Half Day Independent Floating Village Tour

► Route: Siem Reap → Kompong Phluk and Tongle Sap Lake → Siem Reap

► Trip Highlights
• Experience authentic life in the floating village.
• Visit a local family to interact with local people.
• Cruise through the semi-submerged mangrove forest.
• Enjoy the unforgettable scene of sunset on the Tonle Sap Lake.

► How to Get to the Floating Village of Kompong Phluk? 
Kompong Phluk is located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away from Siem Reap, which will take 45 minutes to 1 hour's drive on the way. There are two options for you to get there: rent a tuk-tuk or hire a car.

Renting a tuk-tuk is a cheaper way, costing about US$15 to 20 for the whole trip. It is good for you to appreciate the countryside scenery along the way. Hiring a driver with private car will at least double the price, but it is more comfortable with air-condition. Whichever you choose, you need to negotiate the price with the driver and also make clear of the total duration of the trip. Usually at least 5 hours are needed.

► Entrance Fee of Kompong Phluk
You will need to pay for the entrance fee of the village and the rental charge of the boat on arrival. Actually, the entrance fee is US$1, while sometimes you might be asked for US$20 to US$30 per person. Don't be scammed!

The large boat is US$15 per person including 2 to 3 hours' sightseeing, plus, you will also need to pay for the small boat of US$5 per person to travel through the stilt houses. If you want to visit the Mangrove Forest, the canoe is US$5 per person.

You are recommended to take this trip in the afternoon so that you could enjoy amazing sunset on the Tonle Sap Lake. Depart from your hotel, and after an about 45-minute drive, you will reach Kompong Phluk, a collection of the three fishermen's villages whose name means "harbor of the tusks". Located along the Tonle Sap Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in South East Asia, Kompong Phluk is renowned as the "floating village", which is famous for the houses built on high stilts and the floating views in wet seasons. According to the climate, you may visit this village by minibus in the dry season or mini bus and boat in the wet season.

Sailing on the Tonle Sap Lake, you will see stilt and floating houses, schools, markets and pagodas pass by slowly. By chance you could stop next to the fishing boat and watch up-close the fishermen transfer their fish. You will also see the daily activities of the locals along the lakeside. If interested, you may visit a local family to learn more about their life.

Meanwhile, the Tonle Sap Lake is also a fascinating place for natural sightseeing as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. As the lake provides an aquatic habitat with large amount of fresh water, it sustains lots of fish, birds, reptiles and mammals, which include lots of endangered species. In the wet season, after the village visit, you can also rent a traditional canoe to boat around the flooded forests to see the semi-submerged mangrove. Exploring this 6,000 hectares (60 square kilometers) forest by a relaxing boating, you will feel like gliding in a fairyland and marvel at the beauty of nature.

If you catch the sunset view at the Tonle Sap Lake, you will see the boundless lake become colorful as the sun gradually sets down. The sky will turn from purple to gentle orange as the water reflects the glow from time to time. This gorgeous moment is a perfect scene for photographing and definitely becomes an unforgettable scene of your Kompong Phluk Tour.

At the end of the trip, please return to the wharf. Your driver will take you back to the hotel in Siem Reap.