The Floating Village and Port of Chong Khneas are located less than 15km from Siem Reap. It is the perfect place to visit on the Tonle Sap Lake for those that don’t have the time to explore Prek Toal or Kompong Phluk.
The Tara Boat Half Day Tours of Chong Khneas will begin at 8am and 10am respectively, when we pick you up from your Hotel or Guesthouse in an air-conditioned vehicle. Our friendly and knowledgeable tour guides speak English, Thai & Japanese (and Khmer of course), and they will ensure that you enjoy your tour, pointing out areas of local interest along the way and answering any questions you may have. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the port of Chong Khneas, and upon arrival we will exit the vehicle and jump onto one of the Mini Tara’s – smaller boats with life jackets and driven by experienced and safe local drivers.
On route to the Tara Boat we will make two stops. The first will be the GECKO Environmental Education Centre, which provides a whole host of useful information about the human societies & unique ecology of the Tonle Sap. The GECKO centre itself is a floating structure – and is a favourite amongst tourists who want to learn a bit more about life on the lake. The second stop will be the Crocodile & Fish Farm at Chong Khneas. If catfish, crocodiles and large snakes don’t interest you, there is a souvenir shop and a viewing deck on board for you to purchase some presents for loved ones or take a few photos.
The boat ride through Chong Khneas will allow you to see ordinary Cambodians going about their daily life in the floating village. Fishermen, boat-makers, markets, schools, spirit houses and waving children are always in plentiful supply on this mesmerizing scenic route, and it is not uncommon for the scenery of Chong Khneas to provoke silence on the Mini Tara, as customers take in the sights and sounds that surround them. Once the trip through Chong Khneas is complete, your boat will briefly enter the edge of the Great Lake before docking with the Tara – the Biggest boat on the Tonle Sap Lake.
There you will enjoy a well-deserved 3-course meal and 2-cold drink for free! Afterwards you can lie back in a hammock, take a seat on the viewing deck or get your photo taken at the steering wheel. Watch as other tour groups drive past on their rickety little boats whilst you chill out, relax, and enjoy the comfort & luxury of the biggest boat on the lake. At about 11:15am or 1:15pm you’ll leave the Tara and head back to the port at Chong Khneas where your air-conditioned vehicle will be waiting to transport you directly home to your Hotel or Guesthouse.
