Mekong River Cruise and Bike Tour - Saigon to Siem Reap
Cruise the Mekong River from the vibrant southern capital of Saigon, Vietnam, to the ancient kingdom of Angkor, Cambodia. Enjoy it the best way possible, the slow way, by bike and boat on a tour that can accommodate both cyclists and non-riding partners. Spend your mornings exploring your surroundings by bike or by foot, then in the afternoons, cruise the iconic Mekong River in comfort and style.
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.
Special announcement: This itinerary has been updated for the tour departing in February 2025.
Featured at #1 in National Geographic's 17 Ultimate Adventures to Inspire
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Overview
There is no better way to see the Mekong Delta than aboard our atmospheric, intimate, 14 cabin ship, crewed by the most charming bunch of people on the river. We use this easily maneuverable vessel with its teak tones and shining brass fittings, as our floating retreat, meaning that you unpack once. Our chef will take you on a culinary journey to match your geographic one, from traditional Vietnamese to contemporary fusion and on to the lesser-known cuisine of Cambodia, you may find yourself wondering if it really is a bike tour or a food tour!
You can plan each day as it comes. Take a morning ride, an afternoon ride, both rides, or opt out of riding on any given day and join the non-riding partners and friends on the ship, or for a walk on-shore. We created this tour to give you maximum daily flexibility, and so that non-riding partners and friends can join the journey.
In addition to our time on the river ship, we will spend two nights in a delightful boutique hotel in Siem Reap and spend our time there exploring the ancient temples and ruins of the Angkor Kingdom. We do this by riding the hidden trails through the protected forests of the surrounding national park, or by tuk-tuk for the non-riders. It is a highlight and conclusion to a trip that will etch itself into your memory.
Total cycling: 140 - 210 km / 87 - 130 mi. The riding is mostly flat. You will cycle on a great variety of surfaces, ranging from concrete to hard-packed dirt and even a few forest trails around Angkor. Traffic will almost always be a rarity, allowing you to engage with the locals as you go, stopping for a chat or a photo as you wish.
Pedal-assist E-bikes are an available option on this tour for $200.
Single cabin/room: $1,600 USD
Highlights
- Take a walking food tour of the lively city of Saigon and sample favorites including local coffee, beer and chocolate.
- Cycle or wander the maze of canal paths and bridges of the fertile Mekong Delta.
- Explore the sleepy river islands where you feel like you are stepping back multiple decades to a time where local life was more traditional.
- Pedal the Silk Islands near Phnom Penh and visit traditional village industries.
- Wander your way through Phnom Penh with your expert guide in tow to learn more about Cambodian history.
- Hear from an expert on the hydrology and ecology of the Mekong & Tonle Sap river systems to understand the significance of this incredible waterway.
- Gaze at a magnificent sunrise over the spires of Angkor Wat before exploring the park by bike and foot.
Inclusions
- All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7dinners
- Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
- 5 nights on a chartered river ship
- 2 nights in a premier hotel
- Guides & support team
- Cannondale bikes and support vehicles
- Healthy snacks and water during cycling
- All activities and site entry fees
- Memento cycling jersey and water bottle
- Tips for non-Grasshopper service staff
What our Guests Say
Day to Day
We'll meet at our pre-designated hotel where you can get acquainted with your fellow adventurers on a walking tour. Exploring the city on two feet you'll learn about Saigon’s history and architecture, all the while discovering more about local life. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity to taste some local specialties, such as Vietnamese coffee and chocolate.
After lunch in a special, floral setting, we take a 2 hour transfer to reach the port at the north-eastern end of the Mekong Delta where we board the charming ship, the Tom Tiou 2 and become acquainted with our delightful crew.
Today you’ll have the option to choose between a morning ride and afternoon on the ship, or morning on the ship and afternoon ride… unless you want to try both! Our morning ride takes us through the busy floating villages and river commerce of My Tho, and ends at a local home for a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
If you choose to pursue the afternoon ride, we’ll cycle along towards Cai Be: another town built on a mix of land and water. This village is full of friendly children, so be prepared to stop and smile or wave at kids biking to school in their blue and whites. Our ship anchors near Cai Be so we can enjoy a flavorful Vietnamese meal in town.
