Kompong Phluk City
Seasonal flooded village on Tonle Sap with stilt houses
Upstream of Siem Reap, Kompong Phluk's stilted houses rise out of the Tonle Sap during flooding; boat tours navigate flooded forests and seasonal wildlife.
Kompong Phluk at a Glance#
Costs: Very cheap: $20-40/day - boat tours dominate costs; local food very inexpensive.
Safety: Generally safe, tourist scams possible - generally safe; negotiate boat fares to avoid overcharging.
Best Time: November-April (drier months) - drier months lower water but still accessible; tours run year‑round.
Why Visit Kompong Phluk?#
Kompong Phluk attracts visitors for its remarkable stilt-house village and flooded forest on Tonle Sap, where seasonal water levels reshape daily life. Boat tours, wooden walkways and simple lakeside temples offer a close look at floating agriculture and local fishing traditions. Birdwatching and community-run homestays add depth to a short visit.
Best Things to Do in Kompong Phluk#
Kompong Phluk Bucket List#
Kompong Phluk Stilt Village - Boat through elevated houses and teak stilt homes above the Tonle Sap.
Flooded Forest Walk - Glide among submerged trees at low water for unique ecosystem views.
Local Fishing Market - Watch fishermen unload seasonal hauls and barter at the village market.
Pagoda Viewpoint - Climb the small pagoda for quiet sunset views over flooded stilt houses.
Boatmakers’ Workshop - Visit family workshops where wooden boats and paddles are handcrafted and repaired.
Floating Vegetable Gardens - See villagers tending floating gardens that sustain the community during floods.
Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary - Take a full-day trip to Prek Toal bird sanctuary for rare waterbirds.
Siem Reap and Angkor - Combine a Kompong Phluk morning with afternoon visits to Angkor’s temple complex.
Getting Your Bearings in Kompong Phluk#
Kompong Phluk is really several villages making up a fishing community of a few thousand people, strung along the Roluos River where it meets Tonle Sap Lake. What makes it remarkable is how thoroughly life here bends to the water: as the lake swells and recedes with the annual monsoon, homes and routines move with it.
Some families live in stilted houses near the shore; others live in floating houses, a few with in-board motors. In the dry winter months, when the lake is at its lowest, you can walk around the village and beneath the thatched bamboo-and-wood houses, past an island with a temple, a school, a market and racks for drying and smoking the daily catch. Temporary thatched buildings go up on the banks and come down again before the rains return.
When the rains arrive the lake can rise many metres, flooding the village entirely. The floating houses drift closer to or farther from shore, while families in stilted homes simply shift their living quarters up successive levels of the posts to stay above the waterline. This is when the boats come out and everyone paddles from house to house, to the market, even to weddings, and when excursions into the surrounding flooded forest are at their most surreal and scenic.
Best Time to Visit Kompong Phluk#
Kompong Phluk is best visited during the dry cool season (November-February) when water levels are lower and walking is possible. The wet season (June-October) floods the Tonle Sap, transforming the area into an impressive floating world.
November - February
22-32 °C (72-90 °F)
Dry, comfortable days are ideal for seeing floating villages and walking the dry lakebed-less mosquitos and lower water levels.
March - May
25-38 °C (77-100 °F)
Scorching afternoons make boat excursions sticky but mornings are dramatic and atmospheric for photography.
June - October
24-32 °C (75-90 °F)
The lake swells and villages become truly waterborne-spectacular for boat trips, though heavy rain can make travel slow.
Kompong Phluk's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 19°C to 35°C. Abundant rainfall (1299 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 1 mm.
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February
February is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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March
March is hot, feeling like 30°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is the hottest month, feeling like 34°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is hot, feeling like 34°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (138 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 34°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (160 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (174 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (173 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (268 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (203 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Regular rainfall (80 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Light rainfall.
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How to Get to Kompong Phluk#
Kompong Phluk is a seasonal floating village on the Tonle Sap floodplain reached from Siem Reap. The normal approach is to fly or bus to Siem Reap and then take a tuk‑tuk and boat for the final leg.
