"Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference."
- Robert Frost
- Robert Frost
Floating Village (Chong Kneas)
Floating Village's are much more than just Siem Reap attractions and can be found all over the Tonle Sap lake providing essential housing to those who make their livings from the various industry that the lake provides. Some are huge communities, some merely small dwellings of several hundred or leas, Chong Kneas is the first you will discover if heading to the lake from Siem Reap. Perhaps not quite as impressive as some of the larger villages or stilted communities such as Kompong Khleang in terms of sheer magnitude, this is nevertheless traditional Cambodian life at its best, and the way people live their lives out here is a sight to behold as the scores of fisherman, market vendors, boat makers or craftsmen go about their daily business.
Chong Kneas is a remarkable testament to the adaptability of these people who reside on the very waters of the lake, and is most definitely worth a visit, being one of the most productive fishing areas in the whole of Cambodia. However, owing to its proximity to Siem Reap, you will share any visit to the village with a high volume of tourists. If pushed for time Chong Kneas is a must, but otherwise we'd recommend heading out a little further to see some of the less visited floating communities or stilted villages.
Floating Village
How much does a visit cost?
There is no entrance fee to the village itself, however you'll need to travel 15km out to the boat port and then from there boats can be arranged for US 13 - 26 for between 2 and 10 persons.
When should I go, and how long do I need?
Any time of the day is good to visit. If you get there early enough you'll have the bonus of seeing the villagers during the busiest time of the day and under sunset light, or in the evening you can catch the sun setting over nearby Phnom Krom.
What else can I see?
The Roluos Group of temples (Preah Ko, Lolei, Bakong and Wat Attvea) and picturesque Phnom Krom are nearby and are definitely worth a visit if you are out here - all of which could be included in a full day's itinerary from Siem Reap.
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