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The Bird Sanctuary at the Prek Toal Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve is one of the most important breeding grounds in the whole of Southeast Asia for endangered water-birds. Many different species of rare birds can be found there, including but not limited to Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Greater and Lesser Adjuncts, Spot-billed Pelican, Milky Stork and the Grey-Headed Fish Eagle. Prek Toal is a must see location for any avid birdwatchers visiting Siem Reap or Cambodia.
The Tara Boat Tour of Prek Toal will begin at 6am, 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 Prek Toal 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 begin the journey across the Great Tonle Sap Lake to the Biosphere Reserve at Prek Toal. Your entrance fee & boat hire in the Biosphere is included in your ticket price. Your guide will arrange this for you, and join you as you travel through the biosphere reserve.
You’ll depart from Prek Toal in the early afternoon, and head back to the Tara Boat – the biggest boat on the Tonle Sap Lake. There you will enjoy a well-deserved 3-course meal and 2 free cold drink. 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 2:15pm 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.
Milky Stork, Laiwted Stork. Asian open bill
Lesser Adjutant
Greater
Black headed Ibis
Great Egret
Spot-billed Pelican
Little Cormorant
Indian Cormorant
Oriental Darter
Masked Fin foot
Conservation issues-collection of Eggs and chick at the nest remain the single most threat to the continued survival of these water birds on the Tonle Sap lake. Cutting of the forest areas for firewood is also a big problem specially the cutting down of large tree’s is adversely affecting availability of nesting sites for large water birds. Damming of the Mekong up stream may also affect the fishing and water birds. | 
