Siem Reap: Tonle Sap lake tour with floating villages & lunch

Summary

Glide through Cambodia’s floating villages and mangroves by boat

You’ll travel from Siem Reap to Tonle Sap lake with a local guide, gliding past floating villages and stilt houses before exploring dense mangrove forests by canoe. Enjoy snacks and a Cambodian lunch along the way as you meet villagers and see daily life on the water — moments you’ll remember long after you’ve left Cambodia.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the water to smell so earthy when we first stepped onto the boat at Chong Khneas — kind of like wet wood and river grass. Our guide, Dara, handed out cold bottles of water (which I clutched like a lifeline in the heat) and pointed at the bright blue houses bobbing along the Tonle Sap lake. He told us most families here are Vietnamese, which I wouldn’t have guessed from the mix of voices calling out from houseboats as we drifted past. There was a floating school, even a pig pen on a raft — I had to laugh at that one.

The sun was already high by the time we reached Kompong Phluk, where everything sits on these wild-looking stilts. Some houses looked almost precarious, but Dara said they’re built to handle the crazy floods when Tonle Sap swells up during rainy season. We stopped for snacks (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf — honestly, better than it sounds), then wandered into the village pagoda. It’s the only building not on stilts, which somehow made it feel more grounded than anywhere else around here. Kids waved at us from doorways; one little girl tried to teach me how to say “hello” in Khmer but just giggled when I got it wrong.

After lunch (fish amok — creamy, spicy, still thinking about it), we switched to a tiny canoe paddled by an older woman who barely spoke English but grinned every time our boat bumped into a mangrove root. The air in there felt cooler, almost thick with green light and bird calls echoing off the water. It’s strange how quiet it gets inside those trees — you can hear your own breath if you stop talking for a second. We floated for what felt like ages before heading back toward Siem Reap with sunburned noses and muddy shoes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tonle Sap Lake and Villages Tour

• Drive to Chong Kneas boat docks
• Boat ride through Chong Khneas floating village and visit Gecko Environment Center
• Boat trip to Kompong Phluk stilt village and canoe in mangrove forest

Top questions

How far is Tonle Sap lake from Siem Reap?

Tonle Sap lake is about 15 km south of Siem Reap; it takes roughly 30 minutes by car to reach Chong Khneas boat docks.

Is hotel pickup included for this day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap are included in your tour.

What kind of boat do we use on Tonle Sap?

You’ll board a local wooden boat for most of the journey; canoes are used for exploring the mangrove forest section.

Are meals provided during the tour?

The tour includes snacks and a Cambodian lunch with drinks such as coke and bottled water.

Can vegetarians be accommodated?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested at booking.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Children can join but must be accompanied by an adult throughout the day trip.

What happens if there is bad weather?

If weather conditions are poor (rarely between July–mid-November), some parts may be done by car instead of boat for safety.

Who leads the tour?

An experienced English-speaking local guide accompanies you throughout your visit to Tonle Sap lake and its villages.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap, all entrance tickets, an experienced English-speaking guide, private boats between Chong Khneas and Kompong Phluk village (with life jackets), snacks plus Cambodian lunch with drinks, and even canoe rides through the mangrove forest before returning home in the afternoon.