Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake hosts one of the world's most unique ecological and cultural phenomena - entire communities living in floating villages that rise and fall with the lake's dramatic seasonal changes. During the monsoon season, the lake expands to become one of the largest freshwater lakes in Southeast Asia.

This guide explores the distinctive floating communities of Kampong Luong, Chong Khneas, and Prek Toal, where traditional ways of life have adapted to the aquatic environment. From floating schools and markets to fishing techniques passed down through generations, these villages offer visitors an extraordinary glimpse into resilient communities shaped by their watery surroundings.

Kampong Luong floating village, located in Pursat Province, represents one of the more authentic and less touristy communities on Tonle Sap Lake. This entirely self-contained floating settlement includes over 700 houses, shops, a school, temples, and even a police station - all built on pontoons and bamboo rafts that rise with the water level.

The village's floating market operates each morning, with small boats laden with fresh produce, fish, and household goods creating waterway traffic jams as residents conduct their daily business. Visitors can hire local guides with boats to explore the community, where they'll witness ingenious adaptations to aquatic living, from vertical fishing nets suspended beneath homes to creative water collection systems.

The Prek Toal floating village serves as the gateway to one of Southeast Asia's most important bird sanctuaries. Located in the northern section of Tonle Sap Lake, this community has developed a sustainable ecotourism model that combines traditional fishing practices with conservation efforts to protect the rare water birds that nest in the surrounding flooded forest.

Community-based tourism initiatives here allow visitors to stay overnight with local families in homestays, learning traditional fishing methods and participating in daily activities. The Osmose organization works with village women to create handicrafts from water hyacinth, providing alternative income sources while reducing this invasive species. Morning boat trips to the bird sanctuary offer opportunities to spot endangered species like the painted stork, milky stork, and spot-billed pelican.