Birdwatching at the Tonle Sap: an ecological sanctuary and endangered biodiversity
The Tonle Sap, located in the heart of Cambodia, is an ecological marvel and the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. As a passionate ornithologist and expert on this region, I would like to share with you the beauty and richness of the birdlife that inhabits this unique place and invite you to discover the Prek Toal bird sanctuary.
A lake like no other
Among these birds are aquatic species that come to breed on the banks of the lake during the dry season. The Tonle Sap therefore plays a crucial role as a breeding ground for the region’s birds.
The Prek Toal bird sanctuary
The Prek Toal bird sanctuary is undoubtedly the best place to observe the Tonle Sap’s birdlife. Located on a floating island in the middle of the lake, this protection centre is home to a large number of threatened or near-threatened species such as the great marabou, the black-necked stork and the spotted-billed pelican.
The sanctuary also provides an ideal setting for birdwatching, whether in flight or perched in the floodplain trees that line the shores of the lake.
The Tonle Sap is home to a wide variety of bird species. They include
The Great Marabou: This large wading bird is characterised by its long beak and impressive size, which can reach 150 cm. It feeds mainly on fish, reptiles and amphibians.
The anhinga: Also known as the “snake bird” because of its long neck, this aquatic bird can dive underwater to catch its prey.
Black-necked stork: This endangered species is easily recognised by its contrasting black and white plumage and long, glowing beak.
/more- The spotted-billed pelican: This majestic bird has a huge beak that can hold up to 13 litres of water! The black-headed ibis: Threatened with extinction, this species is characterised by its large size (up to 102 cm) and its immaculate white colour contrasting with its black head.
When and where to watch
The best time for birdwatching on the Tonle Sap is between December and March, during the dry season. This is when the water birds come to nest on the banks of the lake.
To maximise your chances of spotting these magnificent creatures, I recommend a visit to the Prek Toal bird sanctuary, located just a few kilometres from the famous Angkor site. Day trips are available from Siem Reap, usually including a boat trip on the lake and a guided tour of the sanctuary.
The role of birds in the Tonle Sap ecosystem
Birds play an essential role in the ecological balance of the Tonle Sap. As predators, they help to regulate fish and insect populations. In addition, certain species, such as the great marabou and the anhinga, play an active role in dispersing seeds, thereby encouraging the growth of vegetation.
Bird conservation in the Tonle Sap
Faced with the threats to the Tonle Sap’s biodiversity (construction of dams, pollution), a number of local and international initiatives are working to protect the birds and their habitat. These include the joint action of the NGO Osmose and the villagers living around the Prek Toal sanctuary. These local players carry out regular patrols to combat poaching and the destruction of nests.
As a visitor, you can also contribute to the preservation of this biodiversity by supporting community projects and respecting the rules set in place by the local authorities during your observations.
The Tonlé Sap and its bird sanctuary at Prek Toal offer a unique experience for nature and bird lovers. As you wade through its life-rich waters, you’ll discover an exceptional and fragile ecosystem that it’s essential to preserve. So don’t hesitate any longer and come and experience this unforgettable adventure in the heart of Cambodia!
Distribution of costs
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Transport, food, qualified guides
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Income for environmental education
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Direct income for villagers (local development)
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Entrance fee to the bird sanctuary and Environmental responsible contribution cost
Tours
According to your desires and the period of your visit, you will find here the panel of our itineraries. There is something for everyone. For more information, contact us.
HALF-DAY TOUR
A short insight into floating village life, every stop puts money directly in the hands of the community.
From 6:30am to 1pm in Siem Reap,
all year-round
Includes boat transport, village visit, water-hyacinth weaving demonstration, and lunch
Certified Osmose English Speaking guide
Bird watching supplement available, see pricing below
FULL-DAY TOUR
An insight into floating village life, at a relaxed pace, every stop puts money directly in the hands of the community.
8am to 4pm in Siem Reap,
all year-round
Includes boat transport, local paddle boat village visit, water-hyacinth weaving demonstration, and lunch
Certified Osmose English Speaking guide
Bird watching supplement available, see pricing below
2 Days /1 Night tour
Get ready to dig into Prek Toal’s deepest customs and live the “life on water” experience.
