“Une journée, dans un périple de 6 mois en Asie du sud-est qui restera parmi les moments les plus marquants”, P. Fontaine, Belgium (“A day that will stay with me as one of the most remarkable out of six months in South East Asia”, P. Fontaine, Belgium)

Guided Ecotours organised by Osmose to the Prek Toal bird work in harmony with the Community Based Ecotourism Project supported by Osmose in the villages of Prek Toal and Pech Kantiel. Prices are from US$55 per person, depending on the itinerary and number of people visiting. The itineraries described below can be adapted to suit any requirements, whether you are an individual, a large or small group of travellers, on a corporate day out, or on a school trip. Please contact our Ecotourism Manager for further details.

If you want to:

• gain rare insights into an extraordinary way of life
• witness magnificent water birds, many of whom are threatened species
• learn about a unique ecosystem
• enjoy freshly caught and prepared food
• spend time exchanging and learning with community members in real and meaningful ways
• contribute to the social and economic development of the villages you visit

then you have come to the right place

The floating villages of Prek Toal and Pech Kantiel offer four broad ways to experience, explore, exchange and expand your consciousness...

Itinerary 1 – Full Day, Bird Sanctuary and Village (October to March)

Itinerary 2 – 2 Days / Village, Overnight in a Floating Home Stay and Bird Sanctuary (October to March)

Itinerary 3 – Village and Projects (all year)

Itinerary 4 – 2 Days, Village, Projects and Home Stay (all year)

For information or to make a booking, contact the Ecotourism Manager. As much as possible, try to let us know when you’d like to go, how many adults and children, and which trip you’re interested in.
Please see below for a note on our fees and conditions

The Prek Toal Core Area is a seasonal home to a large number of globally threatened water birds for whom the sanctuary is the most important breeding site in all of South East Asia. They are drawn there by the mega-abundance of fish in the lake. The reason for all this abundance is the “pulse” system of the Tonle Sap Lake, whose waters rise and fall by up to 10 metres every year. The floodplains around Prek Toal and Pech Kantiel, which are dry during the dry season, are the site of a unique forest which spends the rainy season immersed in up to 10 metres of water. When the waters are high, boats float past the treetops, and visitors have a very special birds’ eye view of the water birds’ nesting sites. The floating villages were established by communities in order to more easily access the rich, fishy harvest. But, despite their proximity to such abundance, these communities suffer from poverty levels that are high even by Cambodia’s standards.

An Osmose Guide accompanies every trip booked through Osmose. Our guides are all bilingual (French, English, Chinese, or German), and have received special training from Osmose relating to the ecology, hydrology, and social/cultural aspects of life on the lake. They are knowledgeable, fun, passionate and an invaluable part of the Osmose experience.

Four broad itineraries are possible. However, we can adapt tours to your requirements. Contact our Ecotourism Manager if you’d like to discuss this.

Itinerary 1 – Full Day, Bird Sanctuary and Village (October to March)

6am : Guests are collected from their hotel and taken by taxi to the port at Chong Kneas for transfer to the boat that will take them on the 1.5 hour journey to either Prek Toal or Pech Kantiel .
8.30am :From the village, the first visit is into the bird sanctuary under the guidance of the rangers from the Ministry of Environment (which is responsible for protecting the bird populations). Here, your guide’s knowledge of the birds and the plant life create a wonderful opportunity to see and understand this complex environment and the birds and animals that are dependent upon it. Real live Learning.
12.30pm :At around about midday, you will return to the village, to enjoy a very special lunch prepared by members of the Community Restaurant (part of the Community Based Ecotourism initiative). The women were trained by the renowned Sala Baï hospitality training NGO, based in Siem Reap.
2pm : After lunch and a visit to the Saray water hyacinth weaving workshop, guests are taken by the villagers on a special Community Based Village Tour. This tour was developed by the villages themselves, to showcase different aspects of community life. It is a unique perspective on a way of life that is unimaginable to many of us.
4pm :At around about 4pm, the boat will take you back to the Chong Kneas port, for transfer back to the taxi and your hotel.

“An excellent and educational trip for our family. A wonderful way to end 2009! The experience has been great! Thank you!!” G. Goh and S. Lee, Malaysia

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Itinerary 2 – 2 Days, Bird Sanctuary plus Overnight in a Community Based Home Stay (October to March)

Much of the itinerary is as above, although in a slightly different order.
11.30am :Collection from your hotel, and then lunch is enjoyed on arrival in the village.
2pm :Suitably fed, you will take part in the Community Based Village Tour, followed by the opportunity to spend time with the ladies from Saray learning how to weave your own souvenir of your trip here. These sessions are important confidence building opportunities for the women, and a unique chance for visitors to meet, interact with and learn from community members (even without a common language!).
5pm :Dinner at the Community Restaurant is taken at around 5 or 6pm, giving time to appreciate the sunset.
6am : Wake up (can be earlier or later on request!).
6.30am :Breakfast.
7am :Depart for bird sanctuary
12pm : Depart for Prek Toal

The Home stays have been specially adapted for visitors, and include beds with mosquito nets. Toilets and a shower have been built onto each home too.

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Itinerary 3 – Village and Projects (all year)

6am :An early start should see you in the village by 8.30am, where the first activity is the Community Based Village Tour.
9.30am :Learn the art of water hyacinth weaving from the Saray artisans, create your own souvenir and appreciate this very special opportunity for exchange and cultural interaction.
12pm :Lunch at the Community Restaurant.
1.30pm :A special view of the village from the top of the Environmental Research Station, the highest point in the village, from where your guide will give you a 360o tour of the village and surrounding ecosystem.
2pm : Return to Siem Reap.

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Itinerary 4 – 2 Days, Village, Projects and Home Stay (all year)

11.30am : Collection from your hotel, and then lunch at the Community Restaurant is enjoyed on arrival in the village.
2pm : Suitably fed, you will take part in the Community Based Village Tour, followed by the opportunity to spend time with the ladies from Saray learning how to weave your own souvenir of your trip here. These sessions are important confidence building opportunities for the women, and a unique chance for visitors to meet, interact with and learn from community members (even without a common language!).
5pm :Dinner at the Community Restaurant is taken at around 5 or 6pm, giving time to appreciate the gorgeous sunset.
6am : Wake up (can be earlier or later on request!).
6.30am : Breakfast
7.30am :Visit to the Environmental Research Station, from where you guide will give you an aerial 360o tour of the village and surrounding ecosystem.
8.30am :Depart for Siem Reap.

“Super belle journée - c’était mieux que je croyais”, K. Oscar, 11 years old, Switzerland

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The itineraries can be adapted to suit your specific requirements and our Ecotourism Manager is always happy to discuss this.

We need at least 24 to 48 hours prior notice to ensure that a booking can be accommodated.

The fees include all expenses for the trips, including AC taxi, port fees, boat rental, all meals, water and fruit, bird sanctuary fees, guides fee, and the Community Based Ecotourism fees including Home Stays.

Cancellation policy: 50% of the fees remain payable for cancellations made between one week and three days before the date of the trip. 100% of the fees remain payable for cancellations made less than three days before the date of the trip.