Tonle Bati

Tonle Bati

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles136 reviews
Excellent
46
Very good
45
Average
20
Poor
20
Terrible
6

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PoipuJim
85 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
This is a wonderful region to explore that is about 30 minutes south of PP. It is on a small lake where many locals go to relax, fish, swim and eat. You can enjoy a great homecooked lunch in a little shelter by the water. There are several lovely attractions very close to each other ...... including Ta Phrom temple and the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Reserve. I highly recommend a half-to-full day trip exploring this region that is close to PP.
Written January 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Getaway19130212731
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
Highly recommend, we were hesitant after reading the reviews about beggars, but so glad we went. There was a few locals outside the entrance, no body pestered us at all. $2 U.S to enter and we'll worth it. Like a miniature Ankor Wat, just as ancient, very decorative and beautiful. The grounds around it are green and lush, and you pass all the lotus farms and water Buffalo on your way here from Phnom Penh. We hired a driver for the day $60. He also took us to see the Tonle Bati lake with the picturesque bamboo picnic huts over the water. You can rent one for a picnic, or go for a boat ride. This is a great day trip or 1/2 day trip from P.P.
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sibylle
Kampong Thom, Cambodia36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
Very nice temple complex, entrance 2$ per person. The visit is definitely worth it. It's just annoying that you get begged all the time. The seniors keep the facility clean, but once you give something, everyone else follows you. The lakeside picnic area is also worth seeing! There are many small food stalls. Very crowded on Sunday, as also very popular with locals. Wednesday morning we were pretty alone.
Automatically translated
Written October 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SapphoStyria
58 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
Very atmospheric, small complex with beautiful relief remains.
Unfortunately, you are besieged by numerous sellers and begging children, even if you have already bought or given something. We were followed to the central shrine and unfortunately could not enjoy either the facility or a brief moment of devotion.
Automatically translated
Written July 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

melkeet
Ipoh, Malaysia1,383 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019
This is an Angkorian temple with Hindu and Buddhist deities and located about 30 km south of Phnom Penh.

We were driven there by a friendly tuk tuk driver and our itinerary included the wild life sanctuary nearby. The road was a bit dusty as it was the dry season, and therefore best to wear a face mask.

This temple was comparatively smaller compare to the likes of those in Siem Reap, but had some beautiful carvings. It was not crowded, probably due to the fact that it was a weekday.
There were some elderly people hanging around and some school children playing nearby. We ignored them and they left us alone.There is a lake nearby called tonle bati where you can have a boat ride.

For me, it was worth while travelling here, to see this place.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dominique M
Aire-sur-l'Adour, France10 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
My curiosity got the best of me when I decided to venture out and see these ruins. When you approach the temple the view is fantastic; the ruins definitely have a charm. But as soon as you step out the car you’re harassed by the locals constantly begging for things, and the worst part is that they won’t leave you the hell alone. If you’re not familiar with giving offerings in Buddhist temples, they’ll take advantage of that and hustle you into buying flowers, and when you ask how much they refuse to tell you the price, opting instead to talk over you.

Kids surround you begging, and you have to be on guard about being pickpocketed. Old women from the temple come out begging for more money in addition to the offering you gave. It’s ridiculous. You can’t even focus and appreciate the beauty of the temple with 5 mouths constantly harassing you.

