Outdoors
Kampong Phluk Boat Trip on Tonle Sap
You take a boat through Kampong Phluk, where houses stand on stilts 6-9 m high, and into the flooded mangrove forest at the edge of Tonle Sap lake. Many visitors finish with a meal at a floating restaurant looking out over the lake.
- Where
- Tonle Sap, Cambodia
The route
Boat trip around Kampong Phluk stilt village and its flooded forest.
Kampong Phluk is about an hour from Siem Reap by tuk-tuk, motorbike or taxi, off the highway towards Phnom Penh. The village boat is paid for when you arrive.
When to go
Go in or just after the wet season: the lake starts rising in May or June and peaks around November, while in the dry season (November to April) the stilt houses stand over mud.
Permits and fees
The boat trip around the village is charged on top of your tuk-tuk or taxi fare, and drivers often do not mention it until you arrive, so agree what is included first.
Before you go
- Agree the full price, including the boat, before you leave Siem Reap.
- Kampong Phluk gives a less commercial visit than the floating village near the Tonle Sap ferry harbour.
- Go when the water is high if you want to see the flooded forest at its fullest.
What to bring
- Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses
- Water
- A light layer for the breeze on the water
- Cash for the fare and anything you buy on the way
Staying safe
- Watch for scams and hard-sell extras around the floating villages.
- Wear a life jacket if the boat provides one, and stay seated while it is moving.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Route details checked September 30, 2026 against en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikipedia.org and en.wikipedia.org. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.
