There is approx.240km of cycling in this tour, with about 70% of it being on paved roads and the rest on dirt roads. During this ride you will see the real Cambodia and interact with the people in a way that the casual tourist does not. The home-stay experience will give you an insight into the simple way of life of average Cambodians. We take a cycling tour of Phnom Penh, and in Siem Reap we cycle to see the incredible temples of Angkor, and cycle to the floating village, and camp out at a village.
Tour route: Angkor Temples - Tonle Sap Lake - Phnom Penh - Kbal Spean - Beng Mealea - Kompong Phluk
Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
Start/End: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 01: Phnom Penh Arrival
Day 02: Phnom Penh City Cycling Tour
Day 03: Phnom Penh -Siem Reap (cycling in Siem Reap)
Day 04: Siem Reap -Angkor Temples (cycling)
Day 05: Siem Reap - Kbal Spean (cycling)
Day 06: Kbal Spean – Beng Mealea (cycling)
Day 07: Beng Mealea - Kompong Phluk (cycling)
Day 08: Kompong Phluk - Siem Reap (cycling segment 15km)
Day 09: Siem Reap Departure
Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival
Transfer via: International flight – Your arrangement
Our guide will meet you on your arrival in Phnom Penh, and you will then transfer to your hotel for check-in. After getting settled in to the hotel, you will have a meeting with your guide who will brief you on your upcoming tour. There will also be free time for you to relax. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 2: Phnom Penh City Cycling Tour (cycle 35km) (B)
Sites visited: National Museum of Khmer Arts, Royal Palace, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, the Killing Fields.
We have breakfast in the hotel, then we get ready to explore this bustling capital city by bike. The major points of interest visited include the National Museum of Khmer Arts, the Royal Palace with the Silver Pagoda, the infamous Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, and the Killing Fields. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 3: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (cycling 22km) (B)
In the morning after breakfast we transfer to Siem Reap. Depending on the class of your tour, you will transfer by public bus, private van, or by domestic air flight. When you arrive in Siem Reap, you will check in to your hotel, and in the afternoon we will explore the countryside near Siem Reap on a cycling tour. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap- Angkor Temples (cycling 25km RT) (B)
Sites Visited: Kravan Temple, Banteay Kdei, Ta Phrom Temple, Angkor temples, Ta Keo Temple, Chao Say Tevoda, and Tommanon, Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, Baphoun, Phimean Akas, Bayon Temple.
After breakfast, we depart from the hotel and cycle on the main road through the Angkor check point, and on to see the Kravan Temple, Banteay Kdei, and then stop at the famous Ta Phrom Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous trees and vines. Ta Phrom was built in the 12th century by King Jayavarvan VII, and dedicated to his mother. The trees have grown around and through the remains, and tower above the temple remains. Archaeologists have left the vegetation as is so you can see how it looked when it was rediscovered, and how other Angkor temples looked before restoration.
Then we continue cycling past the Ta Keo Temple, Chao Say Tevoda, and Tommanon before entering the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom which was also built by King Jayavarman VII.. There you will explore the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, Baphoun, and Phimean Akas and the Bayon Temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 5: Siem Reap - Banteay Srei - Kbal Spean (cycling 49km) (B, L, D)
Breakfast in the hotel, and then we cycle north of Angkor through thecountryside of green rice paddies to reach Pre Rup, the East Mebon and the Akira Land Mine Museum. Mr. Akira cleared land mines laid during years of conflict in Cambodia, and the museum relies on visitor donations to fund this work. Banteay Srei Temple is famous for its pink sandstone and intricate carvings. The last leg of our cycling trip takes us to Kbal Spean where we camp in tents overnight at the village.
Day 6: Kbal Spean – Beng Mealea (cycling 60km) (B, L, D)
After breakfast we take about a 30 min. walk up the hill see the river of a thousand lingas. These carvings in the riverbed where made by King Jayavaraman II in 802AD, and were created to make the river sacred and to purify and "fertilize" the water flowing to the fields below. We then cycle to Beng Mealea, passing Chao Srei Vibol and Banteay Oumpel on the way.
Day 7: Beng Mealea - Kompong Phluk (cycling 65km) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we start to peddle to the floating village of Kompong Phluk as we cycle through the countryside scenery and pass a local market, and a bamboo sticky rice store. We will have a unique home-stay experience in this floating village. Overnight at Kompong Phluk home-stay.
Day 8: Kompong Phluk - Siem Reap (cycling 15km) (B, L)
After a good, local breakfast, we return to Siem Reap. We take a relaxing boat ride to the dock at Chong Kneas, and from there we cycle back to town. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 9: Siem Reap Departure (B)
Transfer via: International flight –Your arrangement.
Breakfast in the hotel, and then you will have time to get ready for your departure transfer.
Please note that check-out time is 12:00 noon.
