Cambodge & Tourisme : Kampong Khleang, La Cité Flottante au Cœur du Tonlé Sap

Voyageuse Passion
13 hours ago
3 min read

At the heart of the Tonlé Sap—the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia—Kampong Khleang emerges as a model of exemplary ecotourism, where human resilience and natural splendor merge in perfect harmony.

Kampong Khleang, La Cité Flottante au Cœur du Tonlé Sap

Located 52 km southeast of Siem Reap in the province of the same name, this floating village, launched in 2016 through a partnership between local authorities, NGOs, and residents, turns the challenges of seasonal floods into sustainable opportunities. It preserves the lake’s fragile ecosystem while energizing the fishermen’s economy, offering an authentic immersion into Khmer soul far from the crowds.

Seasonal Rhythm of the Village

This haven lives in tune with the seasons. During the dry season (November to May), stilt houses—rising up to 10 meters, true “bamboo skyscrapers”—tower over a landscape of dry furrows. The monsoon (June to October) submerges everything: houses, markets, and schools float in an astonishing aquatic ballet.

Ecotourism here takes tangible form: it funds the Bridge of Life School, drinking water filtration systems for 10,000 residents, and sewing workshops that free women from the uncertainties of fishing.

Access and Best Time to Visit

Access to Kampong Khleang feels like a quest guided by the moods of the Tonlé Sap. From Siem Reap, plan 1.5 to 2 hours by tuk-tuk, air-conditioned taxi, or minivan to the Prek Khsach pier during the dry season, passing rice fields and villages. In the rainy season, depart from Chong Khneas for 2 to 3 hours of peaceful navigation through mangroves and flooded forests.

From Phnom Penh, a Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus (6–7 hours, USD 10–15) precedes the local connection, or take a 30-minute domestic flight via Cambodia Angkor Air. Best time: November to March—low waters and clear blue skies. Avoid July–August unless you seek adventurous aquatic travel. Budget: USD 20–40 for a round trip; organized tours: USD 38–60.

Ideal One-Day Itinerary

Morning (9 a.m.–12 p.m.): Depart Siem Reap at 9 a.m. with Community First Tours (+855 16 237 864; WhatsApp +1 626 825 4445; facebook.com/CommunityFirstKompongKhleang), pioneers in ethical tourism with 100% of profits reinvested, or MySiemReapTours (+855 97 744 8886; mysiemreaptours.com).

At Prek Khsach, take a canoe to the Bridge of Life School: classrooms buzzing with literacy, sewing, and hygiene programs, narrated by guides—often former students—attuned to the rising waters (up to +10 m in September).

Midday (12 p.m.–2 p.m.): Stop at a local house for a Khmer feast: sticky rice with coconut, lake fish amok, tamarind sweet-and-sour soup, and palm sugar desserts. Explore the floating market, canoes loaded with mangoes, fish, and silk scarves; buy directly from fishermen. Optional homestay with candlelight dinner.

Afternoon (2 p.m.–5 p.m.): Glide in a slender canoe through labyrinthine canals and mangroves teeming with birds (gray herons, egrets), monkeys, and monitor lizards. Try immersive workshops with Guiding Cambodia (+855 88 299 3851; guidingcambodia.com): Khmer cooking (amok, prahok), krama weaving, or traditional fishing. Take a meditative break in the flooded forest among giant lotus and deep silences.

End of day (5 p.m.–7 p.m.): Watch sunset over the adjacent Vietnamese village—floating silhouettes in pink and gold watercolor. Share ginger tea with your hosts. Return serenely with Buffalo Trails (+855 12 297 506; info@buffalotrails-cambodia.com), with personalized French-speaking options.

Why Kampong Khleang?

Less touristy than Chong Khneas, this sanctuary is home to 6,000 souls living in cyclical harmony—stilt houses defying the elements, and a flourishing biodiversity of 400 fish species and numerous migratory birds.

Here, ecotourism reigns: 80% of income supports health, education, and mangrove protection against erosion. Paddle at sunrise through mist, dine under the stars listening to the lake’s lullaby, and learn from elders how the waters dictate festivals and harvests. Khmer authenticity, far beyond Angkor’s tuk-tuks.

Sustainable Echo: Your Role in the Symphony

Kampong Khleang embodies Khmer resilience: families who, facing poverty and climate change, have woven a model of self-sufficiency.

Every ticket, every shared smile paddles toward a future where fishermen and mangroves coexist. Book through community operators—help spread the word about this hidden gem. The Tonlé Sap awaits, open-armed, for a journey that transforms both traveler and place alike. Join the floating Eden—and leave forever changed.