In Kampong Khleang, one of the largest floating villages in Cambodge, families open their stilt houses to travelers. Staying here means spending a night above Tonlé Sap lake, in traditional Khmer architecture, away from the standard Siem Reap circuit.

Why stay in Kampong Khleang

A Kampong Khleang homestay is not a hotel: it's a simple room in a local home, in a stilt or floating house, where the family continues its daily life. You share meals, observe fishing gestures on Tonlé Sap, and attempt a few words of Khmer or English with your hosts.

The concept hinges on direct exchange: host families gain supplementary income and practice their English with travelers, while you gain access to rural Cambodge in a way impossible from a Siem Reap hotel. Comfort remains basic—floor mattresses or simple beds, shared bathrooms, limited electricity—but this very simplicity is what makes the experience worthwhile.

Atmosphere and village life

Kampong Khleang is home to nearly 6,000 people who live in rhythm with Tonlé Sap. During the rainy season (July to October), the lake swells and submerges the stilt bases: you travel by sampan between houses. In the dry season, the 8- to 10-meter stilts reveal their full height, and the village returns to solid ground.

Days begin early with the fishermen's return, followed by the ballet of supply boats, floating schools, and temples on stilts. Evening brings light on the lake and village calm that contrasts sharply with Siem Reap's tourist buzz. Expect simple dinners—lake fish, rice, vegetables—shared with your family hosts.

Location

Kampong Khleang lies southeast of Siem Reap, roughly one and a half to two hours by road, on the northern shore of Tonlé Sap. It's the floating village most distant from Siem Reap, yet also the most authentic: less visited than Chong Khneas and Kampong Phluk, it has retained a local life largely untouched by tourism.

Access is by private taxi or organized excursion from Siem Reap, with the final stretch by boat depending on season. A homestay works as a one- to two-night stopover, fitted into an itinerary combining Angkor temples and Tonlé Sap exploration.

What to see and do nearby

• Sampan ride on Tonlé Sap: exploring waterways, watching water birds and flooded forests at sunset.
• Village market and school: Kampong Khleang's community life centers on a few main buildings, visited on foot or by boat.
• Angkor temples: 1.5–2 hours by road away, Cambodge's major archaeological site pairs logically with a night in a homestay.
• Alternative accommodations in Siem Reap: for more standard comfort before or after your homestay, see Sala Lodges, La Residence Watbo Hotel, or Le Jardin d'Angkor Hotel & Resort.

Fitting Kampong Khleang into your itinerary

One night in a Kampong Khleang homestay ideally complements an Angkor-focused stay by adding a human and lakeside dimension. To craft a custom itinerary, explore our Cambodge tours.