Cruise on the Tonle Sap - Travel Guide

As the beating heart of Cambodia, the Tonle Sap is where the life of the Khmer kingdom is organized. Nearly three million Cambodians depend on its fish-filled waters. The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO nature reserve, the Tonle Sap is a must-see site during your trip to Cambodia. Give in to the temptation of taking a cruise there to contemplate the astonishing lake life in the fishing villages and to be able to observe exceptional fauna and flora.

Cruises from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

From Phnom Penh, treat yourself to a dream cruise to Siem Reap, the gateway to the majestic archaeological site of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depending on your availability and budget, choose the category of your boat and the duration of your cruise on the Tonle Sap, from 3 to 4 days. Taking a cruise on the Tonle Sap from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will allow you to discover the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and its unique lake life that takes place on the many floating villages spread all around the lake.

Embark on a comfortable cruise ship with private cabins, a restaurant and an upper deck and enjoy this enchanting interlude during which you will have the opportunity to discover:

- Koh Chen, "the Chinese island" in the Khmer language, where the inhabitants have specialized for centuries in working with copper and silver. You will have the opportunity to observe the skilled craftsmen shaping ornamental objects intended for religious ceremonies or the celebration of weddings.

- Wat Kampong Tralach, this ancient city was one of the most important cities in the country and houses an ancient pagoda isolated in the middle of the rice fields.

- Kampong Chhnang or the "potters' port", this floating fishing village was an important stopover on the trade routes that linked China and India between the 6th and 11th centuries. Discover this picturesque village and its crafts focused on pottery and wicker weaving.

- Chnok Tru and Moat Khla, two exciting floating villages where you can observe the fabulous spectacle of fishermen with ancestral traditions and appreciate the extreme kindness of their inhabitants.

Throughout your cruise, you will have the chance to observe the lively life of the banks, the lush landscapes, and the magnificent sunrises and sunsets on the mythical Tonle Sap Lake. It will also be an opportunity to appreciate the divine Khmer cuisine and taste some of the fish from the lake prepared in the Cambodian style.

Cruise from Battambang to Siem Reap

Travelers who do not have the time and/or the budget to take a cruise from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap can fall back on the very beautiful little cruise from Battambang. This cruise allows you to reach the fabulous temples of Angkor.

The boat that makes this charming cruise through landscapes of prints does not offer the same comfort conditions as those that make the Phnom Penh - Siem Reap cruise. The comfort is very simple, it is a local wooden boat with a few seats that you will share with the Cambodians but it is a very beautiful travel experience. After sailing on the Sangker River from Battambang, you will then continue on the Tonle Sap Lake. You will pass through many floating villages where stops are planned to relax and eat.

Depending on the water level, this cruise lasts from 6 to 8 hours.

Cruises from Siem Reap

From Siem Reap, you can take a magnificent cruise on the Tonle Sap for half a day or a full day. This cruise will be a great opportunity to observe the river life of Tonle Sap Lake and discover the picturesque floating fishing villages where the houses and buildings rest on tall thin stilts, they keep the houses dry during the rainy season. These very photogenic floating villages are inhabited by Vietnamese, Cham and Cambodian communities who practice traditional fishing techniques.

If you choose a day cruise, you can visit a crocodile farm and especially the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary. Recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, Tonle Sap Lake is home to an exceptional alluvial forest ecosystem. Appreciate its richness by going to the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary. This reserve contains an important bird sanctuary where you can admire all kinds of birds such as the ibis, the pelican, the cormorant, etc.

Sunset cruise in Phnom Penh

For an hour or more with dinner on board, embark on a boat for a cruise on the Tonle Sap River and discover the capital in all its magic as you pass in front of the sparkling roofs of Phnom Penh like those of the Royal Palace which are never more beautiful than when the last rays of the sun powder them with gold. It’s a great way to end a day visiting the Cambodian capital.

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