Eco-Tourism takes off on the shores of Tonle Sap

In 2012, Som Samnorp and his younger brother Som Samnang made history by becoming the first Cambodians to build a hovercraft with the goal of showcasing their country to tourists. After three years of self-guided study, these two self-taught engineers from the village of Arey Ksat, near Phnom Penh, successfully launched their first air-propelled boat—a thrilling and environmentally friendly way for visitors to explore Tonle Sap Lake year-round.

Soon after completing their prototype, the two pioneers founded Komnob Airboat Tours, an agency offering five unique routes aboard hovercrafts that glide across Tonle Sap and its surroundings. Prices range from $35 to $130 per adult ($20 to $80 for children), depending on the selected tour. Options include the Silver and Gold Group Tours, covering 50 and 70 kilometers of the lake with fellow travelers; the Platinum and Diamond Private Tours, which offer four-hour excursions for families or small groups to explore the remote corners of Southeast Asia’s largest lake; and the Sanctuary Birds Group Tour, a six-and-a-half-hour adventure through local villages, rich with information on the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit this vast body of water. All tours include hotel pickup and return, along with commentary from an English-speaking guide. Meals are included starting from the Gold Group Tour.

(Photo taken during the Sanctuary Bird Tour. ©Komnob Airboat Tours website.)

An original alternative to the Region’s dominant tourism activities

The hovercraft floats on water via a cushion of air or other delicate surface and requires no submerged propeller to move. Instead, it is driven by a large rear-mounted fan, allowing it to navigate swampy, shallow areas where conventional boats cannot operate. “This mode of transport is extremely useful. It can carry passengers across various terrains, particularly in low water and grassy areas. Where there’s no road, the hovercraft finds its own way,” explained Samnang in an interview with The Phnom Penh Post.

A mechanical engineer with over 15 years of experience, Samnang affirms that hovercrafts offer a promising solution for eco-tourism. Their hybrid engines, which rapidly spin the fan, consume less energy than traditional boats crossing the Tonle Sap. But sustainability comes at a price. To ensure both durability and lightness—key for air propulsion—the brothers use fiberglass and carbon fiber to construct the craft’s hull.

“I built it using parts from a car engine,” Samnang adds, “but we had to order the giant fan from abroad. For our smallest hovercraft, we needed at least 150 cc of engine capacity. We spent a great deal of money because most equipment and spare parts—like the fan and fiberglass—aren’t available in Cambodia.”

The smallest unit cost $10,000 to build and can carry up to six passengers. The largest accommodates up to 25. 

(Samnorp and his brother Samnang, with tourists of the day. ©Komnob Airboat Tours website)

Giving back through education

For the past four years, Samnorp and Samnang’s hovercrafts have skimmed across Tonle Sap at speeds of over 100 km/h. They are not the only ones enjoying this majestic natural reserve, which is also home to the daily lives of the residents of the region’s floating villages. Recognizing the central role these communities play in the lake’s vibrant tourism scene, the brothers have chosen to give back.

In their own philanthropic way, they donate a portion of every ticket sold to support the education of children in the villages of Kompong Pluk, Kompong Kleang, Chong Kneas, and others throughout the region. Although originally from the suburbs of Phnom Penh, they regularly supply these communities with books and essential school materials.  

Thibault Bourru