Prek Toal Biosphere is one of the three designated protected biosphere reserves on the Tonle Sap lake, Cambodia’s largest body of water.
Of the three, Prek Toal, which is located in the northwest corner of the lake, not far from Siem Reap, is the easiest to visit and is particularly popular with those who love birds.
Prek Toal features one of several floating villages that exist around the Tonle Sap lake. Visits to such intriguing villages, which are naturally only accessible by boat, offer a pleasant taste of lakeside life, including fishing communities that live in floating houses. The recent establishment of the Prek Toal bird sanctuary has added a wonderful dimension to the floating village and surrounding preserve, even if you aren’t an ornithologist or amateur birder.
A wide variety of rare birds, including storks, pelicans, ibises, cormorants, and darters gather in a relatively small area, especially during the dry season (December to April), which nearly guarantees you will see something special. Other species inhabiting the coastal region of the preserve include otters, slow loris, and flying foxes.
Before visiting Prek Toal, you must get a permit to do so from the World Conservation Society (WCS), which is most easily arranged through one of the local birding or ecotourism outfits in Siem Reap. While other tour operators may take you into Prek Toal without permission, it is best to visit with organizations such as the Sam Veasna Center (www.samveasna.org) or Osmose (www.osmosetonlesap.net), who have both the knowledge of birds in the reserve and the proper contacts with the WCS and local villagers so that your visit doesn’t adversely impact either the environment or the community. It is even possible to combine a birding trip and a visit to the village with a home-stay opportunity with local residents!
Getting There
Many tour agencies will offer trips to Prek Toal, but as a protected area there are only several sanctioned groups that are allowed official access to the site. contact Osmose or Sam Veasna Center for information. Siem Reap can be reached by bus from most major towns within Cambodia, as well as few cities in Thailand. There is a small international airport in Siem Reap that handles daily flights from various Asian destinations as well as Phnom Penh.
Need to Know
- What is It?: Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve is a protected biosphere area with a floating fishing village in the northwestern corner of the Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia’s largest body of water.
- When to Go: Early in the morning (followed by an overnight stay if possible), particularly during the winter dry season (December to April).
- Nearest Town: Siem Reap makes the best base for exploring the Prek Toal Biosphere. Although you can stay in the rugged bungalows at the park ranger headquarters or perhaps in the home of local villagers, the biosphere is best visited as an easy day trip from Siem Reap.
- Don’t Miss: Getting up early and taking a bird-watching tour of the biosphere.
- Trivia:
- The flooded forests of Prek Toal feature the largest number of breeding water birds in Southeast Asia.
- Prek Toal is home to the largest spot-billed pelican colony and Openbill stork colony in the world.
- Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve covers over 100,000 acres (42,000 hectares) of lake and coastal mangrove forest.
- Entrance fees: $25 admission fee, plus cost of tour.