There are four villages near Siem Reap that visitors call "the floating village". They are not the same place, and the right one depends on how much time you have, what you want to see, and how many other tourists you can stand.
| Kompong Phluk | Kompong Khleang | Mechrey | Chong Kneas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Siem Reap | 31 km · 45–60 min | 50 km · 60–75 min | About 60 min | 15 min |
| What it is | Stilt village, huge flooded forest | Ten stilt villages, two houseboat villages | Small floating village, bird sanctuary | Floating village next to the port |
| Boat | USD 20 + USD 5 canoe | USD 20 + USD 10 canoe (private) | USD 20 boat, USD 10 sanctuary | USD 7 ticket, 4-ticket minimum |
| Tourists | Moderate | Few | Very few | Many |
| Best for | The flooded forest, first visit | Authenticity, scale | Quiet, birds | Short on time |
| Our tours | Group $28 · private | Group $32 · private | Private only | Private only · from $53 |
Kompong Phluk
About 3,000 people on stilts up to ten metres tall, at the edge of the largest flooded forest near Siem Reap. The rowboat through the forest, July to January, is the single best half hour on the lake. Closest of the real villages, so it sees a steady stream of visitors at sunset. Read the full guide.
Kompong Khleang
The largest community on the lake, around 14,000 people in ten villages along one channel, plus two houseboat villages on the open water. An hour's drive, which keeps most tour companies away. No souvenir barges, no school stops. Read the full guide.
Mechrey
A small floating village on the west shore, next to a bird sanctuary that is at its best from November to February. You will usually have it to yourselves. Private tours only; the ox cart through the fields to the landing is the local way in. Full guide coming soon.
Chong Kneas
Fifteen minutes from town, next to the ferry port, and the village most tuk-tuk drivers will take you to. Since 2022 the boats have been run by Angkor Enterprise with a fixed USD 7 ticket and a four-ticket minimum per boat, which has cleaned up the worst of the old scams. It is still the most visited and least village-like of the four. We run private tours there for guests who want fast and cheap: it is our lowest-priced private option because it is so close to town. If you have an afternoon, the other three are better. Read our honest guide.
Beyond Siem Reap
We also have representatives at Prek Toal, the bird sanctuary and floating village on the Battambang side of the lake, and Kompong Luong, the floating town on the southern shore in Pursat. Both are full days from Siem Reap and best from December to February for the birds. Both are private full days with the price built the same way.
Still not sure?
Tell the builder what matters most to you, authenticity, the flooded forest, speed or quiet, and it will suggest a village and assemble the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best floating village in Siem Reap?
For most first visits, Kompong Phluk: the flooded forest, the tall stilts, and it is the closest of the real villages. For fewer tourists and real houseboats, Kompong Khleang. For quiet and birds, Mechrey. Chong Kneas if you want fast and cheap.
Which floating village is closest to Siem Reap?
Chong Kneas, about 15 minutes. Kompong Phluk is 45 to 60 minutes, Mechrey about an hour, Kompong Khleang 60 to 75 minutes.
Are the villages really floating?
Kompong Phluk and Kompong Khleang are mostly on stilts, up to ten metres tall, with the water rising to the floors in the wet season. Kompong Khleang also has two true houseboat villages, and Mechrey and Chong Kneas are houseboat villages that move with the water.
When is the best time to visit?
August to January, when the water is high, the forest is flooded and the canoes run. The dry season is a different, drier village, interesting in its own way.