Tonle Sap Lake
ទន្លេសាប
Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, with stilt-house villages that rise and fall with the seasons. Watching the sunset over the water offers a different side of Cambodia from Siem Reap.
Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. When the Mekong floods in the rainy season, the lake's area expands from about 2,500 sq km in the dry season to more than 12,000 sq km. Lakeside villages are built on stilts 8–10 metres high, or simply float on the water.
Of the three villages usually visited from Siem Reap, Kampong Phluk (about 30 km from town) is the most recommended. Stilt houses line the waterway, and in high water season you can pay an extra US$5 or so to take a small boat through the submerged mangroves. Kampong Khleang is farther away and more traditional. Chong Khneas is the closest to town, but it is heavily commercialised and has frequent donation requests, so it is not recommended.
The Kampong Phluk trip takes about 3–4 hours. Boat tickets cost around US$20, plus about US$15 for a tuk-tuk. The best option is the afternoon departure at 2 p.m., so you can watch the sunset over the lake as you finish. Be aware that you may be pressured to 'donate rice to a school' or similar, and you can politely decline. Sunscreen and life jackets are essential on the boat.
During the dry season (March–May), the water level is too low, and the boat route turns into a muddy dirt road, which greatly reduces the experience. Consider visiting the lotus fields by the lake instead.
Opening hours
Open all day (boats 07:00–18:00)
Nearby sights
- Roluos Group (Bakong)
- Phnom Krom
- Pub Street & Night Market
- Artisans Angkor
- Angkor National Museum
- The Smile of Angkor Show
- Phare, The Cambodian Circus
- Prasat Kravan