If you’re going to come, come in a group. If you come alone, make sure other tourists are there. Otherwise I’d just visit Ankor Wat and avoid this place.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris_and_Jas
Greater Munich164 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2011 • Couples
Tonle Bati is on the list of literally every single taxi or tuktuk driver in and around Phnom Penh. They sell it as a day trip und will charge you some 25 $ (taxi even 30-35 $).
Think twice before you go!
Tonle Bati is nothing but a lake. Just an ordinary lake. There’s absolutely nothing special about it. At the weekends Tonle Bati is rather popular with locals who rent one of the small wooden floating sheds and laze in the sun or go fishing. Apart from this there’s nothing to do or see.
Location:
Tonle Bati is located some 35 kilometres south of PP off the highway to Takeo. By tuktuk it will take you at least one hour to get there.
Road conditions:
Expect a bumpy and partly dangerous ride. The outward road between PP downtown and Choeung Ek (The Killing Fields) is quite ok with only one rather nasty part nearby the intersection with National Highway 2. From there road conditions are fair but with heavy traffic. Especially reckless truckers drive like crazy. But the worst is yet to come. The final five to six kilometres are a dust road in appalling condition with deep potholes all over. Back-ache guaranteed!
Cost:
They’ll charge you an entrance fee of 3$. Per person, not per vehicle. Of course your driver won’t tell you in advance. And it doesn’t include anything, it’s just a ticket.
On the spot:
It wouldn’t be Cambodia if you weren’t greeted by vendors and hawkers. Upon arrival they pursue you. Sir, you buy? Most of them try to lure you into one of the eateries. Forget about having a decent walk along the shore. First of all, there’s no such thing as a walkway or promenade. Only a parking. That’s it. Now you can either go for lunch or dinner, fight a running battle with the vendors, or simply leave and return back home as fast as you can. Like we did.
Yes, there is Ta Prohm on the way. But watch out! We’re not talking the famous Bayon style Angkor temple Ta Prohm! It’s an identically named far smaller and less sensational temple ruin.
Having been to Angkor you can definitely give it a miss, too.
Bottom line:
The trip to Tonle Bati was the most pointless and absurd day we had in Cambodia. A complete waste of time and effort. Getting there is exhausting, expensive, time-consuming and not really hazard-free. Pretty much a tourist trap, so better stay away.
Written August 25, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ReluctantCook
Melbourne, Australia49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Couples
Unlike some reviewers we expect that Cambodian roads are potholed, traffic chaotic & sometimes terrifying & tuk tuks slow, but if you want to experience the real Cambodia pay an English speaking driver US$50 for an 8 hour adventure taking you from central Phnom. Penh to Mankong (Silk) Island, crossing the. Mekong River (with your tuk tuk) for $1 a head, then have an up close look at simple Cambodian rural life with stilt houses, weaving looms and spinning wheels underneath, emaciated bullocks being driven along the dusty roads to graze on rice stubble & buy exqyuisite woven silk from the ladies who actually weave the most beautiful designs & who happily chat & give you a glimpse into their very modest lives. After a bumpy ride here, we headed off to see the ruins of Ta Phrom temple(yes, $3 a head entry to pay for a small amount of preservation & ground care.... hardly a huge expense) and the beautiful buddhist btemple complex including a monastery & open sided 5 buddha temple next door on the shores of Tonle Bati lake.
Young girls try to make a few rile by selling flowers & acting as unofficial guides but they are by no means beggars. Help them with their English & give them a few riel for their trouble before going somewhere to buy something else you don't need, these rural people live on less than $1.25 a day...
Our final stop en route back to busy Phnom Penh was the very moving Choeung. Ek Genocidal Center (Killing Fields) where we used the excellent English audio guide to tour the area & memorial stupa at our own pace. That these horrors occurred in our lifetime is shocking but the way that the incredibly friendly & industrious Cambodian people have worked to recover the loss off all their teachers, academics, priests & monks, business people, administrators & lawyers etc etc in just 36 years is awe inspiring.
This is 8 hours of dust in your face from unmade roads, jarring porholes & the occasional near death experience on the road, but also a glimpse into a wonderful cottage industry, their rural simplicity which will disappear soon, their proud architectural & religious history and an insight into one of the most shocking acts of genocide in modern history. We thought it was $50 (plus $2 ferry, plus $6 temple plus $12 Choeung Ek entry & audio guide plus $40 for 5 superb hand made pure silk scarves) very well spent.
Written June 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JimCA2
Phnom Penh407 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2012 • Solo
Located only 30K south of Phnom Penh off of Rt. 2 is Tonle Bati (Bati Lake) It is home to 12-13th Century Ta Phrom Temple, dedicated to Buddhism, built during Jayavarman VII. Only 100 meters away over looking Bati Lake is remnants of Prasat Yiey Pauv. It is very well preserved and covered with beautiful bas-reliefs. It is one of the best preserved and most intricate temples between Siem Reap and the Vietnam border to the south. Locals from Phnom Penh descend on the shores on weekends and holidays to relax and picnic.

It is an easy journey from Phnom Penh either by car, tuk tuk or moto, more adventurous travelers can take local bus service to Takeo runs regularly and can be cheap. Just let the driver know, and he will make the stop at the turn off to the temple.

There is a 3 dollar entry to the site. Carry small riel with you on this trip as there are plenty of flower vendors and old people who have survived many Khmer Rouge battles in this neighborhood, looking for hand outs. Bring your camera. Also take note on the side of the temple, a relief a a window was carved with a bamboo mat shade.
Written July 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BrianAldridge
Catalkoy, Cyprus16 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2013
Got my Tuk Tuk driver to come here after the Killing fields. Needed to chill out after that one. This place was advertised on a board in the Tuk Tuk. Paid the entrance fee of $3. Unfortunnately, we were the only visitors there, and was immediately surrounded by the young girls who will not leave you alone. Selling Flowers and Candles, and are then you have to offer them to a little Buddah statue. An old lady there gives, sorry, sells you incence sticks for Buddah, and after escaping, One of the girls said I didn't pay Buddah. Wondered what the money Box in front of him was for? Even the Tuk Tuk driver was getting fleeced. He got angry with them, but they just wouldn't listen. Made a quick escape. Come here at your Peril,,
Written December 12, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Tonle Bati - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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