A floating village trip is half a day, mostly outdoors, partly on open water, with one stop at a pagoda. That decides the packing list. Here is what matters, what doesn't, and the one thing we ask you to leave behind.
Water
Siem Reap has good bottled water everywhere; the villages don't. The shops at the landing sell whatever the last boat brought, and the countryside brands are not treated to the same standard. Bring a litre and a half per person if you travel on your own. On our tours there is a cool box of water on the boat, and you can drink as much as you like.
Sun, and mosquitoes at sunset
The boats are covered but the light comes off the water from every side, and the open lake at the end of the trip is bright. Put sunscreen on before you leave the hotel and bring the bottle. A hat helps more than you'd think.
In the daytime the villages have almost no mosquitoes; the lake is moving water. At sunset they arrive, and a sunset tour is on the water at exactly that moment. A small repellent in your bag is the difference between watching the sun go down and slapping your ankles.
What to wear
Almost every village visit passes through a pagoda: at Kompong Khleang the car parks at one, at Kompong Phluk we usually stop at the main one, and the monk blessing day is built around it. Pagodas are working temples, and Cambodians dress up to visit. Shoulders and knees covered is the rule; a T-shirt and long shorts or a light skirt are fine, a vest top is not. If you're unsure, ask what you'd wear to a church or a mosque at home. Shoes come off at the temple steps, so sandals are easier than laces.
You will get splashed a little stepping between boats, and in the wet season the village walkways can be wet. Nothing you'd mind getting a drop of lake water on.
Cash
On our tours the boat tickets, canoe and water are included, so you need nothing on the lake. Bring small US dollar notes or riel if you want a coconut or a snack from a village shop. If you go on your own, the official ticket prices are on our prices page; take enough to pay them in cash, and nothing you'd mind losing in a boat.
Camera, phone, drone
Phones are fine; a dry bag or a zip-lock is sensible on the canoe. Drones are allowed on the lake; ask your guide first, stay away from the pagoda, and don't hover over people's houses. Ask before photographing anyone up close, as you would anywhere.
What to leave behind
Sweets, pens, and money for children. It feels generous, and it does harm: children who get things from boats learn to ask boats for things, and families get used to it. If you'd like to put money into the village, buy something at a village shop at the normal price, or eat where the villagers eat. Your boat ticket already pays the boatman and the community cooperative. Our note on school visits explains why we don't stop at them.
And one more thing
The villages are not wealthy and they are not a museum. People are fishing, fixing nets, cooking, going to school, getting married. Go curious rather than sorry, ask your guide questions, and you'll see a way of living that has worked around this lake for a long time.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear to the floating village?
Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, because most visits pass through a pagoda. Sandals or shoes you can slip off. A hat for the open lake.
Do I need mosquito repellent?
For the daytime, rarely. For a sunset tour, yes: the mosquitoes come out as the light goes, and the boat is on the water at exactly that moment.
Is there drinking water in the village?
Bottled water is sold in the villages but the brands are not the ones you know, and the shops can be out. We bring cold water for everyone on our tours; on your own, bring a litre and a half each.
Can I bring a drone?
Yes, on the lake. Ask your guide before flying over houses, and keep it away from the pagoda.
Should I bring gifts for the children?
No. Sweets, pens and money handed out from a boat teach children to ask tourists for things. If you want to help, buy something from a village shop at the normal price, or eat where the villagers eat.