10 days
From US $2,295
Charismatic Cambodia Bike Tour
The land of the majestic Angkor Wat and home to some of the most pristine and untouched sceneries on earth, Cambodia is sure to leave you wonderstruck. Ride through the ‘Temple City’ under blue skies, swim around riverine islands and along virgin beaches on your journey through Cambodia. Enjoy pulsating history stored in its vivid monuments, local culture rife on its river banks, warm and welcoming people, and awesome food.
Siem Reap | 14:00hrs
Phnom Penh
casual
easy
50km or 30mi
7
REP
Highlights
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAY 1 | Siem Reap | Steung Siemreap | D | ||
DAY 2 | Siem Reap | Steung Siemreap | B,L | 30km / 18mi | cycling |
DAY 3 | Kampong Thom | Sambor Village | B,L,D | 55km / 33mi | cycling |
DAY 4 | Kampong Cham | LBN Asian Hotel | B,L,D | 60km / 36mi | cycling |
DAY 5 | Phnom Penh | Duong Chan Hotel | B,L,D | 70km / 42mi | cycling |
DAY 6 | Phnom Penh | Duong Chan Hotel | B,L | ||
DAY 7 | Ta Keo | Meas Homestay | B,L,D | 80km / 50mi | cycling |
DAY 8 | Kep | Sabbay Kep | B,L | 60km / 36mi | cycling |
DAY 9 | Kampot | Old Hotel Cinema | B,L,D | 25km / 15mi | cycling |
DAY 10 | Departure | B |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Siem Reap
Arrive and settle at your hotel. Local history, architecture, and aesthetics unfold in front of you as you enter Siem Reap. We leave the day free for you to relax after you arrive at Siem Reap.
Our guide meets you post-lunch at 2 pm at your hotel for a bike fit followed by a brief walking tour of Siem Reap and ending with dinner.
Day 2: Siem Reap
Visit Angkor and witness the magnificent views in the backdrop of sunrise. The Angkor temple complex is synonymous with Cambodia, so a ride around the temple is essential. We start riding directly from the hotel and reach the moat of Angkor Wat. Exquisite sculptures, tall towers, and maze-like trails flanked by large banyan roots, you might want to spend ample time photographing as you would have seen nothing like this before. We will loop back to Angkor Wat for a detailed tour at the end of our ride.
Continue riding towards Angkor Thom and enter the city from the South gate. Beat the crowd and climb the surrounding wall of the city and ride on top of it. Take a break here for a rich fascinating account of the city from our guide. A further ride through East gate takes us to Bayon, a richly decorated face temple within the Angkor complex is one of the highlights here. Exit from the second East gate of the city and ride towards jungle-clad TA Prohm. Our guide shares historical anecdotes and walks you through temples along the way.
The Angkor Wat requires more than a morning, so we loop back for a more detailed guided tour. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the largest religious complexes in the world and it’s bound to enthrall you. If time permits, climb Phnom Bakheng for a classic view of Angkor during sunset.
In the evening, explore some of the local food in the cafes that flank the narrow roads.
Day 3: Kampong Thom
An early start today, travel to Beng Mealea (~65km), a sprawling mass of a temple hidden in the jungle which has only recently become accessible. After exploration, ride through the bucolic countryside with a spectacular view of paddy fields. End ride at Makak Dam, a man-made dam built during Khmer Rouges regime and is useful even today. After a short break, take a shuttle transfer to Kampong Thom, a picturesque town on the banks of the Stung Sen River.
Day 4: Kampong Cham
In the morning, ride around Kampong Thom’s Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex, which predates Angkor Wat by at least 200 years.
Later ride past varied plantation landscape consisting of rubber, cashew, and cotton. We also ride along the Mekong river bank and arrive at Kompong Cham.
Day 5: Phnom Penh
It’s a classic ride today along the Mekong River to Phnom Penh, and through a tropical plantation landscape consisting of rubber, cashew, and cotton. Today’s ride takes us through remote bucolic villages, and past beautiful wats and riverside towns. The last stretch of ride is covered in the shuttle to avoid busy traffic. Arrive at the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, at the edge of the Mekong River. Historical splendors are spread in every corner whether it’s the local palace or the horrific remnants of the Khmer atrocities.
In the evening, taste some local Khmer cuisine at one of Phnom Penh’s finest dining place Romdeng. End day with a walk or tuk-tuk ride back to the hotel.
Day 6: Phnom Penh
Today get ready to be immersed in the Cambodian culture and history of the city as we kick off our walking tour from Independence Monument. Enjoy walking along the Tonle Sap river, considered the lifeline of the region. Continue towards the National Museum, which houses several national treasures from three different eras: Pre-Angkorian, Angkorian, and Post-Angkorian, giving the flavor of diverse culture and architecture. The last leg of our walk takes us to the gilded Royal Palace, shimmering with silver tiles and sculptures of Buddha, which gives an insight into Cambodian Royal Life. After the museum, hike up the steps of a small hill to see Wat Phnom Temple, the birthplace of Phnom Penh.
