5 floating villages around Tonle Sap to visit!

Tonle Sap Lake, also known as Great Lake is seasonally inundated freshwater lake. The lake is attached to the river named Tonle Sap too, the 120 km long Tonlé Sap River, that connects the lake to the Mekong River. There are five provinces surrounding the lake, including Siem Reap, Kompong Thom, Kompong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang. 

The lake is home to various kinds of endangered fish, birds and forest. 

People who live by the river and lake depend almost completely on the lake for living. They live there for generations and they have to adapt to it. The school buidling, the health center, the communal halls, the restaurants, the houses have to be floating so that they can resistant to the water current and flows. For example, they tight those building to the trees while the water is up and they have to readjust it when the water is down in dry season. They way they live is quite fascinating for some other people, especially visitors.

There are 5 floating villages that you can visit during your time in Cambodia.

1. Prek Toal (Battambang), not just a typical floating village but is very famous for bird watching and can be accessed from Siem Reap (consult with travel and tours website for more information). 

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

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2. Kompong Pluk (Siem Reap), about 30kms away from Siem Reap town and is very famous. A big village of stilt houses can be seen from boat road trip and boat. There is a ticket booth where you can buy the tickets (well established).

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

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3. Kompong Khleang (Siem Reap - the best), about 60kms away from Siem Reap town but most recommended by foreign visitors. There are more than 1700 stilt houses and the floating houses on the lake. This is probably best floating village you would like to see (well established)

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

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4. Phat Sanday (Kompong Thom), easy to access through Kompong Chhnang. It is another spectular place and birding at sunset is absolutely a must a visit. Tourism facility is not really ready yet. 
5. Chong Kneas (Siem Reap), very closed to Siem Reap town and beautiful but should be avoided because it is Notorious for tourist scams, overcharging and unethical tourism and that tourist money goes directly to private boat company.
6. Mechrey (Siem Reap), closed by Siem Reap town but consult with the travel and tour website before going there. 

There are many articles about these villages, you might want to read in details here https://architectureontheroad.com/exploring-the-floating-villages-tonle-sap-lake-cambodia/#.XoVsM0BuLA0