CYCLO-BIKE-HIKE AND KAYAK

DETAIL ITINERARY 

DAY 1: PHNOM PENH CYCLO CITY TOURS (L,D)

Transfer from Airport to Hotel
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 an NGO which is located in the heart of the city center.
 

DAY 2:  PHNOMPENH - UDONG (B,L,D) 30 KM

Approximately an hour transfer from Hotel to starting point.
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 Troeup, otherwise known as Oudong Mountain, the former 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, drive back to the city.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.


DAY 3: DEPART PHNOM PENH, TRANSFER & RIDE TO CHHLONG ( B,L,D) 58 KM

Leaving Phnom Penh in the morning is quite a sight for the uninitiated. Thousands of motor scooters, vying for space among larger vehicles with all manner of cargo, often with a few passengers sitting on, or hanging off the cargo. Next thing you know you are in flat, open plains with brilliant green rice fields as far as the eye can see, punctuated by a Cambodian arboreal favorite, the Sugar Palm.

 
We get started with the ride from a small town and we are immediately out on small roads through villages, farmland and along the Mighty Mekong bank. There are few vehicles other than motor scooters and bicycles and the most persistent sound that you will hear is that of excited children calling out to greet and encourage you. The warmth of the Cambodian people is immediately apparent.

As we approach the provincial capital of Kampong Cham, we cross onto islands Koh Soten and Koh Pen in the middle of the Mekong and then ride from that island over a newly constructed concrete bridge which originally a bamboo bridge that was dismantled and re-erected every year to prevent it from washing away in the monsoon flows of the Mekong.

We will have lunch in Kampong Cham town and then travel by van to our beautiful accommodation for the evening.

DAY 4: BIKE TO KRATIE & EXPLORE THE MEKONG ISLANDS ( B, D, L)  45 KM

Awaking in our charming and unique accommodation, a French colonial-era villa on the banks of the Mekong, enjoy a relaxed breakfast before we venture up along the Mekong River by bike to the town of Kratie. This modest town is the provincial capital and is home to a vibrant produce market with a dazzling array of weird and wonderful things for sale. This morning we take the ferry to the other side of Mekong the pedal through countyside, paddy fields and villages.

For lunch, we cross by another ferry to an island called Koh Trong in the middle of the Mekong River where cars do not exist and where only bicycles and scooters are used. This gives you a good perspective of the river's awesome size. On the island you'll enjoy lunch in a small family home and if we are lucky, we can sample the local produce, the Pomelo fruit. As well as being a tasty treat on its own, the fruit also makes a delicious salad when mixed with peanuts, shrimp and mint. After lunch, there is time for a refreshing dip in the river, then we take the van back to the hotel for a relaxed afternoon. Your colonial-style mansion has a fully equipped bar and a wonderful outdoor pool that overlooks the Mekong, the perfect place to enjoy a book or simply unwind.


DAY 5: KAYAK WITH THE MEKONG DOLPHINS, TRANSFER TO STUNG TRENG ( B,L,D)

Our adventure for the day starts at the Kampi river pools just north of Kratie. After an instructional session on the kayaks, we push off into the atmospheric river where we hope to be joined by some curious, endangered, yet playful creatures, the Irrawaddy Dolphins. We take this non-invasive approach by kayak so as not to scare the Dolphins.

There are only around 80 of these creatures in this stretch of the Mekong River, Due to habitat loss and pollution, these species are among the last of their kind… Keep a sharp eye out for the dolphins as they frolic through the water of the river.
We are guided on our paddle route by a local who has been working with and around the dolphins most of his life and who can tell us a great deal about these intriguing creatures.

We continue to paddle downstream in the direction of Kratie, passing a couple of small islands before pulling in to shore. We will have lunch in Kratie, before moving on upstream to the town of Stung Treng. This slightly larger town sits on the confluence of the Sekong, Sesan and Mekong Rivers with glorious views out over the water. A more rustic, but comfortable, guesthouse in a prime position on the banks of the river awaits.

Along the way keep an eye out for some of the local livestock such as lazy cows, wallowing buffalo, and wayward chickens.
Overnight at Stung Treng.


