A paddle through Kompong Phluk

Years of nurturing relationships and creating partnerships with a local families means that Journeys Within is able to offer one-of-a-kind experiences. One such unforgettable afternoon is kayaking through the an ancient floating forest…

Adaptability is a way of life in Southeast Asia, and nowhere is that more evident, or stunning, than Kompong Phluk.  Flooded in rainy season, the houses are built up on stilts, with villagers continuing to live their lives hovering above water.

While there are roads in the dry season, after the rains come the bicycles are stored away and everyone travels through town by boat.

Kompong Phluk is best known to outsiders as the village closest to an ancient mangrove floating forest.

After a quick trip through the village, our tour led us to the family home where we would start our kayaking. Shrimp fishermen, the family earns extra income for safeguarding the Journeys Within kayaks and providing a scrumptious lunch after each paddle.

Kind and welcoming, it was a nice touch to be able to take in village life with a family who has worked as part of the extended Journeys Within team for years.

After testing out the families dried shrimp (our guide Santhou tested the shrimp more than once) we headed down a steep set of wooden stairs and into our kayaks. Not confined in a boat, the kayaks provided the luxury of traveling down any watery path chosen.

Like no mangroves I have ever seen, these trees towered overhead as we paddled through their shadows.  While other tourists do visit the mangroves, we were definitely the envy of the groups we passed in cramped boats by being able to paddle freely where we chose.

After our paddle and a moment of relaxation under the trees we headed back to the family home where a prepared lunch was waiting for us before we headed back to the mainland. A truly majestic and relaxing day, a trip to Kompong Phluk is the perfect break from the chaos of life on land.

This is the perfect day outing to add to any tour of Cambodia.