8D7N Cycling Remote Cambodia

Transfer from Airport to Hotel: 30 mins Cyclo Tour: 4 hours

Welcome to Phnom Penh! The capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap Rivers, and was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient. Despite its recent, turbulent history, it still retains much of its former colonial charm. Wide, tree-lined boulevards and a range of rich architecture reflect the city’s glory days and add to the allure of the city, where Asian and Western traditions meet in a fascinating way.

Before embarking on the tour begins, enjoy lunch along the riverfront. Follow lunch with a short cyclo tour of the city, a favoured mode of transportation in Phnom Penh.

Begin the day with the 19th century Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5,000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. The temple is known for its marvellous collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

Continue to the nearby National Museum. Built in traditional Khmer style, it houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries (over 5,000 unique pieces.) The National Museum is known not only for its repository of artefacts, but also for housing a massive colony of bats, who roost in its Khmer style roof.

After the visits, head back to the hotel for relaxation. Dinner this evening will be served at Romdeng, an NGO restaurant where former street children are taught the principles of hospitality. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city center, in a restored colonial building surrounded by an atmospheric garden.

Overnight at Phnom Penh.

Transfer from Oudong to hotel: 1 hour Transfer from Hotel to starting point: 20 mins Cycling distance up to 45km Difficulty: Easy

Begin the day with a transfer to the outskirts of the city where the day’s tour will begin. Embark on a 45 kilometer journey through the countrysides of Phnom Penh, reaching the town of Oudong. The ultimate destination will be Phnom Preah Reach, otherwise known as Oudong Mountain, the former the capital of Cambodia. On the ride out, the cityscape of Phnom Penh fades quickly and gives way to rural Cambodia. This area is illustrated by stilted houses, pagodas, rice paddies, ox carts, and friendly locals. Before lunch, arrive at the base of the mountain. It’s a steep climb to the top, but the view is worth it!  As the pale stones of the temple gleam brightly in the midday sun, it’s recommended to bring sunglasses.

After the visit, head back to the city.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Transfer from hotel to starting point: 20 minutes Cycling distance up to 90km Difficulty: Medium

Start off Day 3 by joining the locals of Phnom Penh as they make their daily commute across the Mekong by ferry. The far bank of the river contrasts sharply with the sprawling urban development of Phnom Penh… the perfect place to enjoy a bike ride!

Across the river, local traffic consists of small motorbikes, miniature tractors, horse-drawn carriages, cattle, and the occasional water buffalo. Along the riverbanks silk weavers still ply their trade and farmers tend to orchards and rice fields. Modern temples and pagodas dot the landscape on this pleasant cycle.

As the kilometres continue to count, the countryside deepens. Sealed roads give way to dirt roads and bumpy tracks. Cross the Mekong once more and then cycle into Kampong Cham, a beautiful riverside city.

Overnight at Kampong Cham.

Transfer from Chhlong to Kratie: 1hour Cycling distance up to 72km Difficulty: Medium

Day 4 features a series of river crossings and temple visits from Kampong Cham to Kratie. The Mekong ducks in and out of sight as the road meanders with the river. After crossing the river to Chhlong, we find ourselves in a unique area of Cambodia. The villages on this side of the river are primarily Muslim minority peoples, rare for Cambodia, which is a mostly Buddhist country.

The road continues on to Kratie. Stop here briefly before crossing the river once more to the island of Koh Trong, a favorite former locale for Khmer kings. As the sun begins to dip, take a short trip to the island’s temple to participate in a tree planting ceremony—part of a local conservation effort to reforest this beautiful island.

Overnight in Kratie.

Transfer from old Highway 7 to afternoon starting point: 1.5 hours Cycling distance up to 70Km Difficulty: Medium

In the morning, continue the journey upriver. Cross the Mekong and begin cycling northward from Kratie. Keep an eye out for some of the local livestock such as lazy cows, wallowing buffalo, and wayward chickens.

There will be a short stop about twenty kilometres from Kratie in the town of Kampi. This dusty town may not seem like much but the river nearby is home to the famed Irrawaddy dolphins.

Due to habitat loss and pollution, these species are among the last of their kind… but here they are numerous! Climb aboard a local boat and head out to the river. To keep from disturbing the dolphins too much, the boatman will shut off his engine after a short while and steer the boat in between the various islets and sandbars. Keep a sharp eye out for the dolphins as they frolic through the muddy waters of the river. After the dolphin cruise, the road turns away from the river and heads for more open country.

Take an hour and a half transfer from here to the lunch stop for today, where the bicycles will be set down once more for an afternoon ride through the countryside. The landmark to look for today is a bridge spanning of Sekong River (so named for the confluence of the Mekong, Kong, and San rivers). Idle boats bob down the current and a few fishermen cast their nets as the sun begins to set.

Overnight at Stung Treng.

Transfer from Stung Treng to the starting point: 2 hours Transfer from Preah Vihear to Sra’em: 30 minutes Cycling distance up to: 60km Difficulty: Medium

Begin Day 6 with an early morning transfer and a cycle through the open country, heading toward Preah Vihear temple. The routes are quiet here and the population of the area sparse. A few roadside shops dot the landscape.

After lunch, cycle a short distance to the hotel, then pack up and transfer to the base of Preah Vihear, one of Cambodia’s prized treasures. The road to the top remains unfinished, so a four wheel drive transfer is necessary to tackle the steep grade.

An ancient king built the temple of Preah Vihear on the top of the hill to better worship the Hindu gods. The impressive ruins reach skyward (nearly 500 meters), perched on the edge of cliffs with amazing views over the seemingly endless Cambodian jungle. While the temple has not yet been restored, it still boasts spectacular carvings and lintels (nearly as splendid as those at Banteay Srei.) The temple’s spectacular location paired with a unique design is the reason UNESCO listed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site. Transfer back this evening for dinner and leisure at the hotel.

Overnight at Preah Vihear.

Transfer from Sra’em to Koh Ker: 2 hours Transfer from Koh Ker to Beng Mealea: 1 hour Cycling distance up to: 60km Difficulty: Medium

After breakfast, there will be an early morning transfer to the fabulous ancient capital Koh Ker. Koh Ker, built around 922 CE, is an ensemble of around 70 temples, including the highest pyramid style temple of Cambodia. This amazing archaeological site is on its way to being classified by UNESCO’s World heritage.

After visiting Koh Ker, transfer to another marvel: Beng Mealea temple. Undiscovered for centuries, Beng Mealea has only recently been made accessible and remains unrestored. An elevated walkway floats through the temple and gives a top-down view of this spectacular place.

Take lunch nearby the temple, and then begin cycling for the final destination tonight: Siem Reap.

Overnight at Siem Reap.

Enjoy the day at leisure until the transfer to the airport or join us for another tour of the Angkor area.