Again today you have the option to choose whether or not to ride in the morning, afternoon, or both. The morning cycling route takes us along the riverbanks from Cai Be to the pleasant colonial town of Sa Dec, where we’ll devour lunch before boarding the ship again.
Should you choose the afternoon ride, you’ll saddle up on your bike and pedal through narrow, shaded paths past locals hard at work growing flowers, clay brick, and transporting a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies to the market. Our ride ends near the busy city of Cao Lanh, then we board the boat again to stop near the Chau Doc canal for the night.
It could be said that we saved the best for last. The last day in Vietnam that is. We come ashore on a small island just below the border and spend the morning riding through the small communities and farmland. This island feels different to other parts of the Delta, because there are very few cars and the houses are more traditional in appearance, made from wood and on low stilts to protect from the occasional flooding. We farewell most of the Vietnam support team and then sail for the boarder where, after some brief formalities, we cruise onward into Cambodia and drop anchor with the lights of Phnom Penh visible.
Koh Dac, also known as Silk Island, is a small island close to Phnom Penh that is well-known as the home of silk weaving. Local women practice this traditional activity on looms under their raised houses, and we’ll have a chance to learn about the process of how silk is made as we cycle around this piece of land. We’ll head back to the boat for lunch. In the afternoon, we will dock so you can explore the riverside area of the city on foot at your leisure. We will push out into the river again before sunset for our final night aboard.
As the sun rises to its post in the sky, our ship will arrive at Phnom Penh. The capital of Cambodia is an interesting place. Little more than a collection of shacks along the river when the French arrived, it was quickly designed with a grid-style layout and lined with beautiful colonial buildings such as the Central Market which has recently been restored.
The city was forcibly evacuated when it fell to the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s and thus ensued a period of decay that continued through the early years of re-population. In the late nineties and early 2000s as the country started to get back on its feet, the city had a shattered charm to it with many still-vacant buildings and creaking infrastructure.
We will check out of the ship after breakfast and explore this dynamic city with a multi-modal tour, followed by lunch in the city. Then it's off to the airport for our flight to Siem Reap.
Prepare for an early rising this morning, as we get moving before the sun has peeked out from behind the horizon and the first roosters have started to crow. We’ll transfer to the otherworldly Angkor National Park, where all tour participants will gather in front of the many imposing towers of the main temple itself. If we get lucky with the weather, we’ll catch a spectacular color show as the sun rises behind the great temple’s spires.
Once the sun is up and the crowds of tourists have dispersed, we will begin our in-depth exploration of this and other ancient temples in the Angkor complex and enjoy breakfast in these peaceful surroundings. Discover the mysteries this jungle has to offer as we cycle down narrow tracks and hidden dirt paths to iconic temples such as Bayon or Ta Prohm, and some of the lesser-known ancient structures. Non-riders will explore the temples by tuk-tuk.
We’ll enjoy lunch by the Sra Srang Reservoir that surrounds the Angkor Wat temple before we head back to the hotel. The afternoon is free to pursue your own wanderings in town or relax back at the accommodation.
After an early dinner, we’ll head to an enthralling show put on by Phare Circus: the acrobatic troupe comprised of talented Khmer who have attended a professional arts training center run by an NGO.
Our tour concludes this morning in Siem Reap with a few last activities to immerse you fully in Cambodian culture. We’ll start with a visit to the Angkor National Museum, dedicated to the preservation of ancient Angkorian architecture and artifacts, then make our way to the APOPO NGO that uses rats to detect landmines, then finish our morning with some of the best coffee in town at Footprint cafe. You will be transferred to the airport in time for departing flights, or feel free to stay and explore this charming little city on your own.
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
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WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
We have specially formulated this tour to involve both cyclists and their non-riding partners or friends as you take on Cambodia and Vietnam by boat and bike or foot. You’ll have the chance to visit the must-sees like Saigon, the floating villages of My Tho, and the temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, while also accessing places only the boat allows you to see. Discover the best Cambodia and Vietnam have to offer with this leisurely exploration of the Mekong Delta Region.
