Tonle Sap Lake Travel

Best time to visit

If you want to witness the enormous charm of Tonle Sap, the wet season from October to February, when the water of the Mekong river becomes so powerful and the lake's size increases to approximately 15,000 km² with a depth of 8 m, is the best time to go. 

However, if you want to see the bird sanctuary, the best time to visit is the dry season from November to May, when the water level falls and the birds are concentrated in a comparatively small area.

Weather Cycles and Flow Reversal

Khmer New Year which occurs in April each year, signifies the end of the harvest season. It’s the time for Cambodian families to enjoy their harvest before the rainy season begins, around June. As the rain sets in, the water levels in the Mekong River rise and the flow from Tonle Sap is reversed.

Normally water from the Tonle Sap Lake flows along Tonle Sap River where it ultimately converges with the Mekong and Tonle Bassac River. When rainy season is in full swing, the higher water levels push the water back toward the lake. It’s quite a remarkable natural phenomenon. The lake essentially becomes a giant reservoir, swelling in size by up to 5 times and expanding through the surrounding wetlands. At this point, Tonle Sap transforms into the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

When the dry season arrives around November, the Tonle Sap Lake is full and everything is flourishing from. Water levels in the Mekong drop and the river flow goes back the other way again. Water Festival or Bom Om Touk (literally “boat festival”) symbolizes the end of the rainy season. Rice farmers have been working hard during the rainy season to cultivate one or two crops of rice and the water festival also indicated that the rice harvest is coming. There are ceremonies for pounding the rice, which is known as Ombok, and it is tradition to eat the pounded rice at this time of the year.

Tonle Sap Lake's current weather and 7-day forecast

TONLE SAP LAKE WEATHER

The biodiversity of the Tonle Sap Lake is magnificent and unique. Radiating out from the lake itself are mangroves, tropical forests, marshlands and grasslands, which provide habitats for a huge range of animal species. The Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary is located at the western end of the Tonle Sap Lake and is well equipped to satisfy curious and expert birdwatching enthusiasts. As well as rare bird species, there are also reptiles, fish, mammals and insects that are integral to the biodiversity of this great lake. Some of the rare species that are now considered endangered include the Siamese Crocodile, Crab-eating Macaque, Spot-billed Pelican and Milky Stork.

The lake is also home to a unique species of water snake, the Tonle Sap Water Snake (Enhydris longicauda), also amongst the list of endangered species. Approximately 6.9 million snakes are caught each year from the lake, around 14 species in total. Many are the main food source for birds on the lake, their reduction in numbers will lead to disastrous effects on the biodiversity of this amazing lake. The snakes are primarily being harvested as food for both people (fish numbers are down, which has lead to many fishermen now harvesting snakes) and for crocodiles as the number of crocodile farms increases.

UNESCO denoted the area a biosphere reserve in 1997, helping to set up laws and regulations for the conservation of the area.

Whilst it is unclear exactly how many people are living on and around the lake, it is documented that around 40% are living under the poverty line. Most communities are extremely poor and consist of predominantly Vietnamese or Cham. Life on the lake can be isolating and brutal. Access to sufficient education and healthcare are limited and exposure to the elements is demanding.

Stilted and Floating Villages

The communities living here need to be flexible and mobile. Often they will move their houses and main structures to different areas as the water rises and falls with the seasons. Many villages utilise a combination of permanent structures, stilted houses and buildings, and moveable houses that can be transported with the tide. These communities are more commonly known as stilted and floating villages.

Fishing and Farming

Fishing is a seasonal vocation for most families living on the Tonle Sap Lake and the grasslands are utilized for cattle grazing and family-scaled farming. The ebb and flow of the lake is critical to the harvest for sustaining food supplies for the people living in the area. Furthermore, much of the fish caught in the lake is transported to feed Cambodians throughout the country and a critical component of the economy, making up 16% of GDP.

Experience authentic life at Tonle Sap Floating Villages

The floating villages at Tonle Sap Lake seem to be of interest for tourists visiting Siem Reap. There are actually several floating villages located on and around the lake, each of them has its distinctive characteristics. Visiting these places enables you to see a new and different way of life. The four main floating villages are listed below.

1. Chong Khneas

About 16 km southeast of Siem Reap, Chong Kneas is the closest village to access, which makes it a easy day trip for tourists. This is the most famous fishermen village of the Vietnamese minority. They live in floating houses, which are regularly moved around according to water levels, thus Chong Kneas is really more like a “floating village”. Other buildings like church, elementary school, restaurant, police station, shop, basket ball court,… are even on boats.

Unlike many popular floating markets in Thailand, Chong Kneas is not entirely souvenir shops and food vendors. Most of the villagers are still fishermen, so you can observe their activities. Everything, even a small errand is done on the water. They wash, bath, swim and fish for dinner. Of course tourist spots are here, too. Usually tourist boats stop at a crocodile and catfish farm. It offers the opportunity to climb up to the rooftop and enjoy the view over the floating village. Although it may not be the most picturesque and somewhat more touristy, Chong Kneas is still interesting and worth seeing.