DAY 6: KAYAK FLOODED FORESTS OF THE MEKONG NEAR LAOS (B,L,D)

Jump into the van as we begin the day with a drive up to the Laos border to start our adventure. This is a magical part of the country, the Mekong River has made its epic journey flowing from the Tibetan Plateau, through Yunnan in China, Myanmar, along the Thai border and through Laos, to wind up here in northern Cambodia where it will continue its journey south to Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. But it is in this unique location that the river is reoxygenated by a series of rapids and falls, resulting in a stunning area known as the flooded forests. Hundreds of small, silt islands, held together by trees with gnarled roots dot the waterway, and it is through these that we will kayak. The trees offer shade and the islands provide little channels that accelerate the current for us at times, making for a really fun paddle.

After a couple of hours kayaking downstream and lunch on a river island, spotting birds as we go, we will travel back upstream by small motor boat. This area feels different from others in Cambodia, more relaxed, less urgency, lots of time spent in hammocks, and considering that is almost a national pastime they really take it to the next level! After doing a bit of unwinding ourselves, we will return to our resort in Stung Treng by vehicle.
Overnight in Stung Treng

Day 7: STUNG TRENG - PREAH VIHEAR RIDING (MEAL B,L,D) 45 KM 

Begin Day 7 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 to the hotel and for this evening  dinner and leisure is at the hotel.
Overnight at Preah Vihear.

DAY 8:  PREAH VIHEAR - KOH KEH - BENG MEALEA (B,L) 45 KM 

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.

DAY 9: HIKE THE KULEN RANGE TRAIL & SWIM IN THE HOLY WATERFALL (B,L,D) 9.5KM

We drive north of Siem Reap today to the Kulen Plateau. This is the nearest mountain range to Siem Reap and was the source of most of the stone used in the construction of the temples and ancient city. What’s more, it came to light only a few years ago that a vast city which outsized and predated Angkor once existed atop the plateau. That city is now mostly lost to nature.

We start our hike at the foot of the mountain up some steps  then walk a trail known as the Langur trail, named for the Dusky Langur Monkey colony that was discovered here in recent years, although they are hard to spot. The walk takes us through dry rainforest and various large sandstone boulders along the thousand linga river up all the way to the biggest reclining Buddha then descend down to the waterfall. After enjoyed the swimming and picnic lunch we head back to town by van

DAY 10: ANGKOR WAT SUNRISE AND BIKE THE ANCIENT TEMPLES ( B,L) 25KM

Siem Reap and the Angkor Temples definitely deserve a number of days of your time, but first you need an overview, so that is what you can expect from this morning's ride. We make an early start to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat, an experience bordering on spiritual, and after exploring this most important architectural masterpiece in the soft morning light in the absence of crowds, we pause for breakfast.

Well fueled, we take to our bikes the final time, and this is one to remember! You'll ride the secret trails and dedicated bike paths to visit some of the other highlight ruins such as the Elephant Terrace and Ta Prohm, as well as a couple of hidden gems along the way. Don't forget your camera today! We conclude our ride with lunch and transfer back to the hotel where you have some time to pack before the tour concludes. The Siem Reap airport is only a short transfer from town, but you can always stay on to enjoy more of the temples and activities in town, by now you may never wish to leave.

DAY 11: DEPARTURE
Airport transfer

Special Note :

• Duration : 11 days
• Free cancellation 2 - week prior the tour start
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Please provide a specific dietary requirement at the time of booking
• Tour price is base on the number of people in your booking not on the size of the group.

Our services include in the price :

• Touring with knowledgable Cycling Guide and all admissions/entrance fees
• Local guides services at some spots
• Special selected accommodation on twin sharing basis and meals as stated in the itinerary
•  Comfortable accommodation
• Quality well-maintained bike and helmet for riding 
• Sightseeing tour by Boats, cyclo and A/C Vehicle  
• Healthy snacks, fruits, local treats and Purified drinking water while riding 
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary 11 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 7 dinners 
• Parking and toll road fees
• Local taxes

Our services do not include in the price :

• Cambodian Visa and visa fee
• Personal Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Departure tax and departure transfers
• International flights, airport tax & excess baggage charges
• All optional tours and all activities during free time
• All personal expenditures: Shopping, laundry, drinks, phone calls, etc.. 
• Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Gratuities/tipping