Overview
The essential discovery trip of Thailand, Cambodia and the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. This fertile region, which was once almost entirely ruled by the Angkor kings, now is comprised of Vietnam's food-producing land, the majority of modern Cambodia, and the eastern extreme of Thailand. A goldmine of material for the budding historian. For the cyclist, a variety of dynamic riding that includes everything from single-lane bike trails to remote back roads through the countryside; something to satisfy the appetite of any rider. For the gourmet traveler, this tour showcases the highlights of three different cuisines with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, fish, and seafood, but with all tastes catered for. For those who wish to connect with village life in Southeast Asia, there could not be a better trip.
The ride may be epic in terms of its scope, but it is an achievable and enjoyable one with a high degree of comfort at our overnight stops. It is sure to be a humbling, rewarding and exciting experience discovering the heart and soul of Southeast Asia.
445 Km riding. The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads, tracks and trails. It is our aim to deliver as much traffic-free track and trail as possible, but at times we do need to resort to secondary roads. We spend no more than 5km over the whole tour on anything resembling a highway. The riding is easily achievable for those who are comfortable controlling a bike. There are hardly any hills and there are no distances over 80km on any day.
Pedal-assist E-bike is an available option for this tour for $350 surcharge.
Highlights
Cycle along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand as you make your way from Bangkok to the small town of Chanthaburi.
Stand in awe as you watch the sunrise over the sacred towers of Angkor Wat, then explore the temple park by bike.
Pedal the Silk Islands outside of Phnom Penh and glimpse daily village life outside the big city.
Explore Can Tho’s floating market before a transfer to Saigon.
Day to Day
After picking you up from your hotel in Bangkok, we drive 3 hours to reach the starting point of the ride. On a sleepy beach far from the bustle of Bangkok, we unload and set up the bikes before embarking on a lovely ride along the dramatic coast of Thailand’s Gulf.
At times a few small hills will provide nice views out over the water, and just as our stomachs begin to grumble we discover our lunch stop where the first of many great meals awaits. We pedal into the regional town of Chanthaburi in the mid-afternoon.
Experience the excitement of SE Asia's most vibrant city on our 2 days, pre-tour itinerary, Bangkok Explorer.
As we leave Chanthaburi, we will pedal through the old town area and the Catholic quarter before we reach the surrounding orchards. We are on well-made, back roads today with hardly a car in sight. A little before lunchtime, we will pack up and drive a busier section to our next stop on the food adventure. From there we spend 30 minutes in the car to reach the Cambodian border.
After completing border formalities, we ride on to the hotel that is set among the gem-studded hills of Pailin. This town is famous not only for its gems but also for harboring a number of senior members of the Khmer Rouge for many years after the fall of the tyrannous regime. With these characters now long gone, the historic town of Pailin is now hoping to put itself on the tourist map a little by providing hospitality to those passing through.
Today we leave the paved surface and cycle on some fun red dirt roads and trails through the villages behind Pailin town. Despite a steady trickle of foreign travelers through this area, you will still be the center of much attention in the villages as friendly locals curiously watch you pedal by. We rejoin the main road after an hour and a half or so and then enjoy some rolling hills down out of the highlands onto the plains. The final stretch of riding is through the outskirts of Battambang City, as the day heats up and the population increases.
We reach the heart of the quiet city in time for a delicious local-style lunch. Once the sun gets a little lower in the sky, we take to the bikes again and ride to see one of the province’s most stunning 11th-century temples at Phnom Banan. We check into our centrally located accommodation and have some time to explore this charming town.
Soksabike is a program created by a local vocational training NGO called Kinyei. This morning we will enjoy a tour led by students of Kinyei. Our cycling tour around the suburbs and villages of Battambang introduces us to the many village products that are made here.
Most of these are food products, so any hopes of losing weight on this tour will be firmly extinguished by this stage. We will, however, get a great insight into how people here live and survive. We see how rice wine, dried bananas and a tasty snack called Kralanh are made before we return to town for lunch.
This afternoon you can rest during our 3-hour drive to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, there will be an option to see the sunset over the largest lake in South East Asia- Tonle Sap- from a small mountain on the shore.
In the quiet and cool darkness, you will be out at the most important religious monument in Cambodia, anticipating the sunrise over the imposing towers of Angkor Wat. Even in the wet season, this is a magical time to see Angkor. As the crowds thin, we'll take an unforgettable walk through the temple, where the soft light and cool temperatures present this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site at its best. A short pedal away, a delicious breakfast spread awaits.
After breakfast, we ride around the hidden trails of the Angkor complex to visit some of its best-kept secrets and the iconic temples of the Bayon, Tha Prom and The Elephant Terrace. As the day heats up, we enjoy lunch with a view of Sra Srang Lake and then return to our hotel by vehicle around 2pm.
