Tonlé Sap Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Tonlé Sap. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Sunset Tour of Kampong Phluk Stilts Home Village on the Tonle Sap

• Kampong Khleang Floating Village and Tonle Sap Half-Day Tour

• Siem Reap Floating Village Sunset Jeep Tour / SUV Car Available

• 2-Day Private Angkor Wat, Floating Village, and Countryside Tour

• Floating Village Bike & Boat Sunset / E-Bike Available

While there is no direct entrance fee to visit Tonle Sap, the various floating villages charge tourists varying admission fees. Guided tours conveniently cover the entry fee and transport to the lake, with shared boat tours starting at around US$20, private tours from US$60, and combined e-bike tours from US$70.

Yes, it's definitely worth visiting Tonle Sap during your time in Siem Reap. It's a place to experience Cambodia's nature and biodiversity—including the wealth of animals and birds living there—and to learn about the cultures of the people who live by it and, in the case of its floating villages, on it.

Per one customer who booked the Sunset Tour of Kampong Phluk Stilts Home Village on the Tonle Sap, "Visiting Tonle Sap Lake was nothing short of magical. The vast waters, the floating villages, and the serene beauty of nature created an unforgettable experience. What truly made the journey extraordinary was our guide, Mr. Poun. His deep knowledge, warm personality, and genuine care transformed the trip into something far more meaningful than just sightseeing."

The main attractions of Tonlé Sap are its floating villages, consisting of buildings on stilts and houseboats near the lake’s shores. Other highlights include its mangrove forests and the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, which are protected thanks to the lake’s status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Boat tours are the most common way to explore Tonlé Sap and can be booked online or from agencies in Siem Reap. There are various different types of tours available, ranging from daytime sightseeing to sunset dinner cruises. Many tours include hotel pickup and drop-off.

Visiting the floating villages on Tonlé Sap—such as Kampong Phluk—offers fascinating insight into local culture. Many boat tours pass through the villages and will feature commentary on how the communities live and work on the lake and how their unique homes are constructed.

Tonlé Sap is a registered UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has an abundance of wildlife living within and around its waters. The Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary is home to an incredible array of bird species, including storks and pelicans.

No, it’s not easy to explore Tonlé Sap on your own as you would need to organize a boat to travel, so booking a boat tour is generally recommended. Most tours depart from Chong Khneas, located 7.5 miles south of Siem Reap.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Tonlé Sap. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Siem Reap:

• Angkor Wat

• Bayon

• Banteay Srei

• Angkor Thom

• Ta Prohm

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Siem Reap.