We insist that you step outside for dinner after a short break, to enjoy the local nightlife and enjoy the street food. Traditional dishes like amok (coconut fish curry served in a banana leaf), bobor (rice porridge), and lok lak (stir-fried beef) are easy to find by the streets.
Day 7: Ta Keo
Get up early and start with a shuttle transfer to Killing Fields. An essential on the itinerary due to the historic hook and for understanding the country better, we walk through the killing fields. Experience the painful story of a country that leads to the death of 2 million Cambodian people between 1974-1979. A short shuttle transfer from here brings us to Preah Theat Pagoda, our starting point for a bike ride towards the Angkor era Ta Prohm temple, located in Tonle Bati. Take a quick tour of the temple and continue riding to Phnom Chiso Temple, situated on the top of a hill with 400 steps to climb up. Continue riding towards Takeo past some amazing lake scenery surrounded by paddy fields and lotus farms. Ta Keo is a small town situated amidst beautiful lakes. Enjoy the rest of the evening walking around the town.
Day 8: Kep
After a good breakfast, we take a short transfer to our starting point. We then start riding the back roads past villages. The topography that will be forever etched in your mind is that of a sprawling countryside of fields, palm trees, and lotus farms. We ride slowly, taking pictures along the way and taking in the stunning vistas.
Kep’s seaside front is the perfect place for weary legs to feel rejuvenated. Earthy colors and breezy wind make for the perfect ambiance to unwind.
Day 9: Kampot
Another stretch of riverside villages and exquisite countryside awaits the cyclists today. We ride to the quaint riverside town of Kampot. We ride on small trails then minor roads past ‘Secret Lake’, also known as “Brateak Krola Lake”, a man-made reservoir. Along the way, visit the stunning cave temple of Phnom Chhnork and pepper plantations. After lunch at a beautiful riverside restaurant, step out to discover local life at Kampot. Enough anecdotes and local street food flow to keep us engaged. Enjoy a sunset cruise behind Bokor Mountain as you chug upstream. Do try the pungent Durian fruit, famous of this place. Kampot is also known for its salt and pepper production.
Day 10: Departure
We recommend combining this bike tour with some beach time at Koh Rong Island, Cambodia, or Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, or departing in our support vehicle to Phnom Penh. Surcharge may apply.
Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.
Map
Dates and Prices
Single Supplement
From US $335
E-Bike Upgrade
From US $275
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Essential Info
Inclusions
LODGING
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).
trip leader
Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.
bike
Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.
shuttle
A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.
meals
Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.
refreshments
Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.
entrance
Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.
Exclusions
Airport pickup and drop
We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Gratuity
Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.
Arrival & Departure Details
Your tour begins at Siem Reap, which is served by the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, the largest airport in Cambodia.
Taxi is available inside the airport.
The airport also offers its own airport shuttle service for $8 that picks up and drops off at the CDF Duty Free shop downtown.
Schedule for the airport bus shuttle is given below:
From airport to Siem Reap: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.
To Siem Reap Airport: 5:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m.
Grab is a popular app-based taxi service in Cambodia. Besides this, there are also private taxis are operated by individuals, and these taxis can be booked directly through WhatsApp or through travel agencies and hotels.
Many of these private taxi services offer brief tour options, aimed at enticing guests to reserve tours with them. It is advisable to either utilize a taxi that is on standby at the airport or make a booking through our local partner whose contact details will be shared with you prior to your arrival in Cambodia.
Our local partners typically charge the following rates for airport pick-up and drop:
Car: US$35, Van: US$40
Alternatively, guests may opt for an airport drop-off through the hotel, which costs approximately $40 for a car and $45 for a van. It is advisable to consider booking a private car, as tuk-tuks or rickshaws may not have access to the airport.
Bikes
When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.
Cannondale Trail 4 or similar
Included in your trip price
Senior or similar
Available at a surcharge
Weather
Cambodia is a year-round cycling destination on account of its pleasant tropical climate. April and May can be hot, but for the rest of the year, the temperature hovers around 30°C. There is moderate rainfall from May to early November but it settles soon, leaving the weather cool and the countryside looking lush. November to February are the best time for cycling in South Vietnam with warm weather, clear blue skies, and a light ocean breeze blowing in from the Pacific.
January
Best
February
Best
March
Best
April
Good
May
Good
June
Good
July
Good
August
Good
September
Good
October
Good
November
Best
December
Best
Best
Good
Mixed
Offseason
What to Pack
Packing smart is essential for a safe and enjoyable cycling adventure. From essential biking gear to clothing and travel necessities, this guide ensures you're prepared for any terrain or climate.
Recommended Bicycling Clothes & Gear
- Bicycling shoes or stiff-soled sneakers.
- Padded cycling shorts.
- Short-fingered cycling gloves (personal gloves are ideal).
- Brightly colored cycling jerseys or synthetic T-shirts for visibility.
- Synthetic cycling socks.
- Sunglasses with UV protection.