This tour is the essential introduction to the Angkor park and will give you not only a great historical overview, but also a geographic orientation, so if you plan to visit the temples again tomorrow you can explore on your own with confidence.
Please note: Appropriate dress (knees and shoulders fully covered) is compulsory for entry into certain sections of Angkor Wat, and should also be observed throughout all temple areas for reasons of cultural sensitivity.
Siem Reap, once a dusty little town, has now blossomed into a charming destination with an amazing array of food options and a good variety of activities. From zip-lining to an acrobatic circus performance and an emerging arts scene, this city will not disappoint. There is always a good massage and the pool for those who fancy some relaxation.
Starting with an early pickup from your hotel, we have a 2.5 hour drive to reach Kampong Thom, the neighboring province to Siem Reap. After a bike fitting, we set off on a ride north of the town to find the sprawling complex of pre-Angkorian temples known as Sambor Prei Kuk. These ruins date back as far as the 7th century and are remarkably intact for their age. The lush green surrounds and absence of tourists make this a really special cycling exploration. After we see out the heat of the day in the shade, we return to Kampong Thom by a different route and enjoy a tasty, authentic meal.
Following a laid-back start in order to time our day correctly, we drive around 3 hours to Oudong Mountain. This place was the former capital of Cambodia and hosts a hilltop temple with fine views. We enjoy a Cambodian-style picnic before hopping on our bikes for an afternoon ride on lovely village roads and trails which are mostly unpaved.
We pedal our way through rice fields and farmland, passing Oudong's smaller brother; Basset Mountain. Crossing a recently refurbished but un-operational railway line, the scenery changes rapidly. For those comfortable cycling in traffic, you can ride right up to the hotel door. For those who are not game, the support vehicle awaits. Dinner tonight will be enjoyed by the Tonle Sap River, not far from where the three main rivers of Cambodia converge.
This morning we take to the bikes again and explore the nearby Mekong islands. Here we pedal through charming village communities, fruit orchards, traditional silk weaving workshops and a variety of temples from a more recent time. This is a highlight ride and gives a unique perspective to Phnom Penh and its surroundings.
Phnom Penh has a turbulent history. Little more than a collection of wooden shacks when the French first arrived, the colonials transformed it into a beautiful city. With the evacuation of the city by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, its decay and decline began, with regeneration and rapid economic development only a recent trend. Your guide can dispense a great deal of advice on how the city can be explored and will offer a late afternoon walk to introduce you to some of the lesser-known aspects of this eccentric Cambodian capital.
Today we rest our legs and stay off the bikes. In the morning we can have a bit of leisure to enjoy the pool or wander around Phnom Penh. After an early lunch, we board the international boat which will take us down the Mekong River into Chau Doc, Vietnam: a bustling Delta town with a specialization in salted fish.
Today we begin our exploration of the Mekong Delta. After a short ferry ride, we will cross canals by bridge and boat and make our way through the maze of waterways. Observe the fertile delta lands that are used for food production, watch the locals hard at work to grow, harvest, or transport these products. We’ll be cycling on small, paved canal roads that allow for only cycling or motorbike travel.
After a rest stop with fresh fruits, we will get a chance to visit a brick factory and get to know the process. Lunch today will be in a local restaurant and then we have one hour drive on the van to Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong delta
Today we start with a small transfer out of town then we set up the bike and start riding. We’ll pedal through the scenic countryside that hosts many small canals and large crops growing, such as jackfruit. Then we ride past mat weavers and wooden boat builders today before enjoying another delicious lunch. The day ends with a relaxing boat ride back to Can Tho in the late afternoon.
An early morning visit to the floating markets is on offer today. It's an impressive sight, with boats of varying sizes and all manner of fruit and vegetables being bought and sold, and a good insight into local Vietnamese life. After breakfast, we pack up and board the van for a 3-hour drive into Saigon.
We will arrive in Saigon mid-afternoon. The adventure concludes upon arrival at your hotel unless you want to get the very best insights into the exciting, buzzing city of Saigon on our post-tour adventure, the Saigon Explorer.
Dates & Price
EARLY RIDER PRIZE: Be in the first 4 to book a departure and get 5% OFF the tour price*
*Not applicable with guaranteed, private, or self-guided tours, other discounts, trip credit, or special offers
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
With our experience providing premium cycling tours throughout Asia, we have compiled this tour of three major Southeast Asian countries in order to provide a thorough insight into this beautiful region. This itinerary packs some must-sees, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Archeological Park, as well as off-the-beaten-track locations into an enjoyable and achievable ride. Hop on your bike and rest assured knowing we have worked out all of the details to provide you with an unforgettable and comfortable journey.
