Kampong Phluk stilt village, Tonlé Sap

A boat trip from Siem Reap to the villages on Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia's largest lake, is a fascinating contrast to the temples of Angkor. Kampong Phluk is a fishing village of wooden houses on stilts up to 10 m high, built for the wet season when the lake swells to several times its dry-season size. The boats pass slowly by the homes, school and pagoda, and you can switch to a small paddled canoe to glide through the flooded mangrove forest.

Go in the late afternoon and stay out on the open lake for sunset. The water is highest from August to November, when the village is most striking; by April and May the stilts stand on dry mud.

Book through your guesthouse or a reputable operator, which usually includes the tuk-tuk ride (about 45 minutes each way). The closer floating village at Chong Kneas is busier and more commercial.