While in Cambodia, my husband and I really wanted to go to a floating village on Tonlé Sap Lake. After a lot of research on Internet, we decided to go to Kompong Luong on our way from Phnom Penh to Battambang.
We loved it, it was a wonderful experience and there is no tourist.
So we would like to share our experience in order to make your trip to Kompong Luong easier.
- You can be dropped directly in Krakor by probably any bus company going from Phnom Penh to Battambang or the other way. We took Mekong Express but we had to pay full price to Battambang ($12 each).
- You don't need to stay in Krakor (or in Pursat) for the night. We stayed in Krakor and it is not worth it at all (especially because people are unfriendly and try to sell you everything for three times or more the price, and no way to negotiate). You can easily visit the floating village and be back at the bus station in 2 or 3 hours (depending how long you stay on the boat).
- There are two guesthouses in Krakor, Paris Guesthouse and 59 Guesthouse (this is where we stayed), but both are not good (see reviews).
- The better option would be to stay in the homestay on the floating village. Unfortunately, we didn't do it but we wish we did.
- We paid $5 for a tuk tuk ride return from Krakor to the floating village (2 people for 7 km as the lake is far away during the dry season).
- In April 2015, the price for one hour boat tour for 1 to 3 people is $10. There are 3 options: Khmer village, Vietnamese village and flooded forest. We chose the Khmer village for one hour.
- The "bus station" in Krakor consists of 2 (or more) people seated under an umbrella by the roadside opposite the small petrol station. You can catch a bus / mini-van to Battambang until 5:00 pm (so they told us). We paid $5 each (but should have negotiated it).
To sum up, leave Phnom Penh early at 7:00 or 8:00 am. You will be there 3 hours later. Be sure the driver knows he has to drop you in Krakor. Once in Krakor, take a tuk tuk to Kompong Luong. Choose your boat trip and enjoy. Then, go back with your tuk tuk and catch a bus to Battambang (2 more hours).
Hopefully this will help someone.
Cheers
