Kompong Khleang Floating Village

Kompong Khleang is a non-touristic attraction with little opportunities for travel revenues compared to other floating villages. However, in recent years, it has become one of the most popular destinations due to the unspoiled and pristine beauty of the local environment. A trip to Tonle Sap Lake would not be complete without paying a visit to this tranquil floating village. For those looking for an authentic feeling and getting to know another way of life never seen on the bustling city streets, it would be the best among all floating communities in the area.

Kompong Khleang Floating Village during the rainy season.

See for yourself the stilt-houses that move in unison with the water stream, kids having fun, and locals fishing during a boat ride along Kompong Khleang. The way of life here is different without clean running water or any source of the internet but nothing short of extraordinary. This boat excursion will leave you thinking about poverty and the hard lives of Southeast Asian local communities.

Kampong Khleang Floating Village has both stilted and floating houses and many other buildings to cater to the needs of over 10,000 inhabitants. It has a market, and some households provide critical products to their neighbors. There are pagodas, schools for small children, and a regional emergency care center. Also, there are two floating villages on the way to Tonle Sap. The Vietnamese community floating village is also a worthwhile stop to add to your travel itinerary in Siem Reap.

The local people, from children to adults, are used to going around by boats and rows.

Kompong Khleang is the furthest among floating villages accessible from Tonle Sap Lake, but thanks to this, it remains its authenticity, and is untouched by tourists. Every day, the friendly villagers welcome approximately 20 visitors. If you are going on a tour or are just pure lucky, you might be invited to visit a home and have lunch with a generous local family. It is an opportunity for visitors to get to know Cambodia from a very different viewpoint. It is genuinely eye-opening and transformative to be able to see locals go on about their day.

Locals traveling through the village. Source: floatingvillagetours

To drive from Siem Reap, head east on Road 6 from Siem Reap. Continue until you reach Damdek Market, where you should take a right. From there, it is not so confusing to get to Kompong Khleang Floating Village, especially with directions from locals. However, we recommend a taxi or tuk-tuk as it will be quite a long trip. On your way back, do not miss the sticky rice in bamboo on the side of the road, which will leave you wanting more.

The entrance fee for the floating village is 21$ if you are going alone and $20 per person if you are with a group. This includes a boat ride through the village and onwards to Tonle Sap. Depending on the season, your boat's starting point will be different. For rainy weather, you will go straight from the dock, but when it is dry season, the way down is slightly further.

Discover the charm of Kompong Khleang Floating Village on a half-day tour with us