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Cycle IndoChina and Angkor
Duration
14 days
Site savings
$68
From
$3,323 USD
Cycle through awe-inspiring ancient monuments across 3 countries over a 14 day biking adventure. This journey takes you through three countries with divergent histories and subtly different cultures. From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the serene tranquillity of the shimmering paddy fields, to the magnificence of Angkor’s temples, you will see a little piece of everything these amazing countries have to offer.
- CategoryCultural & Historical
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration14 days
- Culture LevelOut There
- Skill Level2 - Novice
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance308.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance34.2 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration14 days
- Main DestinationBangkok and Around
- Distance308.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance34.2 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Start Bangkok
There will be a group meeting and briefing in the evening with your leader followed by an optional group dinner for those that would like to join. Your main luggage will be transported ahead of you to the start point early in the morning so please bring this with you to the meeting; just hang on to what you need for the night/morning - you will be with your luggage again mid-morning tomorrow.
- Rembrandt Bangkok Hotel or similar
- Day 2Early transfer to the old kingdom of Ayuttaya; warm-up ride on trail
- Day 3Cycle to Sa Keaw
Today you will follow minor roads through rural Thai landscapes including rubber and eucalyptus plantations as well as tapioca and rice fields. There are a few easy rolling hills but the route is mostly flat. The ride ends when you join a busier road before driving the final short distance to the town of Sa Keaw by bus.
- 55.9 miles
- River Resort or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 4Ride to Aranyaprathet
Leaving the hotel early in the morning you will ride towards Tha Krabak where you can stop by a reservoir for a swim and a view of the untouched jungle on the other side. The group will break for lunch before carrying on cycling on quiet but well-maintained scenic roads on the way to Aranyaprathet, 10km (6.2mi) from the Cambodian border.
- 52.8 miles
- Indo China Hotel or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 5Into Cambodia and on to Siem Reap
After breakfast, you will drive to the busy border and complete customs formalities as you cross into Cambodia at Poipet. You will then drive to Siem Reap. Due to years of civil war the country is poorer and less developed than its neighbours. Apart from growth in the capital and around Siem Reap, the way of life in the countryside is still very much the same as it has been for centuries. This afternoon's ride from Siem Reap takes the group past Wat Athvea, a modern temple in the grounds of the ruins of an Angkorian temple, and ends at a market and picnic area outside of Siem Reap.
- 12.4 miles
- Angkor Holiday or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 6First of two full days to explore the temple complex of Angkor by bus and bike, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Banteay Srei
Today you may choose to have an early start to avoid the inevitable crowds drawn to the wonders of Angkor. The various temples are spread over a wide area and are linked by shady avenues; meandering your way between them by bike gives us a unique perspective. The cycle tour will include the jungle-covered Ta Prohm, with the amazing roots of the Fromagier trees clinging to the ancient stones, Angkor Thom with the famous Bayon temple of 37 towers (originally there were 49) topped with the four faces of the king, and of course the incredible Angkor Wat, with its huge moat, long causeway and massive towers - it is the largest temple complex in Asia.
- 18.6 miles
- Angkor Holiday or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 7Second day at Angkor temple complex
Today you will cycle outside the main Angkor complex to the outlying temple of Banteay Srei, 35km (21.8mi) from Siem Reap town. The route takes you past paddy fields, and through pretty villages. Banteay Srei was built in the 10th Century and contains some of the finest examples of Khmer sculpture. Although much smaller than the later temples, here all of the buildings are covered in exquisite carvings. In the afternoon as you cycle back to Siem Reap you can stop and visit a few of the less visited Angkor temples. Siem Reap town is pleasant to wander around; the market has plenty of interest and excellent shopping and there is a vibrant nightlife scene. This afternoon there should also be time to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, which is a branch of the Mekong River. This optional trip includes a boat ride to see the floating fishing villages. Anyone wanting to do this visit may need to miss part or all of the ride back to Siem Reap, depending on timings. Cycle approx. 70 km (43mi). if riding the full distance to and from Banteay Srei.
- 43.5 miles
- Angkor Holiday or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 8Drive to Phnom Penh, stopping at Sambor Pre Kuk and Skuon
Today you will take a bus journey of approximately 7 hours along National Road 6 to Phnom Penh, with a couple of stops along the way. You will visit Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia's most impressive group of pre-Angkorian monuments with some of the oldest structures in the country. You'll also pause for a traditional Khmer lunch at a community restaurant before stopping in the town Skuon, which is known for its local delicacy of fried spiders. The road is currently undergoing some resurfacing so some sections will be a bit of a bumpy ride! You should arrive in Phnom Penh for late afternoon, the perfect time for a sundowner on the Mekong.
- Ohana Hotel or similar
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 9Sightseeing including Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the 'Killing Fields'
The fortunes of Phnom Penh have shifted dramatically during its history and the terrible years of the Khmer Rouge and subsequent civil war through the 1970s and 1980s have scarred the country. During the stay you will visit two sites which give a vivid impression of some of the horrors. There is the Genocide Museum, which is the former Khmer Rouge prison known as S-21 or Tuol Sleng, in the centre of the city. And 15kms (9.3mi) of out of town is the area known as the 'Killing Fields,' a mass grave and execution site for the former inmates of S-21. While visiting Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields may not appeal to everyone, they give an important understanding of what the country and its people had to endure just a few decades ago.
On a more positive note, the city is very much on the rise again and is a fascinating place with fine examples of French colonial architecture. You will tour the Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda. There is also excellent shopping at the 'Russian' market and the lively Mekong waterfront area.- Ohana Hotel or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 10Transfer to Takeo then cycle to Vietnam border and Chau Doc
This morning you will transfer south out of Phnom Penh to the town of Takeo. Here the road becomes quieter and you will mount your bike for the 50km (31mi) ride to the Phnom Den / Tinh Bien border. Once border formalities have been completed, you will cycle approximately 30km (18.6mi) to Chau Doc.
- Chau Pho hotel or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 11Drive/cycle through the Mekong Delta to Vinh Long; catch boat to homestay guesthouse
- Day 12Transfer to Cai Be for floating market; scenic cycle along Mekong riverbank; transfer to Saigon
You leave by boat this morning, stopping en route for a look at the Cai Be floating market. Here large boats moor up in the Mekong River, weighed down with fruit and vegetable produce. Local traders and shop owners buy in bulk in this strictly 'wholesale' market. Recently, Cai Be floating market is becoming less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks due to the bridge being built. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and trade being conducted traditionally on a smaller scale.
A little further on you will make a short stop to see cottage industries producing such items as popped rice, pancakes, wine and other homemade products. You willl start the ride towards Cai Lay where you can take a scenic route through fruit orchards and along the Mekong riverbank. Back on the bus in My Tho, you will drive on to the heat, hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, still usually known as Saigon. This is an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand defiantly alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a free market city where anything goes.- 21.7 miles
- Huong Sen hotel or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 13Free day in Saigon
The whole day is free to explore Saigon, do some shopping and to relax. There are a number of interesting things to see - the Saigon River, Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral are all within easy walking distance. Alternatively, a short cyclo (cycle taxi) ride will take you to the War Remnants Museum with an interesting (if a little gruesome) photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. For those that are interested your leader can arrange an optional visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located 2 hours outside the city. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers 3 levels and approximately 240km (149mi) of tunnels. Originally these were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine!
- Huong Sen hotel or similar
- Breakfast
- Day 14End Saigon