Tonle Sap Lake and Kampong Phluk Half-Day Tours from Siem Reap (4-5h)

This wasn't high on our list of options whilst in Siem Reap initially but it turned out to be a highlight. Very interesting on the boat, but also getting out and seeing a local village and its people. Great tour guide San , very friendly, very helpful, perfect English. Very pleased with the tour.

The positive first; the guide was very knowledgable and explained much more about Cambodian living than we expected. The village itself however left us with mixed feelings. The information on the tour itself did not include the fact that you have to pay $5 extra per person to go through the mangroves by canoe (with a local as driver). Subsequently your canoe makes a first and second stop in what can only be described as a commercial floating junkfood market with canoes filled with ladies who sell softdrinks in plastic bottles and cans and snacks in plastic bags. Your boat waits until you buy food and drinks for yourself and for the driver. These are manatory stops. Next we were told to buy bananas for the monkeys in the mangroves. In our case we never saw any monkeys there. This village positions itself as eco-friendly. We have no idea what that is based upon. It was not explained but it seems to have made this village properous. Most of the boats they use are extremely noisy and leave a trail of smoke and smell. Even worse is the water polution in the waters in and around the village. There is plastic and other garbage everywhere! In the water, along the shores and in the branches in the mangrove forest. Yes, it is true in all of Cambodia, where you see garbage dumped in the most beautiful places. But, in a place like this, which is largely dependant on tourism, it appears the villagers just don't see it and leave all the plastic where it is.

In high school, I studied about Tonle Sap and today I once experience this in my lifetime for the first time! I really enjoy the trip.

I was afraid that could be a tourist trap, but the trip was well worth it. The guide (Van Lonh) and the British couple I was with were so funny and easy-going, I really felt as if with friends. Van Lonh is one of his kind: if you can, definitely book with him! He's definitely the best guide I had in Cambodia. He's kind, helpful, interesting, and hillarious... you just can't get bored. He's not just bringing you from place to place: he's part of the experience! The trip was refreshing, the visit more than interesting, and really worth it: this was a "half day" visit, but it lasted as long as the other "full day" tours I booked. Just get ready to pay an extra 5$ if you want a drive in the mangrove (not that fascinating, in my opinion...)

Took this tour with guide Phearon earlier today. It was an excellent excursion from pick-up to drop-off and was an excellent way to spend some time outside of central Siem Reap. The floating village was fascinating and the optional canoe ride was a wonderfully unique experience. We were back at the hotel by 1pm which gave plenty of leisure time for the rest of the day. Highly recommend this tour.

Siya Pouv was our tour guide on this trip to see the homes on stilts around Tonle Sap Lake. His English was perfect and he shared a ton of great information. I even got to ask questions I had from the rest of my stay. The tour itself was quite good. The only think I thought was a bit hokey was seeing the python in a little plastic container.

Went on this tour today. It exceeded expectations. After being picked up a 45 min drive to get on the boat. There we stopped at the floating village en saw how people live there. Quite authentic although they are very much used to tourists. We did the small boat tour for an extra of 5 usd per person, but it was worth it. Restaurant was not good and quite a rip-off compared to other places. The we went to see the sunset. Very nice with a clear sky. After that back to the bus and back to Siem Reap. Back at hotel at 7.45 pm.

Guide was informative and speaks English well enough to joke with the tourists. A photographer's feast of photogenic people and nature's colors, light and shadows! Try the grilled snake on a stick!

We had an afternoon time to do something in Siem Reap. Decided to take the afternoon tour for Kampong Phluk. Pickup at the hotel, nice on time, and off we went to Tonle Sap Lake. Our guide, Mr. Van Lonh from Green Era Travel, gave us valuable information about the coming tour and answered general questions about the country and the people. He is highly recommended. A guy who has great pleasure in his job and does his utmost to serve the clients. The tour was very pleasant. Beautifull village on poles. Now not very high above water due to the high water level of the lake. Boats sailing and crossing all over the place. Pleasure to watch. Also Mr. Van Lohn Show us the local food we could taste. Recommended tour is you have a morning or afternoon to spare.