2. Kampong Phluk

Located about 16 km of Siem Reap, Kampong Phluk consists of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain. There are 2 ways to reach the area: by boat from the Chong Khneas dock or by road in the dry season. Different from Chong Khneas, the main inhabitants of the village are Khmer. And only a few of tourists makes the journey to Kampong Phluk, which has helped it retain much of authenticity. You’ll see what traditional fishermen’s life is like over water – they are busy doing laundry, cooking or fishing on the wooden boats.

In addition, you can also take a small paddle boat into the mangroves to have a close look at this submerged forest. To end a day, you shouldn’t miss the stunning sunset view in the middle of Tonle Sap lake. The color is so intense when the sky changes from bright blue to luminescent orange.

3. Kompong Khleang

If you want to venture further, head on to Kampong Khleang which is around 35 km away from Siem Reap. Among the most visited villages at Tonle Sap lake, this is the furthest one. Therefore, it doesn’t have as many tourists as the villages above, which can be appealing if you want a more authentic experience and a more peaceful place.

The village’s population is 10 times that of Kampong Phluk, making it the largest community. There are both floating houses and fixed ones raised on 10m wooden stilts. Many of them are open, so you can see directly inside into the living rooms, which all have their unique family designs. For those who have never seen such things before, it is a truly mind-blowing experience.

4. Mechrey

A quiet tourist spot of Tonle Sap Lake, Mechrey is a floating village about 15km north of Chong Khneas, and also the entry point to the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary. The village’s economy is based primarily in fishing, and quite a few farm crocodiles as well. In addition, you can witness floating pig farms, school, gardens,… There is also a fair bit of wild bird life in the area.

It’s often said that the journey is prettier than the destination when it comes to Mechrey. It’s because the road to the village offer a great photographic view. The best time to visit is in late afternoon, when the children come back from school. Floating around, they will smile to you and wave time to time. It’s also when the village is at its best in the sunset light.

Bird-watching at the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary

As well as the villages, Prek Toal is a must-see location for a kind of nature experience. Located on the Tonle Sap lake, this stunning bird sanctuary is one of the most important breeding grounds for endangered water birds in Southeast Asia. During the peak season (December to April), visitors will find the concentration of thousands of local and migratory birds like Black-headed Ibis, Spot-billed Pelican, Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Painted Stork, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and many others. What will make you impressed is these birds all have a huge size and build enormous nests.

From the floating village of Chong Kneas, getting to the sanctuary requires you to take a boat to the environment office (around $55 return, one hour each way). From here, a small boat ($35/ person including a park guide) will take you into the sanctuary, which is about one hour beyond. Exploring the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary makes it one of the most worthwhile things to do besides visiting floating villages.

Best way to visit the floating village at Tonle Sap lake

If you want to do indepedently, it’s able to try a ‘do-it-yourself’ tour. From Siem Riep, you can catch a tuk-tuk to the Chong Khneas docks for about $15 and costs $10 to $20/ person to reach the floating villages by boat. However, it can be a hassle and there are stories of people having problems trying to do it themselves. Because there are a lot of scams out on the lake.

Firstly, you might have to pay as high as $35/ person for a 45 mins – 1.5 hrs boat ride. Moreover, they will tell you sob stories about poor children and sometimes try to get you to a school or orphanage. There, you can be asked to buy 1 or 2 bags of rice for $50 – $60, which will later be sold back to the store. If you pay, the money will not benefit anybody in real need. And finally, the boat guide also ask for a tip at the end of the trip. Fortunately, if you get caught up in this, you can decline all requests.

We therefore strongly recommend you book a tour with the cost ranging from US$35 to 50/ person. Most of tourists actually do this. The tour often offers roundtrip transport in air-conditioned mini vans, lunch and plenty of opportunities to interact with the local residents. The prices are all-inclusive, and the guides make sure you’re not exposed to any scams that befall the independent travellers.

Tonle Sap does not have its own food specialties but you can find delicious dishes at really reasonable rates, for example, breakfast like rice and noodle dishes for only $1.50 USD, meals at lunchtime at a restaurant for around $2 USD or even dinner at mid-range restaurants for only cost $6-9 USD. 

During dinner time, you can find dishes at outdoor markets and street restaurants for as little as $2 USD. If you stick to the street food or buy groceries at a local market and cook your own food, it will be much cheaper and a much more interesting experience than having at a restaurant.

Most of the people visiting Tonle Sap Lake on the day-tour basis from Siem Reap and staying in Siem Reap. Consequently, there is no good accommdation on the lake. The accommodation here is mostly the homestay and low-budget hostel and suitable for the adventurous travelers.

Hence, if you plan to visit the lake, we recommend booking a hotel in Siem Reap with the suitable amenities to enjoy your stay.