Overview
The best way to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is not in a bus, car, or plane - it's by bike! This is the reverse of our other West Tonle Sap Trail itinerary.
We take our time to pedal through the charming countryside that lies west of the Tonle Sap lake. We visit the former capital of Oudong Mountain and eat our way through a truly Cambodian experience. We cycle the back trails along rivers and old railway lines to Kampong Chhnang, the home of Cambodian pottery.
You can't fit more visual excitement into three days than this tour offers. It sure beats the bus!
This is an ‘On Request’ tour - We understand active travelers value flexibility and we do our best to accommodate every request. Simply propose your travel dates, bring one or more companions and you will receive our standard price - no private tour markups.
Traveling in a group of 6 or more people? Contact our team about special group pricing for our on-request tours.
110 Km riding. This is a completely flat ride on back roads and trails. We spend minimal time if any on anything resembling a main road, so there is rarely any traffic at all. The road is generally a mix of sealed or hard-packed dirt. At times it can be uneven and bumpy, but perfectly achievable if you are confident with your balance on a bike. The fitness requirement on this tour is not high due to the lack of hills, short distances and relaxed pace.
Pedal-assist E-bike is an available option for this tour for $105 surcharge.
Highlights
Cycle past Phnom Basset to Oudong Mountain, where you’ll take in the views of the flat landscapes and enjoy a meal.
Glide amongst the floating villages in a rowboat exploration of Kampong Chhnang.
Explore the ancient temple of Phnom Banan and the incredible views from hilltop Phnom Sampou in Battambang.
A local student will show us around the village industries of Battambang on an immersive day of cycling.
Day to Day
We set out from town with a transfer by car to escape the traffic. In no time, we are on the bikes riding into the stunning landscapes of rice fields and coconut trees as we make our way to Oudong Mountain via Phnom Basset. We park our bikes to enjoy fresh watermelon along the way as well as a range of other tasty local snacks. As the day wears on, we see a hill suddenly jut out of completely flat countryside; this is Oudong, a great place for a meal and view of the plains. After lunch, we take a drive up to Kampong Chhnang, the home of Cambodian ceramic pottery and genuine floating villages.
We start the day with a pedal around Kampong Chhnang to see what village life in this area is like. We'll see the pottery villages from which terracotta pots of all sizes are distributed throughout Cambodia. We then take a drive to Battambang, home to some interesting French architecture. We take an afternoon ride to see one of the provinces most stunning 11th-century temples at Phnom Banan before riding to Phnom Sampou where a great view can be seen from the more recently built hilltop temple. A transfer back will give you time to freshen up before dinner.
As we wake on our third day, you will be wishing the trip not to end, but there is still time to learn about the village industries of Battambang. For this, we meet up with a local university student who will show us around the villages just outside Battambang city. The ride is on a lovely route along the river with lots of shade. We stop to see rice paper making, banana drying, rice wine and prahok production. We also stop to try the famously delicious Cambodian snack kralanh, sticky rice with coconut and beans which is prepared in a bamboo tube. We return to town in the late morning and after lunch make our way to Siem Reap in the support vehicle. The tour concludes with a drop-off at your Siem Reap hotel.
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
We use our experience and knowledge of Cambodia in order to provide you with the ultimate cycling route filled with fun riding, comfortable accommodations, tasty food, and plenty of cultural experiences to inform your journey. Pedal off the beaten path with us on quiet roads far from crowds of tourists as you explore true Cambodia at its finest. Explore small villages and their traditional industries, connect with locals, visit impressive sites, and take in some nice views along the way on this unique tour.
