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Siem Reap to Saigon
Duration
16 days
Site savings
$73
From
$2,332 USD
A socially-conscious 16 day epic cycle across Cambodia and Vietnam taking in the glorious sights and visiting local NGOs along the way. Get on a bicycle, off the beaten track and explore the contrast in countries between Cambodia and Vietnam. With an adventure beginning in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and finishing in Saigon, Vietnam, you can truly explore and uncover the mysteries of these two incredible countries. Get ready to cycle almost 700km across Cambodia and Vietnam. From ancient Angkor Wat to the mighty Mekong Delta, you will be taken on a journey that will push your physical limits, challenge your ethical values and completely open your mind. You are about to go on a journey that may well change your life. And the lives of others.
- CategoryMulti-Activity
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration16 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level2 - Novice
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance435 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance43.5 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration16 days
- Main DestinationAngkor Wat and Siem Reap
- Distance435 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance43.5 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Siem Reap: Arrival day and welcome dinner
You will arrive and stay in the heart of the cosmopolitan lifestyle that has been thrust on Siem Reap since the country has opened up to the outside world. After you are picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel, take some time to relax or explore the city before meeting for a welcome dinner. Dinner is at one of Siem Reap’s best restaurants, Marum. It’s part of the Friends International social enterprise projects, providing vocational training for marginalized youth.
- Bayon Modern Residence, Siem Reap
- Dinner
- Day 2Siem Reap: Sunrise cycling around the temples of Angkor
Sunrise is from 4.30am as you 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 you’ll venture on to other, and arguably more impressive, temples in the area for the remainder of the morning. In the early afternoon you’ll have the chance to visit your first NGO of the trip. You 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.
NGO: This Life Cambodia
- 18.6 miles
- Bayon Modern Residence, Siem Reap
- Breakfast
- Day 3Battambang: River riding, local villages and coffee stops
You will ride out of Siem Reap to the boat port (20km/12.4mi). Traveling across the wetlands and navigating your way around Tonle Sap river is an experience you will never forget. The road soon turns to single track as you get more and more remote. You will farewell the support van and venture on into the rural and barren lands of Cambodia. Few villages exist out here, supporting themselves through sustainable fishing methods. After around a 4hr boat ride, it’s another 20-30km (12.4-18.6mi) to Battambang, depending on the river levels. Battambang is great for shopping, with colonial style streets and hidden secrets where bric-a-brac abounds. Dinner is in another social enterprise based restaurant, Jann Bai, that is often hailed as the best dinner in Cambodia!
Riding today is between 40-50km (25-31mi).
- 24.9 miles
- Holiday Hotel., Battambang
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Pursat: Battambang to Banan by bike
After an early breakfast, you’ll make your way along the dusty red back roads to the nearby local attraction of Banan Temple. You’ll cycle back to the town of Battambang to explore a little more and grab lunch at leisure. You’ll get to the town of Pursat by early afternoon and into your hotel to enjoy the swimming pool and on site massage spa. You’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. See the difference the NGO makes first hand. Be inspired by the real difference made by real people.
- 31.1 miles
- KM Hotel, Pursat
- Breakfast
- Day 5Cycling into Phnom Penh, riverside villages and Tonle Sap
You will start cycling 75km (46mi) 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 you pass through villages living on Tonle Sap lake. The ride takes in great coffee stops, endless photo opportunities and a couple of ferries. For dinner, it’s a feast of tarantula’s and crickets at the famous Romdeng restaurant, a social enterprise restaurant from the friends International team.
- 46.6 miles
- Mito Hotel, Phnom Penh
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 6Friends International, S-21 and BBQ
You’ll start the day by meeting the incredible people at Friends International and learn about the wonderful work they do within the community. This is a great insight into REAL local everyday issues, from real local everyday heroes. You'll then venture towards the Russian market and move to Tuol Sleng, also known as S-21 Genocide Museum. This devastating chapter of the Khmer Rouge and Cambodian history is emotionally challenging but strongly recommended. There is some free time in the afternoon to process your day, whilst you’ll meet again for a local Khmer BBQ dinner tonight and feast on a selection of local meats and vegetables, cooked at the group table on a communal BBQ.
