team was amazing. Full of new information that I hadn’t heard. Great views of the sunset and the fishing village life. Take this trip! It will be spectacular
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for the review ! We are delighted that he could provide you with even more new information and insights! He takes great pride in making sure even returning visitors discover something fresh and exciting about our culture. We will be sure to share your compliments with him. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again! Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Pal Saruon and Driver Nat were our guides. Amazing tour. Interesting facts about history and culture. If you want an in depth experience, and get to know the locals, definitely highly recommend!
Dear Value Customer, We are so glad to hear that you had an amazing tour with Pal Saruon and Nat. At Journey Cambodia, we strive to go beyond the surface, so it is wonderful to know that you enjoyed the in-depth history and the opportunity to connect with the locals. Thank you for choosing us for your adventure. We hope these memories stay with you for a long time! Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
