Lost Jungle Temples and Floating Villages

We make an early start today as we have a long and exciting day ahead! Depart with your vintage Jeep and knowledgeable guide and driver, and ply the numerous beautiful red dirt roads, through the countryside to the overgrown ruins of Beng Melea Temple, just outside Siem Reap.

Put on your Indiana Jones fedora and it’s time to explore! Indiana Jones was not filmed here, but this stunning temple has been used as a filming location for several movies including the 2004 award winning ‘Two Brothers’ starring Guy Pearce. You will understand why when you get here…

Back to the jeep and we head south towards the great Tonle Sap lake - the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. As we get closer to the lake we will see many markets and stalls selling all different kinds of dried and preserved fish.

We arrive at the port of Kampong Khleang, one of the most impressive floating villages in Cambodia. From here we will board a local boat and head out to exploration the floating village. At lunch time, we will take you to a stilt house in the village to share a typical Khmer lunch with very friendly locals.

Next, we proceed to the Vietnamese floating village. This village is unlike the rest of Kampong Kleang. The Vietnamese Village is not composed of stilt houses. The houses there are built on floating objects that keeps them afloat on the Tonlé Sap. The village moves along the river and sometimes out on to the lake depending on the season. They have a floating school, a hospital, local shops, pig pens, and even a hairdresser! A spectacular sight indeed.

The water level around this fascinating village undergoes a dramatic transformation throughout the year, captivating visitors in both the dry and green seasons. It offers two distinctly unique perspectives! During the dry season, your jeep adventure takes you directly beneath the towering stilt houses, revealing their intricate foundations and the daily life unfolding on the exposed ground below. Come the green season, the landscape shifts entirely; you'll gracefully glide by boat right up to the very doorsteps of the homes, navigating what become the village's watery main streets.

After an unforgettable exploration of Kampong Khleang's dynamic charm, we'll gently ease away from the village's unique environment. Our journey back to Siem Reap will wind through the lush, vibrant Cambodian countryside, offering glimpses of local life and sprawling rice paddies. The final stretch will bring us back onto the main road, ensuring a comfortable return to your hotel in Siem Reap by late afternoon, filled with memories of an extraordinary day.