Visits to the Tonle Sap are usually a few hours, focused around a boat trip into sunset. On our private Floating Village Culture Tour, we go much further. We get you directly to the action at the perfect time for optimal light. From moody interiors and soft afternoon light to exclusive overnight safaris, we go far beyond your average tourist boat to experience the real culture.
Prek Toal, a main Biosphere Reserve on the Tonle Sap is famed for it’s bird life. However, there is more to this location than it’s wild life. The sizeable community here has floating houses, pagodas and schools nestled to the sides of the lake inlet.
The well publicised boat trip from Battambang to Siem Reap passes colourful communities, a delightful but long journey when waters are high October & November being optimal. Low, March to July, water the boat stops short of Battambang, with a 1.5 hr drive to complete the journey. These trips run during day time, missing the best light. For us photographers, a stop over night gets the best light. Magical golden light at both sun set and rise, an opportunity not to be missed! On our recent adventure we were not disappointed.
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Mechrey to Prek Toal
Mechrey to Prek Toal is one hour+ during high water, longer when the water is low. Our boat disembarked close to three pm. A short trip through Mechrey village we were on vast open water. It’s here where you get a cense of the Tonle Sap’s size. Watching the odd fishing boat and a scattering of wild life, we arrived at Prek Toal village in just over an hour.
Golden hour here is a delight. The village is vast, local community activity gives great photo op’s as the sun sets. Similarly, sunrise brings a feast of activity, children traveling to school, mobile shops and monks doing alms.
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Accommodation at Prek Toal
Accommodation is basic. Our accommodation consisted of a mattress with mosquito net on shared floor. It was clean with squat toilet. Water was on a hand pump from the Tonle Sap. If your planning on staying the night, bring along some bottles water for essentials! Some places provide food, some don’t. We were served fried chicken & fish, soup and rice, a good feed for Khmer food. If you want western comforts you will have to take them along. It’s not for everyone. Prepared to slum it for a night, rewards will follow.
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Hyacinth Handicraft
Local communities participate in the weaving of hyacinth, turning these troublesome water plants into an ideal gift. If time permits, ask your driver to take you to a local workshop. Our homestay, the Green House, participated and had a range of local made products available for tourists.
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Prek Toal To Battambang
This journey from Prek Toal to Battambang takes 5.5hrs by boat when the water is high, October and November. Along the way you will pass by the soon to be restored Wat Chheu Khmao, vibrant numerous villages and boating / fishing activity. The boat is comfortable but noisy. It stops 10km short of Battambang city centre where you will have to arrange transport to town.
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Photography Tours
We are offering evening and overnight photography tours from Siem Reap to Prek Toal and returning to SR, details to be finalised. An alternative is to add the Siem Reap to Battambang journey with an over night stop on the Tonle Sap as part of a multi day photo workshop.
Want shots like this? Let me guide you on one of my Tonle Sap floating village photography workshops. Link in button below:
Leaving Mechrey.
Entering Prek Toal Village, mad reflections at golden hour.
Sun sets without a tourist boat in sight.
Monks of the Tonle Sap
Monks doing Alms on a boat.
Time for school, an alternative blue hour!
Wat Chheu Khmao
Battambang, delightful!
- Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve
The bird sanctuary is best to visit Jan – March, when when the Tonle Sap is low and migrating birds flock to the area. To visit the main viewing area from Prek Toal village, you have to hire a separate boat $25 and pay an entrance fee, $10 per person. Tour packages departing from Siem reap are available.
