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Kampong Phluk: Stilted Village on Tonle Sap Lake

Discover Kampong Phluk, a stilted village on Tonle Sap Lake, and experience Cambodia's unique floating community and traditional lakeside life.

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Kampong Phluk is a unique floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, known for its houses built on stilts. Experience the daily life of the local Khmer people, who have adapted to the lake's seasonal changes, and explore the flooded mangrove forest.

A brief summary to Kampong Phluk, village on stilts

  • Krong Siem Reap, KH

Local tips

  • Visit during the wet season (June-October) to experience the full floating village effect, when the water levels are high.
  • Take a boat tour to explore the village and mangrove forest, observing the daily life of the local Khmer people.
  • Consider an optional canoe ride through the flooded forest for a closer look at the unique ecosystem.
  • Respect the local culture and traditions by dressing modestly and asking permission before taking photos of residents.
  • Purchase handmade crafts and souvenirs from local shops to support the community.
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Getting There

  • Tuk-tuk/Taxi

    From Siem Reap, hire a tuk-tuk or taxi for the approximately 45-60 minute journey to the Kampong Phluk ticket office. Tuk-tuks may cost around $20, while a private car could be about $45. From the ticket office, proceed to the boat dock, which may move depending on the season. Purchase your boat ticket ($20 per person) and community entrance fee ($2 per person). Then board a boat to explore the village.

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Discover more about Kampong Phluk, village on stilts

Kampong Phluk, meaning "Harbor of the Tusks" in Khmer, is a cluster of three stilted villages in the Siem Reap Province of Cambodia. Located about 16 kilometers southeast of Siem Reap, it offers a captivating glimpse into traditional lakeside living on the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. The village's houses are built on stilts, some soaring up to 6-9 meters high, an architectural adaptation to the dramatic seasonal changes in water levels. During the wet season (June to October), the rising waters transform the village into a floating community, with boats becoming the primary mode of transportation. In the dry season (November to May), the receding waters reveal the towering stilts, showcasing the village's unique architecture. The community consists mainly of Khmer people whose lives revolve around fishing and small-scale aquaculture. Visitors can witness locals casting fishing nets, tending to floating fish farms, and transporting goods by boat, all while learning about their traditions and customs. A boat tour through the village and the adjacent mangrove forest provides a closer look at this unique ecosystem. The flooded forest is home to diverse wildlife, including crab-eating macaques. Kampong Phluk has a rich history, dating back to when it was a collection of fishermen and their families living near the lake. The village was disrupted by the Khmer Rouge regime, but families returned to resume their lives as fishermen after the Khmer Rouge. Today, tourism is a growing part of the local economy, with residents working to showcase their unique floating homes and vast mangrove forests.

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