Chong Kneas Floating Village is a rural area only a bike ride away from downtown Siem Reap, Cambodia. Many parts of the village run off the main road. However, a significant portion is considered the floating village, a collection of homes and huts built on stilts on the water edge.
BIKE OR TUK-TUK FROM SIEM REAP TOWN?
In town, I had looked around in the tour offices and there are many trips to Chong Kneas floating village offered. For $13 a tuk-tuk will drive you to the floating village where you will need to pay another $5 for a boat ride. If you are up for an adventure at your own pace I highly suggest the bike journey. Not only is it a great workout, being able to stop to check out sights on to the side of the road gives you a lot of freedom.
The best way to make sure you get the best deal on renting a bike in Siem Reap is by reserving your bike rental online. For just $2.49 for a day rental, this is cheaper than any of the rental shops in Siem Reap.
Book your bicycle rental: $2.49 Siem Reap Bicycle Rental
Staying in Siem Reap I decided to rent a Mountain Bike and started pedaling away from the busy pub street and surrounding areas. The searing heat immediately had me sweating and I spent the majority of the dripping in sweat, my t-shirt entirely saturated.
Exploring with the family? Check out this helpful guide for things to do in Siem Reap with kids.
BICYCLE AND PADDLING TOUR FROM SIEM REAP
One of the most popular tours in Siem Reap (other than Angkor Wat) is a bicycle and paddling tour. I really loved heading out down to this area and it was a million times less touristy than the Angkor Wat area. It is just a look into the daily life of the people in the village.
- Embark on a 30km biking adventure of nature and temples
- Dig into lunch at a local restaurant, plus enjoy fruit, snacks and water throughout
- Listen closely to your local English speaking guide who will tell you all about the area
- Kids sized bikes are available too so the whole family can get involved
Book your tour: ‘Pedal & Paddle Tour’ from Siem Reap
MY DIY BICYCLE TOUR TO CHONG KNEAS VILLAGE FROM SIEM REAP
WAT ATWEA
Pedaling south along the river I stopped many times to explore small tracks to the side of the road and stumbled my way towards a temple called Wat Atwea. Despite several online guides claiming it was free to enter I was waved away by guards as I tried to enter. Luckily at this temple, there is much to see outside the fenced area. Monks chopped work and meditated while I wandered around the grounds inspecting the temples and watching locals throwing fishing nets in ponds.
I jumped back on the bike and headed further south on a barren stretch of road. Often at times, I couldn’t see another person behind nor in front of me. I was just pedaling in the middle of the nowhere, fields to my left and fields to my right. It was a great feeling to be all alone on an adventure only minutes from the busy streets around the markets downtown.
PHNOM KROM
My next stop was for cold water at the foot of the Phnom Krom Hill. I asked a local kid to watch my bike as I climbed the hundred or so stairs up to the Hill. At the summit, a sign pointed to a ticket office and I decided I had seen enough of the view to not desire any further incline. From the top of the stairs, I got a good insight into not only Phnom Krom but also Chong Kneas floating village. One of the best things to do in this town is to climb up to the top of the lookout and enjoy an epic Phnom Krom sunset with views of the town, temples, and farm fields. The reflection of the sunset on the water is an incredible spectacle.
My legs needed a break so I stopped for a drink at a small family-run store. The kids soon started to hang around me as I enjoyed a refreshing drink. I hung out with the kids for a while, taking photos of them, editing them and blowing up their portraits full-screen to their amazement.
They wanted to play soccer so we headed into an unused warehouse and I played goalkeeper for an hour as eight young kids battled it out, trying to impress me with their skills. I had some spare bracelets and they were all stoked with their new bling. As I left they chased me down the street.
I hopped on the back and rode the Phnom Krom loop. A 20-minute cruise through an extremely under-developed region was an experience. I waved to lots of kids, got hit in the head by a chicken and laughed at by many locals. Everyone was friendly as always and the school had just finished so I got lots of weird looks from the school kids. This is a region few tourists visit as there are no ‘attractions’ per se in the area that I came across.
CHONG KNEAS FLOATING VILLAGE
I rode a little further south and began to scope out Chong Kneas. I wanted to explore but also find a nice spot for sunset. Many of the homes gleamed in vibrant colors. The bright colors filled the town with a happy vibe despite the disorganized allotment of plots and trash scattered throughout the region.
I headed back on the bike towards town to grab some food before the golden hour arrived. A huge piece of chicken and some rice set me back $2. Street might be cheap and risky in the opinion of some travelers but if you are game it is often the tastiest meal you can get. I haven’t had a single issue with street food in almost 6 months in Southeast Asia.
The lighting was now perfect and I ventured into one strip of land that speared through the middle of the lake. One straight road led to nowhere with homes cramming the edges of the lake and the sides of the strip. It reminded me a lot of the whisky village in Luang Prabang.
SUNSET IN CHONG KNEAS FLOATING VILLAGE
Immediately I was swarmed by kids who wanted to be the center of attention every single time I looked ready to take a photo. While it seemed like a great chance to capture some photos of the kids playing they didn’t quite understand how the 55mm lens worked and came within inches of the lens looking straight back at me.
Despite this fun game of stare at each other through both sides of the camera, I managed to do my best in capturing the essence of the end of a day in Chong Kneas floating village. One-third of the kids roamed the streets naked while the others wore tattered western clothes. Parents and grandparents sat on the edges of their homes watching over the street.
I received a few glares from some of the residents in the village, but overall I was greeted with open arms and even invited back the following night for some Cambodian wine. I challenge you to find a group of kids who smile more than those in Chong Kneas. Visiting the Chong Kneas floating village was a great experience and I definitely gave the kids something to do while the sunset over the picturesque lake.
And here are a few other shots from what will go down as a great day in Siem Reap:
Russell
Tuesday 6th of July 2021
Please. Do not drink "homemade" rice wine, wine, whiskey, or any other kind of fermented or alcoholic beverage in Cambodia unless you yourself witness that it comes from a labeled and unopened bottle from a commercial brewer. The reason: "11 people died from suspected poisoning after drinking homemade moonshine at a funeral in a Cambodian village" (as published by Ms. Vanessa Gu on 5-July-2021). This is apparently a very common problem with homemade fermented drinks in Cambodia.
Lio
Friday 9th of August 2019
Hi, the bike rental wants to charge $70 not the $2.49 that you mention
Tuesday 12th of March 2019
ok, woah! I was in this village back in February of 2016 and totally remember some of these kids! One of my favorite memories from my time in SE Asia.
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Monday 1st of October 2018
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