cambodia bike tour 7

South Vietnam to Cambodia Bike Tour

Journey deep through the two most fascinating countries of Southeast Asia: Vietnam & Cambodia. We spend ample time traversing through the interiors of the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam and then ride into the South Coast of Cambodia ending at Angkor.

Our trip is aimed at travelers who want to pace out their journey to really let the region sink in well. With that add a dash of a dramatic temple city, the central Tonle Sap river along with paddy-clad countryside, fishing villages, and quaint cafes – this is going to be one packed trip.

Terrain Info:

The terrain largely remains flat, however, road surface varies often from small gravel to large gravel, to the pavement, to dirt, to sand, to rutted narrow dirt, to narrow « crescent bridges, » some without rails, and requires frequent turns in the villages. Also, please note, most days there will be a shuttle transfer, varying from 1 to 2 hrs.

Start

Saigon, Vietnam | 17:00hrs

Finish

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Lodging

casual

Level

easy

Avg. dist. cycled

60km or 36mi

Group size

Min. 2, Max. 14

Fly-In

SGN

Fly-Out

REP

Highlights

Highlight Image

off-beat ride

Experience the contours of two countries of Southeast Asia on an off-beat trail

Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

DayPlacecasual Inns or similarMealsDistanceActivity
DAY 1SaigonSilverland YenD
DAY 2Tra VinhCoco Riverside LodgeB,L,D50km / 30micycling
DAY 3Can ThoTTC PremiumB,L60km / 36micycling
DAY 4Chau DocChau PhoB,L,D50km / 30micycling
DAY 5Ha TienRiver HotelB,L,D60km / 36micycling
DAY 6Kep Sabbay KepB,L30km / 18micycling
DAY 7Ta KeoMeas HomestayB,L,D60km / 36micycling
DAY 8Phnom PenhDuong Chan HotelB,L,D60km / 36micycling
DAY 9Phnom PenhDuong Chan HotelB,L
DAY 10Kampong ChamLBN Asian HotelB,L,D60km / 36micycling
DAY 11Kampong ThomSambor VillageB,L,D50km / 30micycling
DAY 12Siem ReapSteung SiemreapB,L60km / 36micycling
DAY 13Siem ReapSteung SiemreapB,L,D30km / 18micycling
DAY 14Siem Reap – onward travelB

Detailed Itinerary

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Day 1: Saigon

Our guide meets you at your hotel at 17:00hrs for a bike fitting followed by dinner to celebrate the start of our journey on a bike.

The morning is free for you to explore the city. We recommend exploring some of the most popular sites - Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Opera House, Continental Hotel, The Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office, The War Remnants Museum, China Town (Cho Lon in Dist 5), Thien Hau Pagoda, Landmark 81 building and Jade Emperor Pagoda. It gives you an excellent introduction to the city’s history with plenty of opportunities to soak up the unique mix of chaos and tranquility that is modern-day Saigon.

If you intend to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City a day in advance, we recommend seizing the chance to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels—an elaborate network of underground passages that were extensively used during the Vietnam War.

Meals: D
Accommodation: Silverland Yen
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Day 2: Tra Vinh

A short shuttle transfer brings us to the outskirts of My Tho — the gateway to the Mekong delta. We ride along a small creek to Mekong estuary past gorgeous paddy fields and lush orchards. Along the way, we cross a river on a local ferry. After 20 kms (12.5 mi) of biking, we stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

Post-lunch, we ride in the van for 30 minutes before beginning our afternoon cycling. We ride past coconut plantations on a smooth surface, and under a green canopy of trees growing on either side of the road. En route, we stop at a local family to see how they use coconut fiber to make ropes and use coconut leaves to make thatched huts. After another 30 kms (18.6 mi) miles of cycling, we load our bikes in the van and drive for 40 minutes to our hotel, the Coco Riverside Lodge.

Before dinner, our hotel organizes a fun cooking class where they teach how to make rice pancakes. Saigon-Tra vinhh.PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 50km / 30mi
Accommodation: Coco Riverside Lodge
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Day 3: Can Tho

We begin the day with a 40 minute shuttle transfer to head deeper into the delta. We then visit a beautiful Khmer Pagoda before beginning the day's biking. We ride past numerous rice fields, rivers, and canals, and over a multitude of bridges that may offer views of floating villages. Apart from rice fields, the region is dotted with many plantations of banana, coconut, and citrus trees.

We stop for coffee after biking for 25 kms (15.5 mi), and then bike another 21 kms (13 mi) before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant.

It’s a long ride today through the interior trails of Mekong Delta to Can Tho. Post lunch, we ride another 20 kms (12.4 mi) on these trails and even cross a river on a local ferry before loading our bike in the van and driving for 90 minutes to Can Tho.

Set on the southern bank of the Hau River, Can Tho is known for its network of canals and nearby floating markets. We reach our hotel around 5 PM. Tra Vinh-Can Tho.png

Meals: B,L
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi
Accommodation: TTC Premium
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Day 4: Chau Doc

We start this day at 7:30am and hop on to a boat to experience the early morning Cai Rang floating market. Each boat in this market showcases its distinct specialty, which can be identified by the items hanging on tall poles. While many boats anchor in place, a few gracefully float around, particularly those dedicated to snacks or coffee, catering to the shop owners' needs. The majority of the boats appear weathered, constructed from aged wood and exude a rustic charm.

