Siem Reap: Tonlé Sap Sunset Cruise & Floating Villages Dinner

Watch the sun drop over Cambodia's largest lake from a restored cargo boat

You get picked up from your hotel, stop at a lotus farm, then spend the evening on a restored 100-year-old riverboat cruising the floating villages of Tonlé Sap. Dinner and unlimited drinks are included, and you watch the sunset from the biggest boat on the lake. Hotel drop-off is included at the end, so you just show up and let the guide handle the rest.

Step-by-step itinerary

Floating Village Cruise and Sunset Dinner

• Hotel pickup by expert guide
• Stop at local lotus farm
• Drive past villages and rice fields
• Cruise floating schools and shops
• Stop at floating fish/croc farm
• Cruise around floating villages
• Board Queen Tara Riverboat
• Enjoy buffet or fixed menu dinner
• Drink unlimited cocktails and beverages
• Watch sunset over Tonle Sap lake
• Return to hotel

The experience

"The Queen Tara, she is old but strong: like Cambodia," our guide said as we pulled up to the dock. That line stuck with me. The boat really is 100 years old, originally a cargo vessel that worked the Mekong and Tonlé Sap Rivers before someone decided to restore her into something you could actually sit on and drink from. She's the biggest riverboat on the lake, which matters when you're trying to catch the sunset without fighting for a spot at the rail. The whole thing (hotel pickup in an air-conditioned tuk-tuk, the cruise itself, dinner, unlimited drinks) is included in one price, so there's no negotiating or figuring out what costs extra once you're on the water.

The day starts with a stop at a local lotus farm on the way to the lake. It's quick, maybe fifteen minutes, but it's the kind of place where you actually learn something instead of just taking a photo. Our guide explained how important the lotus is to Cambodian people, what they use it for, the whole story. Then you're on the water, cruising through the floating villages on Tonlé Sap: the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. You pass floating schools, churches, basketball courts, shops, homes, a police station, all of it on the water. There's a stop at a floating fish and crocodile farm, and then you dock with the Queen Tara for the main event. The buffet comes out, or you can order from a fixed menu if you prefer. Vegetarian options are available if you book ahead and mention it.

The drinks are unlimited: beers, spirits, cocktails, wines, soft drinks, tea, coffee, all of it included. You're sitting on a boat that's older than most people's grandparents, watching the light change over the water, and there's nothing else to arrange. No timing to figure out, no separate fees for the guide or the meal or getting back to your hotel. The restroom is on board. Kids under five are free, and children ten and under are half price, so it works for families. It operates in all weather, so bring something that fits the season, but the whole point is that you don't have to cancel or reschedule if the forecast looks uncertain.

What’s included

• Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide, a stop at a local lotus farm, a cruise through the floating villages of Tonlé Sap Lake with a visit to a floating fish farm, dinner (buffet or fixed menu, vegetarian available), and unlimited drinks including beers, spirits, cocktails, wines, soft drinks, tea, and coffee.
• All checkpoint fees and taxes are included.
• A restroom is available on board.

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 15:30, from US$ 49 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 503 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Tara River Boat Company

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want the floating villages and a proper sunset without arranging transport, timing the meal, or deciding what to drink. The guide handles everything from pickup to drop-off, and the boat's size means you actually get a view.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What's included in the unlimited drinks?

Beers, spirits, cocktails, wines, juices, water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee are all included.

Is the dinner a buffet or set menu?

Both options are available. You can choose the buffet or order from a fixed menu. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when booking.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the lake?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned taxi or tuk-tuk are included, along with an English-speaking guide.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for the season, but there's no cancellation due to weather.

What are the two stops mentioned?

First stop is a local lotus farm on the way to the lake. The second is a floating fish and crocodile farm during the cruise.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

Yes, there is a restroom on board the Queen Tara.