- Personal helmet (recommended even though provided).
- Personal saddle (optional for added comfort).
- Rain jacket or windbreaker.
- Cycling water bottle (to reduce plastic waste).
Note: Helmets, gloves, and water bottles are personal items, so bringing your own is recommended for maximum comfort and hygiene.
Clothing
- Light, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
- Full-sleeved clothing for sun protection.
- Warm layers for chilly mornings and evenings (if traveling in winter).
- Comfortable footwear for non-cycling time.
- Bring a compact rain jacket in case of sudden weather changes.
- Ethnic or modest clothing for exploring towns and temples.
Other Necessities
- Toiletries: Basic hygiene essentials, including insect/mosquito repellent and sunscreen.
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes.
- Plug socket adaptor.
- Binoculars for wildlife spotting or desert landscapes.
Pro Tips
- Pack light but plan for the varying temperatures: warm days, chilly evenings, and desert winds.
- Use brightly colored clothing for visibility on roads.
- Pack light to leave room for shopping.
Luggage
Please limit your luggage to one soft-sided medium-sized suitcase and one carry-on bag. Mark your luggage with your name, address, and phone number.
Visa
Cambodia has three international gateways for arrival by air – Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville – and a large number of land borders with neighboring Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Formalities at Cambodia’s international airports are generally smooth.
Travelers can get a Cambodia visa upon arrival at the airport with a valid passport for 6 months and no longer need to have a pre-arrival COVID-19 test, present a full COVID-19 vaccination card/certificate, or a passenger's health declaration form on arrival in Cambodia. Remote electronic temperature-checking systems remain at the entry and exit gates for Immigration officers to check and advise passengers who may have COVID-19 symptoms.
Starting July 1, 2024, the paper immigration card, health document, and customs form will be replaced by the e-Arrival card. All air travelers entering Cambodia must complete their digital application via a dedicated app within 7 days before arrival. Download the app now to avoid any delays!
For more details and to begin your application, visit https://arrival.gov.kh/
Frequently Asked Questions
The fitness level required for each trip is indicated by the "level" of the tour, which in turn is mentioned on each tour page right next to the price and the trip duration.
Easy: The terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle climbs.
Moderate: The terrain is either mostly flat or consists of rolling hills with a few challenging climbs. There could also be a few days with longer riding distances of up to 75 kms (45 miles)
Difficult: The terrain is mostly hilly with strong elevation gains and/or has long days on the bike. Such trips are recommended for intermediate to advanced cyclists.
Please note that we usually bike around 4-5 hours per day irrespective of the level of the trip.
Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water or RO water in a camper in the support van for guests' use.
Yes, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.
The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on this bike tour happens on paved roads.
We've designed this itinerary such that most of the cycling happens on quieter countryside roads far from busy traffic. The shuttle transfers on this tour have been strategically planned to bypass busy vehicular traffic.
We are not medical advisors, and as such are not qualified to dispense medical advice. However, we recommend consulting the resources below for advice on vaccines and medications:
- CDC portal for travelers from the US
- NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travelers from the UK
- Smart Traveller portal or travelers from Australia.
In addition to the above, you may also refer to the travel advice issued from time to time by your government.
While your tour price covers most common expenses, a few meals are not included in the itinerary. This allows you the opportunity to dine independently and explore the local cuisine at your own pace. Your guides will be happy to provide recommendations if desired. As a general guideline, you can budget approximately US $100–200 per person for additional expenditures over the course of the trip.
Tips are not included in your tour price.
As a general rule, you may tip US$ 15-25 per person per day.
This figure is for the entire crew including the trip leader, the driver, and other support staff.
However, you are not obligated to tip, and you can always tip less or more than the above amount depending on the level of service you received on tour.
It is usually the norm to tip the tour guide, who then distributes the amount among the entire crew. However, you can also tip each individual member of the crew if you so desire.
In case you want to tip the staff at a hotel such as porters, you may pay them US $2-3 per day.
You can exchange currency at the airport itself, or at ATMs in larger cities. Most commercial establishments will accept international credit cards for payments, though its good to carry some local currency with you at all times.
Yes, you may wear riding shorts while riding your bike. When not cycling, it would be advisable to wear comfortable full-length pants. We recommend keeping a pair of comfortable pants handy in you support van.
When visiting temples and monuments, visitors should wear full-length, loose-fitting pants. Holy places of certain religions may also require covering your head. Your guide will inform of the dress etiquette required for visiting specific religious places.
Pack your regular riding gear, such as jerseys and shorts. If you’re traveling between November and February, bring a fleece jacket for cooler evenings and early mornings. Additionally, pack a rain jacket or covering in case of rain.
The meeting time on Day 1 is mentioned in your travel planner shared with you. You can arrive either on the morning of Day 1 depending on the meeting time, or book a pre-tour night to arrive a day earlier.
We don't have anything planned for the last day, so you are free to depart at your discretion.
For answers to broader questions, please visit our Comprehensive FAQs section.