Cycling tour of Cambodia – 10N/11Days

Arrive in Siem Reap. If you’re flying in, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred back to the boutique-style hotel. Take some rest or explore the city, before we meet up for dinner at a local, social enterprise-based restaurant. Overnight.

Sunrise is from 4.30 am as we hit the bikes for the first time, but it is so worth it. Sunrise over Angkor Wat is a bucket list achievement for good reason. From here we’ll venture on to other, and arguably more impressive, temples in the area for the remainder of the morning. In the early afternoon, we’ll have the chance to visit our first NGO on the trip. We will spend time with these incredibly inspirational people that have dedicated their lives to helping others. Hear their stories and understand what the real issues of the country are. Overnight.

Traveling across the wetlands and navigating our way around the Tonle Sap river is an experience you will never forget. The road soon turns to a single track as we get more and more remote. We farewell our support van and venture on into the rural and barren lands of Cambodia. Few villages exist out here, supporting themselves through sustainable fishing methods via the river. The track can only go so far, as we arrange a long tail boat ride for you and the bikes a further 16km into the wetlands. When we come out the other side, we cross another 18km of dirt road before eventually coming into Battambang. Battambang is a common favorite on the trip. Packed with cafes proudly displaying local art, the town is considered an emergence of young talent in a field that was virtually wiped out by the Khmer Rouge. Battambang is also great for shopping, with colonial-style streets and hidden secrets where bric-a-brac abounds. Dinner is in another social enterprise-based restaurant that produces food on par with anything in any Australian city. Overnight.

After an early breakfast, we’ll make our way along the dusty red back roads. We’ll get to the town of Pursat by early afternoon and into our hotel to enjoy the swimming pool and on-site massage spa. We’ll get a great experience from an amazing NGO, Sustainable Cambodia. A full presentation by the executives in their office and a tour of their facilities. Shortly after we will be guided to see their projects working for first hand. See the difference the NGO makes first hand. Be inspired by the real difference made by real people. Overnight.

We start cycling 75km out from Phnom Penh and ride all the way up to the front door of the hotel. The back roads bring in some of the most spectacular scenery as we pass through villages living on Tonle Sap lake. The ride takes in great coffee stops, endless photo opportunities, and a couple of ferries. It’s almost entirely on back streets with minimal traffic. The final 2km within the heart of the city can be transferred via van as an option. For dinner, it’s a feast of tarantula’s and silk works at the famous Romdeng restaurant, a social enterprise restaurant. Overnight.

We start cycling 75km out from Phnom Penh and ride all the way up to the front door of the hotel. The back roads bring in some of the most spectacular scenery as we pass through villages living on Tonle Sap lake. The ride takes in great coffee stops, endless photo opportunities, and a couple of ferries. It’s almost entirely on back streets with minimal traffic. The final 2km within the heart of the city can be transferred via van as an option. For dinner, it’s a feast of tarantula’s and silk works at the famous Romdeng restaurant, a social enterprise restaurant. Overnight.

This cycling day takes us south of Phnom Penh to Chisaur Mountain Temple in rural Cambodia. It’s not really much of a mountain at 130m and the route is perfectly flat. We casually cycle through remote villages and waterways, via narrow dirt tracks. Chisaur Temple is where we’ll be for lunch as we have plenty of time to explore these ancient ruins which are 200 years older than Angkor Wat. From here, we’ll take the van down to the Cambodian coastal town of Kampot to enjoy the culinary delights on offer. Overnight.

Start the day with an (optional) mammoth Bokor Mountain cycle challenge! It’s 40km to get to the top. The first 10km is flat, then it just keeps on going up, and up, and up! If cycling uphill doesn’t rock your world, we can bring your bike in the van and you can cycle down! Whilst at the top, we can take some time to explore the French ghost town of Bokor Hill Station in Preah Monivong National Park. For dinner, we’ll head to the Rusty Keyhole for the best BBQ ribs in the world. Overnight.

In the morning, we’ll visit Chumkriel Language School (no children will be in attendance at the time of visiting). A fantastic NGO and inspirational human being, Mr. Suthy has set up a very grassroots local school to give access to education for children of the salt field community. In the afternoon, just sit and relax by the pool, take a wander through the market or just take some time for yourself. If you like, you can take a cruise down the Salt lakes, pepper farms, live crab markets, and white beaches Today we cycle to the border into Vietnam, but not before we discover the wonderful province of Kep. Located just before the border, this town is famous for its fresh seafood, particularly crab. We’ll spend a couple of hours exploring the famous pepper plantations and salt lakes on the way. Navigating through the back roads, we’ll make our way around the National Park and to the border crossing into Vietnam. From the border, you’ll jump into the van and transit back to Phnom Penh with Hoem and the Cambodian team. You can expect to be back at your hotel for dinner. river at sunset and watch the fireflies come to life. Overnight.

Today we cycle to the border into Vietnam, but not before we discover the wonderful province of Kep. Located just before the border, this town is famous for its fresh seafood, particularly crab. We’ll spend a couple of hours exploring the famous pepper plantations and salt lakes on the way. Navigating through the back roads, we’ll make our way around the National Park and to the border crossing into Vietnam. From the border, you’ll jump into the van and transit back to Phnom Penh with Hoem and the Cambodian team. You can expect to be back at your hotel for dinner. Overnight.

Your journey comes to an end here. We’ll help you get your way to the airport, or assist in your travel plans any way we can. Enjoy your breakfast, squeeze in one more massage or just find a great cafe to watch the world go by before your onward destination.