• Cambodia Bird Guide Association
  • Cambodia Bird Guide Association
  • Cambodia Bird Guide Association
  • Cambodia Bird Guide Association

Full Day Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary

Daily Tour 1 day
Prek Toal Village, Cambodia Tour Guide: Full Day Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary

Day Trip to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, Tonle Sap Lake, Floating Village (5.30am to 4 pm)

Prek Toal is the most exciting site you should visit. The sanctuary harbours seven species of water birds of global significance: Spot billed Pelican, Milky Stork, Painted Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, Black headed Ibis, and Oriental Darter. There is a globally significant population of Grey-headed Fish Eagles. Over 150 species have been recorded in the reserve. Prek Toal area consists of seasonally inundated freshwater swamp forest with a high botanical diversity. Short tree shrub makes up most of the landscape, forming a dense under story with scattered large trees, which form the vital nesting ground for large water birds. Prek Toal is unmatched throughout South East Asia for the number and populations of endangered water birds it supports through the dry season. Large flocks of Cormorants, Storks and Pelicans are almost guaranteed from January to May, along with Herons, Egrets and Terns.  The floation village is organised an optional paddle boat tour of the floating village which if not seen before is a unique experience.

INCLUSION
  • English-speaking bird guide
  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off
  • Boat excusion per program
  • Breakfast, lunch, drinking water
  • All entrance fees
  • Conservation contribution
EXCLUSION
  • Gratuities (tip)
  • Soft drink / beer
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance

What to Expect

  • Our expert guide with our aircon minivan driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby at 5.30am, as early as we can so we get the most of the morning time which is best for the birds and nature. We will arrive back in Siem Reap at 4 pm but sometimes as early as 2.30pm or as late as 5 pm depends on your interest in the tour.  We can either take you back to your hotel or to another destination of your choice in town.
  • Transfer from hotel to Mechrey pier will take about 40 minutes each way on a 26km road (some parts passing rural villages on a dirt road).
  • Breakfast is provided by CBGA with a croissant, two slides of cereal bread with butter and jam, some fresh fruit, and coffee or tea. Please do if you may wanna pack breakfast also from your hotel.
  • It is kind of wintertime for Cambodia from November to February, so when traveling on the boat it is sometimes windy and cold. You might wanna bring your jacket along or at least a long sleeve shirt during the trip which also helps.
  • Other things to bring: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
  • CBGA will provide drinking water in a big container to refill, so we request you to bring your own water bottle from home or from your hotel. It is our campaign to reduce plastic waste.

Note:

  • The best time to explore Prek Toal bird colonies is from November when most bird species are coming. Yet some species like Milky Stork and Greater Adjutant will get there later in December, and until the end of May when the rain comes and birds are leaving. The access to the bird colonies inside the core reserve also plays an important factor for visitors. By late February the water level is getting low which not allow us to get through to the observation platform. Fortunately, without being at the platform where it is very muddy and our boat could not access, we are still able to enjoy the area with the finding of many bird species in flocks gathering along the waterways where they come to feed.
  • April to June is possible with birding too but the water level is quite low which make the access difficult to get to the best place for birding.
  • July to September is not recommended.
  • From October birds start to arrive.