- Mito Hotel, Phnom Penh
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 7Phnom Penh to Kampot
- Day 8The Bokor Mountain Cycle Challenge
Start the day with an (optional) mammoth Bokor Mountain cycle challenge! It’s 40km (24.8mi) to get to the top. The first 10km (6.2mi) is flat, then it just keeps on going up, and up, and up! If cycling uphill doesn’t rock your world, the tour operator can bring your bike in the van and you can cycle down! Whilst at the top, you can take some time to explore the French ghost town of Bokor Hill Station in Preah Monivong National Park. If you feel like taking some time off the bike, Kampot is a great town to caffeinate, people watch and relax.
- 37.3 miles
- Vibola Guesthouse or similar, Kampot
- Day 9Salt fields and ethical fashion
- Day 10Pepper farms, crab markets and Vietnam
Today you will cross over the border into Vietnam, but not before discovering the wonderful province of Kep. Located just before the border, this town is famous for it’s fresh seafood, particularly crab. You’ll spend a couple of hours exploring the famous pepper plantations and salt lakes on the way.
Navigating through the back roads, you’ll make your way around the National Park and to the border crossing into Ha Tien, Vietnam. Arrive Rach Gia after crossing the border. From Ha Tien, you’ll jump in the van and head to Rach Gia for a feast of local seafood and Banh Xeo.
- 40.4 miles
- Dai Luong in Rach Gia
- Dinner
- Day 11Cycling the Mekong Delta
Can Tho is where the Mekong Delta really comes into it’s own! To get there you will cut through the back roads of rice paddies and farm land, arriving in the city by late afternoon. With a population of over a million and a thriving tourist trade, Can Tho has a vibrancy about it like none other. The ride finishes about 20km (12.4mi) out of the city, but if your legs and daylight permit, there’s an option to continue all the way in, making today's ride 100km (62mi) if you dare!
In the evening you can relax and explore this amazing city. For dinner, you’ll pull up a patch of grass at the night market and treat yourself to a degustation of delightful street food!
- 49.7 miles
- Ninh Kieu in Can Tho
- Breakfast
- Day 12Floating markets, noodles and cocoa farms
This morning you'll have a fantastic boat tour and catch the floating markets for sunrise. You'll enjoy having your breakfast brought to you on the water! Following that, you’ll visit the noodle factory where you’ll have a chance to make your own noodles and the cocoa farms just before lunch.
Another free afternoon today where you can choose to sit and relax, grab a massage or take a wander through the market.
- Ninh Kieu in Can Tho
- Breakfast
- Day 13Mekong Delta and Homestay
You’ll take a day to casually explore the oasis that is the Mekong Delta. From the coconut candy factories of Ben Tre to the canals and floating markets of My Tho, this is a place to relax and unwind. You’ll avoid the hordes of tourists in My Tho by using Ben Tre as a base to explore the region. It’s still a full day cycling from Can Tho and you’ll enjoy getting amongst the maze that is the Mekong Delta. Cycling ranges between 85-100km today. You should get into Ben Tre for 5pm, just in time to rest, relax and spend the evening at a local homestay.
- 52.8 miles
- Homestay in Ben Tre
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 14Cycling into Saigon
You’ll start early to beat the heat and some traffic. Cycling into Saigon for the last cycle day of the tour is an incredible experience. Ho Chi Minh is what the world would look like if cars weren’t invented. With whole lanes and roads dedicated to two wheels, it is the city of the future as the population grows. The last 12 km (7.5mi) will be where you can rest up and transit into the city center itself via the support van. Your boutique hotel is in the heart of the city, just a short stroll from the Street Food Market for dinner and a live band.
- 49.7 miles
- Tripwriter, Saigon
- Breakfast
- Day 15Saigon
You’ll visit the incredible Mekong Plus NGO from Vietnam. Mekong Plus work in over 800 villages throughout Vietnam and Cambodia in community development. They have a holistic approach that includes education, vocational training, health, micro finance and much more.
Tonight you'll have the final dinner at KOTO (Know One Teach One), a social enterprise based restaurant designed to teach skills to disadvantaged youth in the area. Not only does KOTO do good, it tastes incredible! This is your chance to discuss the NGOs you have learnt about and decide where you'd like the donation to go.
- Tripwriter, Saigon
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 16Departure Day