From 1:30pm, return the next morning to Siem Reap,
all year-round
Includes boat transport, local paddle boat village visit, water-hyacinth weaving, lake cooking class, all meals and homestay
Certified Osmsoe English Speaking guide
Bird watching supplement highly recommended for sunrise on the lake, see pricing below
TAILOR-MADE & CSR ACTIVITIES
• Custom itineraries for VIPs, groups, schools and companies
• Combine an ecotour with direct involvement in our conservation and community work at Prek Toal
• Upgrade your boat to a more comfortable or luxury VIP boat
• Change your departure pier to Chong Khneas, just 30 minutes by road, then 1h30 by boat, more time on the water, less on the road
• Privatize our restaurant or the weaving platform for your group
• Add extras: snacks, an aperitif, an extra bottle, or a special lunch
• Get in touch: send us your group size, dates, and what you’re hoping to get out of it, whether that’s a custom itinerary, a donation, or ongoing support, and we’ll design around
TOUR PRICES 2026–2027
Price per person, in USD
*Solo travelers pay double the 2 person rate. This doesn’t apply to the bird watching or French guide supplements, which are charged per person no matter your group size.
Bird Watching Supplement (any tour): A supplement of $60/person for 1 or 2, dropping to $35/person once your group reaches 3+.
French Speaking Guide Supplement (any tour): $15 per group
Children: free under 5, -25% from 6 to 10 years old
Group size: up to 30 pax at fixed price, above 30 please ask for a quotation
Dietary needs: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. just let us know when you book
BOOKING & CANCELLATION TERMS
A 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking. The remaining balance is due 7 days before arrival.
The deposit is non-refundable once paid, at any time.
If you cancel more than 7 days before your tour, you will only lose your deposit, the remaining balance will not be charged.
If you cancel within 7 days of your tour, or do not show up, the full amount is due.
In case of unsafe weather, insufficient group numbers, or unforeseen circumstances on our end, Osmose will offer a full refund or the option to reschedule at no extra cost.
Visitors are required to have full travel insurance. It is the visitor’s responsibility to confirm their policy provides adequate coverage.
Osmose is not responsible for loss, damage, or injury during the course of the tour.
Half-day tour
A short insight into floating village life, every stop puts money directly in the hands of the community.
From 6:30am to 1pm in Siem Reap,
all year-round
Includes boat transport, village visit, water-hyacinth weaving demonstration, and lunch
Certified Osmose English Speaking guide
It’s 6.30 am…
We’ll be at your hotel to pick you up and transport you to Meichrey’s port, where you’ll embark on a journey to Prek Toal’s Village. After a brief change of boats, we’ll head off to the bird sanctuary!
Discover the village:
accompanied by your Osmose guide, tour the floating village by boat, taking in daily life on the water. Stop by family-owned crocodile farms, fish farms and floating gardens along the way.
Meet the locals:
Immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting the environmental education class and the water hyacinth workshop.
Take a break:
sit down for an early lunch prepared by our local team.
1.00 pm,
Back to Siem Reap
It’s time to bid farewell to the community, carrying wonderful memories !
*Solo travelers pay double the 2 person rate. This doesn’t apply to the bird watching or French guide supplements, which are charged per person no matter your group size.
Bird Watching Supplement (any tour): A supplement of $60/person for 1 or 2, dropping to $35/person once your group reaches 3+. (adding the bird watching supplement, we recommend leaving earlier at 5:30am, with birding worked into the schedule ahead of the village visit.)
French Speaking Guide Supplement (any tour): $15 per group
Children: free under 5, -25% from 6 to 10 years old
Group size: up to 30 pax at fixed price, above 30 please ask for a quotation
Dietary needs: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. just let us know when you book
2 days / 1 night tour
Get ready to dig into Prek Toal’s deepest customs and live the “life on water” experience.
From 1:30pm, return the next morning to Siem Reap,
all year-round
Includes boat transport, local paddle boat village visit, water-hyacinth weaving, lake cooking class, all meals and homestay
Certified Osmsoe English Speaking guide
Day one, Soak-in ...
It’s 1.30 pm…
We’ll be at your hotel to pick you up and transport you to Meichrey’s port, where you’ll embark on a journey to Prek Toal’s Village
3.00 pm,
Local projects,
Upon arriving at our platforms, delve into local community projects like the environmental education class and the water hyacinth workshop. Engage in a weaving class to craft your own souvenir of the trip.
4.00 pm,
Culinary goodness for a beautiful break:
Get ready for a cooking adventure! Learn how to cook Khmer food in a fun class and enjoy what you make for dinner while watching the sunset.
Day two, immerse yourself in village life!
7.30 am…
Rise and shine!
8.00 am,
In-depth discovery,
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, embark on an authentic village experience. Navigate the waterways aboard a local’s traditional paddle boat, gaining insights into life from floating family homes to gardens, fish farms, and shops. Witness the remarkable adaptations of local communities to living on water. Gain a panoramic view of the village from the Environmental Research Station.
Return the next morning to Siem Reap
It’s time to bid farewell to the community and head back to your hotel, carrying wonderful memories. Timing can be adjusted to fit your plans.