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (REP): Kompong Phluk is accessed from Siem Reap town; most visitors fly into Siem Reap (REP). From the airport to Siem Reap town center tuk‑tuks cost about $2-4 per person (10-20 minutes); taxis or private car transfers are typically $8-15 depending on luggage and time of day.
Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH): If approaching from Phnom Penh you can take a bus or arrange a private transfer to Siem Reap; bus fares are usually $7-$12 for Phnom Penh-Siem Reap and take around 5-6 hours, after which you’ll transfer to a tuk‑tuk/boat for Kompong Phluk.
Train: There is no regular passenger train service to Siem Reap.
Bus: Intercity buses and minibuses from Phnom Penh and Battambang arrive in Siem Reap; reliable operators include Giant Ibis and Mekong Express with fares commonly $7-$15 and journey times of 4.5-6 hours from Phnom Penh. From Siem Reap town you’ll typically hire a tuk‑tuk or arrange a motorboat to reach Kompong Phluk (river/tonle sap area).
How to Get Around Kompong Phluk#
The most practical way to reach Kompong Phluk is to base yourself in Siem Reap, then take a tuk‑tuk to a boat pier and a motorboat onto the flooded village. Boat and tuk‑tuk combos are the standard visitor option and give the most direct access.
- Tuk‑tuk ($2-$15) - $2-$15. Tuk‑tuks are the most common way to get from Siem Reap town to boat piers near the Tonle Sap; expect $5-15 for a round trip to the pier and waiting time depending on distance and bargaining. Good for short group transfers and flexible timing.
- Motorboat / Boat tour ($10-$40) - $10-$25 per person (or $15-$40 per boat depending on negotiation). Boat trips from the Chong Kneas or other Siem Reap piers take 30-60 minutes to Kompong Phluk depending on water level. Prices vary with season and whether you hire a private boat; agree the price and route in advance.
- Private taxi / Car ($20-$50) - $20-$50 one way from Siem Reap (depending on vehicle). If you prefer door‑to‑door comfort you can hire a private car to the pier and combine with a boat ride; useful for families or those on tight schedules.
- Bicycle ($1-$5/day) - $1-$5/day. Cycling around Siem Reap’s outskirts is possible in the dry season for independent travellers; beware dust and traffic on busier roads. Not a good option in wet season when floodplains are inundated.
- Organised tour / Guide ($15-$50) - $15-$50 per person depending on inclusions. Many visitors join a guided half‑day tour that bundles tuk‑uk, boat and a local guide - convenient and often includes entrance/boat fees. Check reviews and what’s included before booking.
- Walking - Once you arrive at the stilt‑village area short sections are easily explored on foot. Expect wooden walkways and uneven surfaces; wear appropriate footwear and be prepared for humidity and insects.
Where to Stay in Kompong Phluk#
Siem Reap (base for visits) - $8-40/night
Kompong Phluk itself has no hotels on the floating village; budget travellers stay in Siem Reap and take daily tours to the village by boat.
Shinta Mani Shack (Siem Reap) - Popular boutique with dorm and budget options.
Lub d Siem Reap - Well-known hostel near Pub Street.
Siem Reap (close to attractions) - $40-120/night
Mid-range travellers should base in Siem Reap where a wide selection of boutique and comfortable hotels provides easy access to Kompong Phluk tours.
Shinta Mani Shack - Design-forward boutique near Pub Street.
Rambutan Resort - Quiet mid-range hotel with pool.
Siem Reap luxury hotel zone - $120+/night
There are several high-end hotels in Siem Reap offering full services and convenient transfers; use Siem Reap as your base for Kompong Phluk excursions.
Sokha Angkor Resort - Large resort with pool and spa.
Park Hyatt Siem Reap - Upscale riverside hotel with refined rooms.
Shopping in Kompong Phluk#
Shopping is minimal - small stalls near the boat landings sell basic souvenirs and snacks to visiting tourists, but selection is limited compared with Siem Reap markets. If you want handicrafts or a wider range of goods, plan to shop in Siem Reap before or after your visit.
Nightlife in Kompong Phluk#
There is effectively no nightlife in the village - visits are daytime excursions focused on boat trips and sightseeing. For evening dining and bars return to Siem Reap.
