The Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and the beating heart of Cambodia. Each rainy season the Mekong backs up and the river that drains the lake reverses its flow, so the lake swells to several times its dry-season size, flooding the forest and feeding one of the richest inland fisheries in the world. The people who live on its edge have adapted in remarkable ways, and Kompong Pluk is the most striking example: a village of wooden houses raised on stilts many metres tall, with a school, a pagoda and boats tied beneath the homes. A boat ride takes you along the village’s main channel, often through a flooded mangrove forest, and out onto the open lake for sunset. This page links to a small-group sunset tour on Tiqets by Vespa Backstreet, in which you ride as a passenger on a vintage-style Vespa through the villages and rice fields to the lake, with a boat trip and drinks included and a group of no more than eight.
How to visit: Kompong Pluk is about 30 kilometres south-east of Siem Reap, roughly an hour by road, and the scenery changes completely with the seasons. From around August to December the water is high and boats glide right up to the houses; in the late dry season the water drops and the stilts stand exposed. November, at the end of the rains, is one of the best times to go.
The tour: the Tiqets tour starts at 14:00 at the Vespa Backstreet office on Bamboo Street and lasts about five hours, with an English-speaking guide and an experienced driver for each rider. It includes the round-trip Vespa ride, the boat ride through Kompong Pluk with sunset on the lake, bottled water and soft drinks. Tips and personal expenses are extra, and free cancellation runs until 24 hours before.
Making the most of it: the villages are home to real families, so ask before taking close-up photos of people, and buy from local stalls rather than giving money to children. Bring a light jacket for the Vespa ride back after dark, sunscreen and insect repellent for the boat.
What to expect
The experience
A pillion ride on a Vespa through the countryside, a boat trip through the stilt village of Kompong Pluk and sunset on the open lake.
Best time
From late in the rainy season to December, when the water is high around the stilt houses; November is ideal.
How long
About five hours from the 14:00 start.
Tips
Wear closed shoes and long trousers for the ride, bring a light jacket for the return after dark and pack insect repellent.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want to see everyday Cambodian life beyond the temples and catch a memorable sunset.
- Families
- Teenagers will love the Vespa and boat; check age rules with the operator for younger children.
- Couples
- A Vespa ride through the rice fields and sunset on the lake make one of the most romantic afternoons in Siem Reap.
- Pair with
- A temple morning at Angkor Wat or Ta Prohm, with a rest at the hotel before the 14:00 start.
- Time needed
- An afternoon and early evening.
Good questions
Which floating village does the tour visit?+
The tour visits Kompong Pluk, a village of houses on tall stilts on the edge of the Tonle Sap. It is one of the most striking and least commercial of the lake villages near Siem Reap.
Do I drive the Vespa myself?+
No, each guest rides as a passenger behind an experienced driver. Helmets are provided, and the pace is relaxed.
When is the best time to visit the Tonle Sap?+
The water is highest from late in the rainy season into December, when boats reach right up to the houses. November is one of the best months to go.
Is the boat ride included?+
Yes, the boat trip through Kompong Pluk and out onto the lake for sunset is included, with water and soft drinks. Tips and personal expenses are extra.
How far is Kompong Pluk from Siem Reap?+
It is about 30 kilometres from Siem Reap, roughly an hour each way. The ride through villages and rice fields is part of the experience.