*Solo travelers pay double the 2 person rate. This doesn’t apply to the bird watching or French guide supplements, which are charged per person no matter your group size.
Bird Watching Supplement (any tour): $60 per person for groups of 2, $35 per person for groups of 3 people and above
(We highly recommend adding the bird watching supplement here. Waking up to sunrise over the sanctuary is worth building the whole trip around.)
French Speaking Guide Supplement (any tour): $15 per group
Children: free under 5, -25% from 6 to 10 years old
Group size: up to 30 pax at fixed price, above 30 please ask for a quotation
Dietary needs: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. just let us know when you book
FULL-DAY tour
An insight into floating village life, at a relaxed pace, every stop puts money directly in the hands of the community.
8am to 4pm in Siem Reap,
all year-round
Includes boat transport, local paddle boat village visit, water-hyacinth weaving demonstration, and lunch
Certified Osmose English Speaking guide
It’s 8.00 am…
We’ll pick you up at your hotel and transfer you through the countryside, past local villages and markets, a good chance to catch local life waking up, to Meichrey’s port. Embark the boat, we’ll head into Prek Toal’s village.
10.00 am,
Paddle through the village
Accompanied by your Osmose guide, switch to a small local canoe, paddled by local women, for a slower stretch through the village at its own pace. Explore floating family homes, gardens, fish farms, and shops, witnessing firsthand how local communities have ingeniously adapted to life on the water. Gain a panoramic view of the village from the Environmental Research Station.
Take a break,
Upon returning to our Community-Based Tourism (CBT) platforms, enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our professionally trained cooking team!
Visit the local community projects:
Visit the heart of the local community projects, the environmental education class, and the water hyacinth workshop, where you’ll even have the opportunity to participate in a weaving class with the girls and take home your own souvenir of the day.
2.00 pm,
Return home
It’s time to bid farewell to the community and head back to your hotel, carrying wonderful memories by around 4:00 pm!
*Solo travelers pay double the 2 person rate. This doesn’t apply to the bird watching or French guide supplements, which are charged per person no matter your group size.
Bird Watching Supplement (any tour): $60 per person for groups of 2, $35 per person for groups of 3 people and above (If adding the bird watching supplement, we recommend leaving earlier at 6am)
French Speaking Guide Supplement (any tour): $15 per group
Children: free under 5, -25% from 6 to 10 years old
Group size: up to 30 pax at fixed price, above 30 please ask for a quotation
Dietary needs: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. just let us know when you book
A Ranger’s Life
Overnight stay
Birding with a
Certified Osmose guide
September to March
It’s 1.30 pm…
We’ll be at your hotel to pick you up and transport you to Meichrey’s port, where you’ll embark on a journey to Prek Toal’s Village.
Upon your arrival, hop on the next boat for an authentic experience aboard a traditional Khmer paddle boat. Explore the village, from floating family homes to gardens, fish farms, and shops, and marvel at the remarkable adaptations of local communities to life on the water.
4.30 pm,
Culinary goodness for a beautiful break:
Get ready for a cooking adventure! Learn how to cook Khmer food in a fun class and enjoy what you make for dinner while watching the sunset
Day two, It’s time to go bird watching!
6.30 am,
The conservation
Embark on a conservation journey accompanied by your Osmose guide. Cruising through the protected bird sanctuary to explore its captivating wonders firsthand.
12.00 pm,
Take a break:
Take a well-deserved break and enjoy lunch on our floating platform.
1.00 pm,
Return home
It’s time to bid farewell to the community and head back to your hotel, carrying wonderful memories by around 3:30 pm!
Tour Guides
Our Osmose guides are certified after three months of training, renewed every two years. They volunteer for this training because they’re conscious of what it gives them.
Over those three months, they learn the lake inside out—its wildlife, plants, and ecosystem—including a full chapter on the threats it faces. Training includes active days in the field and birdwatching to build real skills in ornithology, not just theory. They also learn about Osmose itself and its projects, so they can speak to visitors about the work being done here, not just the scenery.
What sets an Osmose guide apart isn’t just knowing the water—after ten years on the lake, any guide can navigate it half-asleep. It’s the vocabulary: precise ornithological and ecological terms, in both French and English, built specifically for what you’ll actually see here. That’s harder to replicate than a boat route.
Here is the portrait of 4 of our most active guides,
anglophone and francophone.
SOVANN
(English speaker)
“My name is Sovann. I was born in Kompong Chhnang province and moved to Siem Reap province in 2005. At that time, I had heard about Osmose’s work to protect the Tonle Sap lake environment and its integrated projects of environmental education, ecotourism and local livelihood development. I was very interested in the conservation and protection of wildlife and environment and wished to be a part of the movement. I’m very grateful to Osmose that in 2011 they allowed me to join the team after successfully completing my training as a certified guide.
