We booked our trip through Tripadvisor and were picked up without any issues direct from our hotel in Siem Reap. We were in a small group of five consisting of our family, with two young boys, and another lady. Our guide was extremely informative and friendly and put us all on our ease on the drive to the the quay at Tonle Sap in an air conditioned van. The route took us out of Siem Reap to more rural areas and gave us a glimpse of how many rural communities live.
The boat we met at the quay to take us down to Tonle Sap lake could be considered basic by Western standards, however, it felt a lot more like the real Cambodia than taking a large tourist boat. The trip down river to the lake was absolutely fascinating, taking you the main route through the sunken forest. Although the noise of the engine did mean our guide wasn't able to describe things fully, he pointed out sights of interest to us and answered our many questions. The main destination - the lake itself - is interesting for its impressive scale, but the real highlight is seen on the way - Kompong Phluk.
The floating village feels as authentic as it can with the many visitors passing through it, with the tourism confined to the floating restaurant where you can stop for drinks on the way back and have the opportunity to pay a little extra to be paddled around the mangroves and sunken forest on a short trip. This also gives you a brief chance to see some of the village closer to and I would recommend the few dollars extra for the short canoe ride.
The whole experience was unforgettable and also an opportunity to talk to our guide and find out more about the lives of the people who live on and around the lake. Some might find the tour itself a little basic for Westerners who might be used to luxury, but I found it to be unforgettable and wouldn't hesitate recommending it to others.