Boat Trip On Tonle Sap
by Naveen Marasinghe
A boat trip on Tonle Sap ( Boeung Tonle Sap), the largest fresh water lake of Cambodia , is a great experience. The areas is a floating village, with floating houses, schools and pigs and vegetable patches on their own little rafts. Many children can also be seen paddling. A cruise takes tourists past several floating villages made up of charming houseboats, gas stations, schools, police stations and even karaoke clubs. Some of the notable objects are the towering stilted houses and the fish traps. The boat ride is leisurely, helping the tourists relax and enjoy the scene.
The lake is visited by millions of migrating birds especially during the period December to March, making it a haven for birdlife and a heaven for bird lovers. There are over two hundred species of birds, including several threatened and endangered ones. There are crocodiles, turtles, otters and other wildlife as well.
A boat trip on Tonle Sap ( Boeung Tonle Sap), the largest fresh water lake of Cambodia , is a great experience. The areas is a floating village, with floating houses, schools and pigs and vegetable patches on their own little rafts. Many children can also be seen paddling. A cruise takes tourists past several floating villages made up of charming houseboats, gas stations, schools, police stations and even karaoke clubs. Some of the notable objects are the towering stilted houses and the fish traps. The boat ride is leisurely, helping the tourists relax and enjoy the scene.
The lake is visited by millions of migrating birds especially during the period December to March, making it a haven for birdlife and a heaven for bird lovers. There are over two hundred species of birds, including several threatened and endangered ones. There are crocodiles, turtles, otters and other wildlife as well.
Chong Khneas is the floating village at the edge of the lake and most accessible to Siem Reap. Boats and boat tours are available here round the clock. A two hour boat trip may cost around $6 and each boat may carry up to fifteen passengers. The boatman often acts as a guide and points out interesting spots on the lake. There are two stops on the way- a fish and bird exhibition with a souvenir and snack shop, and the other is a Gecko Environment Center, which displays information about the lake area. The H2O Boat offers cruises on a comfortable, fully stocked ‘lounge boat.’
Usually, the lake is 3000 square kilometers in size, but the melting ice from the Himalayas sometimes doubles the size of the lake and during other times it may shrink. It is a dumbbell shaped body of water, stretching across the northwest section of the country. A boat trip on Tonle Sap could be the ideal relaxing and leisurely getaway activity.
Tonle Sap is easily accessible from Siem Reap, where there are many accommodation facilities available. Staying at a luxury hotel in Siem Reap will make any stay in the city worthwhile and truly memorable. To get the best deals, and luxury comfort and convenience, a Siem Reap hotel in the central city is considered an ideal recommendation.
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