During my time with OSMOSE, I have learned more and more about Tonle Sap’s complex ecosystem, the local’s daily lives and their uncommon culture.
I like my job so much because I love wildlife and we support Prek Toal’s local economy by providing alternative income through eco-tourism. I am happy to share my knowledge and experience to the ones curious to discover more about Tonle Sap’s lake conservation and local life.“
BUNCHANG
(English speaker)
“My name is Bunchang, I am 38 years old and come from a small village down by the lake in the south of Siem Reap city. I’ve been working for Osmose NGO for 8 years now. I’ve been having a beautiful experience and learning a lot about local peoples lives, birding and nature.
I’ve understood much more about conservation work. I feel useful as I can work to prevent the endangerment of Cambodian wildlife. One day, if I have the opportunity, I would like to build up the capacity of nature and conservation resources and contribute the best I can to the local’s education to ensure a better future for the people in the community.
What I love the most about working for Osmose NGO is that I can help people all around the world to know and understand my country’s natural resources. The Tonle Sap lake’s local peoples livelihoods, birding and culture. It is so beautiful and attractive to me!“
DARA
(English and French speaker)
“Je m’appelle KHIM Dara, je suis née dans la province de Battambang, située à environ 90 km au sud-ouest de la province de Siem Reap. Je suis à Siem Reap depuis 15 ans. Après avoir obtenu mon diplôme universitaire, j’ai expérimenté de nombreux travails au cours de cette période.
Enfin, j’ai été recruté comme éco-guide par Osmose en 2011, j’ai suivi une formation de trois mois sur l’écotourisme : Système Tonle Sap, Education à l’environnement, communauté Osmose et spécialiste de l’observation des oiseaux, etc.
J’ai travaillé pendant 7 ans dans les bureaux d’Osmose, en tant que responsable de la réservation francophone mais aussi en tant qu’éco-guide. Je ne travaille plus dans les bureaux depuis 2018 mais je continue d’offrir mes services de guide. J’ai vraiment apprécié ces expériences exceptionnelles et ce travail pour la communauté et l’environnement.“
Mr SUM
(French speaker)
“Je m’appelle Sum , j’ai 65 ans et je vis non loin du village Veal. Cela fait depuis 2013 que j’ai était certifié comme guide Osmose et suis très heureux de participer aux projets de cette organisation car je trouve qu’il y a un réel impact et de belles valeurs.
Je suis reconnaissant d’être cambodgien, état aussi connu sous le nom “d’Etat d’or regorgeant de richesses naturelles.”
Le grand lac qu’est le Tonle Sap, chef d’œuvre de la nature, dans lequel l’eau du Mékong se déverse et se retire, régule la nature à travers les saisons et protège ses proches habitants d’inondations et de sècheresse.
A l’intérieur de cette communauté, Osmose a créé des emplois pour les plus démunis, de nouveaux revenus pour les villageois. Une influence positive pour la communauté sur des aspects pressants : celles de la conservation nécessaire des oiseaux, de l’environnement et de la pollution.
Le Tonle est le cœur du Cambodge, Angkor Wat le porteur de notre héritage culturel. Un visiteur au Cambodge devrait toujours au moins visiter ces deux merveilles.“
Photo Gallery
Your reviews
Carol-Ann J
Reviewed April 1, 2026
24h idyllic Prek Toal!
A unique experience that will undoubtedly remain one of our most memorable memories.
We were touched by the kindness of the people who welcomed us, amazed by the beauty of the place, and amazed by the ingenuity of this community.
We had the privilege of taking a great tour and going to meet the village and its organization on the one hand and to make a morning excursion in the bird sanctuary on the other.
I would recommend any traveler to Cambodia to try this amazing experience.
Thank you to all Osmosis for allowing us to live this!
Date of experience: March 2026
Myriam B
Reviewed March 08, 2026
Great birds and social development
Excellent excursion to discover a floating village and part of the Tonlé Sap. Our guide, Sum, was extremely interesting. The weaving workshop with stems of water hyacinths, we liked a lot. The meal in the community canteen was very good and hearty. Visiting the village by canoe was a great experience! Thank you for everything!
Date of experience: February 2026
Sightsee41195081815
Reviewed February 23, 2026
Really good!
We had a wonderful, varied and informative day. We discovered the Tonle Sap, this lake with its unique functioning, its people and their activities. The fabulous ornithological reserve delighted us. We recommend experience. By going with several, it helps reduce the cost.
Date of experience: February 2026
VGA
Reviewed December 31, 2025
Amazing….A must do experience
Don’t miss it, it’s really an experience that allows us to understand the life of a part of the Cambodian population
Date of experience: December 2025