Water is life is an understatement when considered extensively. From being a means of transportation to housing some of the world’s most beautiful animals, the waters of the world are a spectacle to behold.
From exotic islands to serene villages, these are the world’s top floating villages you can visit for your next vacation.
1. Ha Long Bay – Vietnam
Located in Vietnam, this bay is home to around 2,000 people living in four villages. Each community/village sustains itself through agricultural activities like fishing and cultivation. The bay is known for its thousands of limestone islands surrounded by rainforests this island is known for its emerald waters.
Visitors can tour junk boats and kayaks past islands named for their shapes, such as Stone Dog and Teapot. You can also engage in leisure activities like scuba diving, hiking, and rock climbing.
2. Inle Lake – Myanmar
This site is located in the Shan Hills of Myanmar with its picturesque feel and floating gardens. The floating village at Inle Lake is one of a kind. Measuring 22km long and 10km wide, Inle Lake is situated between two mountain ranges.
Houses in this floating village are built on stilts. The people living around the Lake are known as the Intha people and are famous for their fishing and weaving industry.
3. Ganvie Lake – Benin
With a population of over 20,000, Ganvie Lake is considered to be the Venice of Africa. Situated in Lake Nokoue near Cotonou, it is touted as the largest lake village in Africa.
Although initially known for its agricultural leanings, the town is now known for its tourist attractions. There are boats ready to take you through the village. You can observe the culture of the locales first hand.
4. Giethoorn – Netherlands
Also referred to as the Venice of the Netherlands, the residential apartments in this floating village are built on Pontoons, unlike stilts which some other towns are known for. Located in the province of Overijssel, this floating village barely has fewer cars than boats as it has a lot of waterways.
The town is also known for its serenity, so if you are looking for a place to relax, this should be on your list.
5. Uros Islands – Peru
The Uros islands currently account for over 120 floating islands where the Uros (people of Bolivian and Peruvians) have preserved their culture for several hundreds of years. It is located on Lake Titicaca (the world’s highest navigable Lake and South America’s largest Lake).
The floating villages were initially meant to protect them from marauders and attacks from their enemies. Today, the islands made from totara reed and woven to create strong roots are a one-of-a-kind floating village.
6. Santa Cruz Del Islote – Colombia
This floating village holds the record for being the most densely populated island in the world. Measuring around 11913.95m², the island’s inhabitants fill up every space available.
The denseness of this island doesn’t make it a top destination for tourists, but the blue ocean surrounding the island makes for an excellent spot for water activities.
7. Zhouzhuang And Wuzhen – China
These two water towns are famous for their waterways and ancient houses, preserved hundreds of years back. Zhouzhuang is located in the Kunshan Administrative territory. Some notable areas you can visit are the Shen and Zhang houses.
Walking around the town won’t take much time, but a boat would offer you a better viewing experience. Places like the Chengxu Taoist temple are also areas of interest for a tourist to visit.
8. Tonle Sap Floating Village – Cambodia
Tonle sap is home to over 100 villages with several people living within the communities built around Asia’s largest Lake. It is also known for its stilted villages and its many species of wildlife.
The town is predominantly occupied by Vietnamese citizens who haven’t been able to get citizenship from the Cambodian government. As such, they resorted to establishing their homes on the water. Hence, the floating villages of Tonle.
9. Koh Oh Panyi – Thailand
Established over 100 years ago, this community has grown to host several people, with at least 300 families currently living in the area. What started as an attempt to circumvent a Thai law that prevented foreigners from holding properties, the floating village has now become a tourist spot and a community for people to inhabit.
The houses are built on stilts with bamboo, and the town boasts a school, hospital, market, cemetery, and even a tiny museum.
10. Tai O – Hong Kong
Majorly a fishing town, it is home to the Tanka people, whose love for the sea is unrivaled. Located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, the idyllic nature of the island has made it a tourist attraction center. For tourists, activities include a visit to the market, a visit to the 17th-century Yeung Hau temple, and the rope-drawn ferry bridge, among other things.
