About the Port
Tonle Sap, Cambodia's great inland lake, swells and shrinks dramatically with the seasons, feeding a network of rivers and floating settlements that have shaped Khmer life for centuries. River calls along its shores reach villages such as Kampong Chhnang, known for its stilted and floating houses, and Koh Chen, home to artisans who craft silver and copper wares using techniques passed down through generations.
Upriver, Kampong Tralach offers a quiet walk through village lanes to the Vihara of Wat Kampong Tralach Leu, a modest pagoda prized for its setting rather than grandeur. The lake also serves as a practical gateway toward Siem Reap, jumping-off point for the temples of Angkor. Travel here moves at the unhurried pace of river life, with small boats often required to reach village landings.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Tonle-Sap.
Explore Floating Villages by Boat
Small craft ferry visitors past the stilted and floating houses of Kampong Chhnang, where daily life on the water continues much as it has for generations. Reaching the landings requires local boats, so plan for an unhurried, tender-dependent excursion.
Watch Koh Chen's Metal Artisans
Wander this riverside village to see craftsmen hammer silver and copper into intricate wares using techniques handed down through families for generations. It's a rare, hands-on look at a fading Khmer trade.
Visit Wat Kampong Tralach Leu
A short walk along village lanes leads to this modest hilltop pagoda, valued more for its tranquil setting overlooking the countryside than for grand architecture. Crossing Kampong Tralach village on foot adds to the experience.