OVERVIEW
Enjoy the Kompong Luong floating village where two different cultures live in harmony.
The Kompong Luong floating village is the product of one man’s vision and the collective endeavour of the entire community. Situated in the southern section of Tonle Sap lake in Pursat province, this is one of the most intriguing parts in Cambodia. Here, you will experience how the community adapts in their environment. You will have the chance to visit two very different villages, a Vietnamese village and a Khmer village, working together in harmony. Come and visit this amazing place where nature helps heal wounds of the past. And where people have an incredible respect and appreciation for the environment.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Kompong Loung village in Pursat is a large Floating village north of Krakor on Beoung Tonle Sap lake, where you can discover the Tonle Sap from close and experience the intricate realities of living in a floating village on a large lake. The tourism project is being largely self-organised by local people, without external support form NGOs or the local government.
From Mr. Seng Lis, assistant tour organiser and homestay co-ordinator at Kompong Loung project: “I work to support the development of tourism in my community. I choose to help my floating community every day, I can see the benefits of tourism in the Kompong Loung commune. Tourism helps to provide employment and livelihoods for both women and men in the community. Men mostly organise boat trips and transport visitors, while women have few homestays in the village. The profit from all service go directly to the family and a small amount goes to help support staff of community and tourism project.
At the begging, it was very difficult… we had no tourist who ould come here. Also, we did not know how to properly provide services for the local people. We received training, that helped us to better understand the visitor’s needs – especially what international tourist are looking for. Now we provide tours for visitors going to 2 villages – Khmer and Vietnamese, where people can learn about both the Khmer and Vietnamese culture, traditions and different way of life. Some visitors also want to learn more about our way of life, so we can show them the open lake and also our floating school. As more people learn about our project, more visitors come. At the moment we only have 3 homestays, so we would like to train more families so we can have more visitors to come at the same time. Our community values the visitors, they are nice people who want to learn about our way of life, and this project helps to improve the living standard of the local floating village.”
The Kompong Loung Floating Village, is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Boueng Tonle Sap, Pursat Province. Located on the south-western side of the Tonle Sap Lake, north of Krakor, the community of Kompong Loung offers visitors the chance to experience life on the water. Houses, schools, karaoke bars, shops and even the church are all kept afloat by empty oil drums and bamboo. During the wet season, when the area floods, downstream alluvial canals enrich the area with large fish. In dry season the village moves north to deeper waters.
The people living in Kompong Loung Floating Village rely heavily on the Tonle Sap for their livelihoods. Here, water really is life. Families provide boat transport for fish caught in the lake, run boat trips, offer homestays or sell produce in small shops – all whilst sitting atop the water. Both Vietnamese and Khmer communities call this place home – adding to the culturally interesting location.
The tourism project is locally run and was established together with the commune chief and local government. The community offers homestays and boat tours for visitors to experience first-hand the colourful local culture and life on the lake. Not only does the Kompong Loung Floating Village provide visitors with a unique insight into a vastly different way of life, it supports the community – all proceeds go directly to local families.
The Kompong Loung Floating Village is accessible by wooden boat from the boat landing close to Krakor. Tuks tuks or moto dops take 10-15minutes along a road north of Krakor take you to where the boats depart. Its a 10 minute journey from the shore to the homestay.
Homestays
There are three homestays at the Kompong Loung Floating Village, each in private/share rooms with a local family. Homestays are equipped with mattress, bedding, mosquito net and electricity. Toilets are Khmer style (squat) with a recycling system underneath (no it doesn’t go back into the water !). The toilets sit externally to the house. During wet-season, water is collected in a tank for bucket-showers whilst in the dry season with no rain, families purchase clean water for you to use.
Hammocks are available at the homestay to relax in and watch the sunset.
Kayak
At the homestay, a small kayak is available for self-exploration of the village. The boat fits four people.
Boat trips
Exploring further at the Kompong Loung Floating Village afield can be arranged via a large wooden boat. The boats have a flat bottom for passengers to sit. During the boat tours you visit many different places in the villages so this requires getting in and out of the boat regularly.
Shops
The Kompong Luong village has all the amenities of the mainland, just on water. Therefore, there are many stores selling food, cold drinks and supplies.
Floating Homestays
Experience life on the water and support the local community through an overnight stay in a homestay at the Kompong Luong Floating Village. Three local families offer private or share rooms in a floating house in amongst the buzzing village. From here, explore the village by boat, immerse yourself in Khmer culture and taste delicious home-cooked meals.
Boat Tour (1-2hours)
The best way to experience the most of this buzzing aqua polis is by boat. Boat trips can be arranged to visit the Vietnamese village, Cambodian village or tour local mangroves. Tours run for an hour and take you past impressive feats of water architecture. Explore colourful houses, chicken coops, bars, shops and smiling children waving back at you.
Kayak
From the homestay, take your own boat to explore nearby in the village. Boats fit up to four people.
Swim
Take a swim in the Tonle Sap from your homestay or boat. Swimming is recommended during the wet season when the water is clearer.
Watch the sunset from a hammock
Sunsets are stunning over the Tonle Sap Lake and are even better from the comfort of a hammock. Homestays have hammocks for you to relax and soak up the atmosphere of the Kompong Luong Floating Village.
Getting to Kompong Loung Floating Village requires both land and water journeys. Boats depart from just north of the town of Krakor, Pursat province..
Getting to Krakor
The town of Krakor is approximately 3 and half hours from Phnom Penh and 1 and half from Battambang.
From Phnom Penh you will need to board a bus service to Battambang and get off when you reach Krakor, Pursat.
Getting to Kompong Luong Floating Village
From the Krakor, the Kompong Luong pier is another 10 or 15 minute journey by tuk tuk or motorbike.
From here, take a boat (10 minutes) to the Kompong Luong Floating Village.
Kompong Luong Floating Village
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Exploring floating village on Tonle Sap
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