☰Tonlé Sap Floating Villages

South of Siem Reap lies Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the most biologically productive lakes in the world. In the wet season (June to October) the lake's area quadruples, flooding the surrounding forest; when the floodwaters recede, they leave behind a huge fish harvest that has fed Cambodia for centuries. Several villages live permanently on the water here — entire communities of stilt houses and floating platforms, complete with shops, schools, temples and markets that rise and fall with the seasons. Kampong Phluk (the stilt village) and Kompong Khleang (the larger and more authentic floating village) are better than the much-visited Chong Kneas, which has become something of a tourist trap. Go with a reputable tour operator from Siem Reap; a half-day boat trip is enough.