Cycle the Backroads of Cambodia

Suo Sdei! Welcome to Cambodia.

Upon arrival, please look out for the Siem Reaper Travel welcome sign at the arrivals gate. We will transfer you to your hotel, where you can take your time and relax by the pool or venture out for your first exploration of the capital city.

In the early evening, your guide will meet you at the hotel reception where a trip briefing will be held. Then, you will enjoy the creative Cambodian cuisine.

Start your adventure on a mountain bike by crossing the river by local boat and then riding through the villages on an island in the Mekong River. The island is famous for silk weaving, agriculture, and aquaculture. Stop to see locals at work in the village and enjoy cycling on quiet roads through orchards and along rice paddies. Then return to Phnom Penh in the afternoon for lunch.

In the afternoon, your guide will take you to explore Phnom Penh, which remains a living relic of the country’s past struggles. We head out south of the main center of the tourist side to Tuol Sleng. Toul Sleng was a former high school that was used as Security Prison 21 (S21) under the control of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. We tour the complex for an hour before heading back to your hotel.

Today, we say goodbye to Phnom Penh and transfer to Prev Phnov Bridge, where the bikes will be waiting for us to begin our journey to Udong Mountain. We ride through the rice paddies and small villages that cover a distance of approximately 45 km from Phnom Penh to Udong, the ancient capital of Cambodia. This peaceful countryside is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle that we have experienced during our stay in Phnom Penh.

We then continue our ride, pausing at the silversmith hamlet of Kampong Luong, cycling down the Tonle Sap River to Longvek, resting for lunch, and finally transferring to Kampong Chhnang.

This morning, we ride on a flat and dusty road that takes you to the town of Battambang. Depending on the condition of the road, it may be quite a bumpy ride past a pottery village, rice paddies, and local farms. Today is a combination of cycling and some driving, approximately 2 to 3 hours in total.

Upon arrival in Battambang, there’s a chance to relax by the pool in the afternoon before the evening walking tour of the city center. Battambang has been shaped by Khmer, French, and Chinese influences to create a fascinating cultural tapestry. This has created a fascinating local culture and a clash of colonial-era and modern architecture.

Today, we’ll hop on a mountain bike and cycle pass Neo-Khmer buildings as well as colonial structures, including the Sala Khaet (the governor’s residence). Stop on a bridge over the Sanger River and admire the architectural remains of old shops, colonial mansions, and crumbling pagodas lining the banks. You see children on their way to school and boats gliding down the river. Enjoy the scenic surroundings with palm-lined country roads and lush rice fields. Learn some Cambodian words from your guide. Meet families whose generations work together to make rice paper, rice noodles, banana chips, dried fruit, rice wine, and the famous Battambang rice cake.

You will continue on to enjoy a delicious Cambodian lunch at a family home. Then visit a Buddhist temple to gain an understanding of the principles and practices of a religion that is central to Cambodian life. Afterward, return to your accommodation.

Today, we take a quick break and start cycling through other areas of Battambang, towards Banon temple and Pailin. We cycle on a quiet backroad, a great way to see the real Cambodia, we may be greeted by local children all eager to say hello as we pass by before transferring to Pailin province to check into our hotel.

Upon arrival at our hotel and after checking in, you will have the option to either take a short break before exploring or take a short ride to explore the area.

We leave the hotel early this morning to bike to Siem Reap, where we will see and hear more rural sights as we cycle through the endless forest. After finishing this morning’s ride, we will transfer approximately 2 hours by minivan to Siem Reap.

Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be greeted by the soothing sounds of the pool. You will be given time to rest before we start our city orientation walking tour at 16:30. You will explore historical places like the old town and, not to mention, enjoy a nice walk along the Siem Reap river with viewpoints that overlook the local Cambodian lifestyle. Afterward, you will enjoy your dinner with the creative local cuisine at Marum Restaurant (Marun is an NGO that has been working with street children and other marginalized young people).

Today, you will begin your cycling adventure in the morning. Start your morning ride to Angkor Archaeology Park and enjoy a day of exploring the spectacular temples! Enter the Angkor Thom city through the ancient gate, which is carved with elephants and four giant faces. Then head to Bayon Temple, which is located in the center of the city. Admire its enigmatic faces that represent the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Afterward, explore the Terrace of the Elephants and Baphuon Temple, which offer a window into Khmer culture through their sculptures and architecture.

Continue our ride through the forest trails and see the jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm. Explore this temple, which is overgrown with jungle trees and was once featured in the Tomb Raider film.

You'll also stop for a lunch break by the tropical garden with a view over the pond. It's a perfect place to take in your surroundings and relax.

Following the lunch break and a rest period, we then set out to visit the iconic Angkor Wat temple. With its rich history and symbolism, it's also the largest religious monument in the world and the finest example of Khmer architecture. A late afternoon visit to the magnificent ancient temple of Angkor Wat will give you a chance to appreciate the vastness and beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site without the crowds. Afterward, we return to Siem Reap town.

Today, we explore the great landscape of the Tonle Sap lake by bike and boat. This is a unique experience offering a great outdoor adventure in Siem Reap’s countryside by exploring a floating village and enjoying the scenic ride along Siem Reap rivers.

You will ride on a charming backroad in order to explore the local ways of life in Siem Reap. You will be greeted by friendly locals and get a deeper understanding of their lives and traditions. The journey will end at the Tonle Sap lake, where you will experience the livelihoods of Cambodian people living in the floating villages, offering you the opportunity to see how families adapt their lives to living on the water. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the local family house with a variety of local dishes. In the afternoon, we transfer by vehicle back to Siem Reap, and your time will be at your own leisure.

Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner together at a special local restaurant. Take the day to reflect on the rewarding cycling, beautiful destinations, and cultural immersion that this tour has provided!

As there are no activities planned for today, you can leave your accommodation at any time before 12:00 PM. Our driver is already to transfer you to Siem Reap Airport. If you would like to spend an additional day in Siem Reap, our guide can recommend activities or hotels where you can stay for the evening.