Kampong Phluk Waterfall

Kampong Phluk is a lakeside village complex on the Tonle Sap system in Cambodia, inhabited by fishing communities that live in stilted and floating homes. The settlement is noted for its adaptation to the large seasonal rise and fall in water levels on the lake.

The village developed around Tonle Sap’s fisheries and the seasonal rhythms of the lake; residents rely on fishing and related livelihoods and have adapted housing and piers to the annual flood cycle. The village has become a regular stop on visitor itineraries for those traveling from Siem Reap to the Tonle Sap.

Kampong Phluk sits on the shores and channels of the Tonle Sap lake system near Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia, reachable by a short boat ride from nearby riverside landing points.

• Access and layout: Houses are built on stilts or floating platforms to accommodate annual water-level changes on the Tonle Sap; boat trips are the standard way to visit and view the village layout.

Kampong Phluk is reached by road from Siem Reap (about 20-30 km); most visitors go by car or tuk-tuk to the southern edge of Tonle Sap and then transfer to small boats. Guided boat trips depart from Chong Kneas or directly from Siem Reap tour operators; confirm seasonal water conditions before traveling.

• Hire a local boat and guide from Siem Reap or Chong Kneas to tour the flooded village - guides know which spots are seasonally accessible.
• Plan visits for late afternoon to see the light on stilts and to avoid the heat of midday.
• Respect residents' privacy; many homes are private and busy with daily life, so ask before photographing people inside compounds.