This bustling market primarily focuses on the sale of fresh produce and food items, ranging from sweet potatoes and watermelons to lychee. Unlike clothing or household goods, the market solely revolves around agricultural products. Exploring this lively marketplace provides a fascinating glimpse into the authentic daily life of the locals. After the boat ride, we disembark onto a pathway made of old railroad ties and proceed to walk along a busy road lined with numerous meat markets, eventually making our way back to the van.

After a shuttle transfer of about 10 minutes, we get on our bikes and ride through country roads flanked by coconut and palm trees, and through rice paddies, and banana plantations. After about 30 kms (19 mi), we load our bikes on the van and drive around an hour to our lunch stop.

Post lunch, we take another shuttle transfer of around 1 hour before resuming our biking. We bike for 20 kms (12.5 mi) through beautiful vegetable farms and on a smooth surface. We stop for a visit at a Vietnamese pagoda, before loading our bikes in the van and calling it a day. We drive for about 10 minutes before arriving at the culturally diverse Chau Doc as we get to see mosques, temples, and churches here. If we make it on time, we take a boat trip to the Cham communities across the river. Can THo-Chau Doc.png

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 50km / 30mi
Accommodation: Chau Pho
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Day 5: Ha Tien

We begin the day with a shuttle transfer of about 10 minutes by van, before biking through an excellent stretch of riverside villages and exquisite countryside . We bike for 23 kms (14 mi) towards Tra Su, a national reserve forest and a bird sanctuary. The road is quite hilly, but the path is unique.

If time permits, at the national forest, we experience a classic boat ride through the forest including rowed sampan boats and hiking amidst Cajeput trees. The wetlands here attract a tremendous variety of birds including storks, egrets, cormorants, peafowl, and water cocks. We can even climb up upon an observation tower to admire the forest around us.

We then cycle another 10 kms ( 6 mi) before stopping for lunch at a local food stall. Post lunch, we take a shuttle transfer of about an hour before resuming the day's biking. We bike for another 25 km (15.5 mi) through quaint villages on a smooth surface. We then load our bikes in the van and drive for about 40 minutes to the quaint riverside town of Ha Tien.

Our hotel for the night is a simple, yet tastefully done 3-star accommodation which happens to the largest hotel in this rather remote area. In the evening, we head out for dinner to try some local delicacies. Cahu Doc-Ha Tien.png

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi
Accommodation: River Hotel
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Day 6: Kep

We check out of our hotel at 8 AM and drive for 20 minutes to the reach the Cambodian border. Immigration formalities at the border may take up to 45 minutes. It is advisable to keep passports and an immigration fee od $35 handy to expedite the process.

Our Cambodian representative welcomes us at the border. Today, it’s a short coastal ride to Kep through salt flats and coastal villages. We ride slowly, taking pictures along the way and taking in the stunning vistas.

Kep’s seaside front is the perfect place for weary legs to feel rejuvenated. Earthy colors and breezy wind make for the perfect ambiance to unwind.

Ha Tien-Kep.PNG

Meals: B,L
Cycling Distance: 30km / 18mi
Accommodation: Sabbay Kep
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Day 7: Ta Keo

The topography that will be forever etched in your mind is that of a sprawling countryside of fields, palm trees, and lotus farms. Ta Keo is a small town situated amidst beautiful lakes. Kep-Takeo(Chhuk).PNG

https://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1393484-d2042574-Reviews-Meas_Family_Homestay-Takeo_Takeo_Province.html

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi
Accommodation: Meas Homestay
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Day 8: Phnom Penh

Get ready for a ride towards Phnom Penh past some amazing lake scenery surrounded by paddy fields and lotus farms. We stop by along the way at Phnom Chiso Temple, situated on the top of a hill with 400 steps to climb up. Later ride to Killing Fields. An essential on the itinerary due to the historic hook and for understanding the country better, we walk through the killing fields. Experience the painful story of a country that leads to the death of 2 million Cambodian people between 1974-1979.

We take a shuttle and arrive at the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, at the edge of the Mekong River. Historical splendors are spread in every corner whether it’s the local palace or the horrific remnants of the Khmer atrocities.

In the evening, taste some local Khmer cuisine at one of Phnom Penh’s finest dining place, Romdeng. End day with a walk or tuk-tuk rides back to the hotel.

Takeo-Phnom penh.PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi
Accommodation: Duong Chan Hotel
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Day 9: Phnom Penh

Today get ready to be immersed in the Cambodian culture and history of the city as we kick off our walking tour from Independence Monument. Enjoy walking along the Tonle Sap river, considered the lifeline of the region. Continue towards the National Museum, which houses several national treasures from three different eras: Pre-Angkorian, Angkorian, and Post-Angkorian, giving the flavor of diverse culture and architecture. The last leg of our walk takes us to the gilded Royal Palace, shimmering with silver tiles and sculptures of Buddha, which gives an insight into Cambodian Royal Life. After the museum, hike up the steps of a small hill to see Wat Phnom Temple, the birthplace of Phnom Penh. Later, enjoy some leisure evening time walking around the beautiful riverfront.

We insist that you step outside for dinner after a short break, to enjoy the local nightlife and enjoy the street food. Traditional dishes like amok (coconut fish curry served in a banana leaf), bobor (rice porridge), and lok lak (stir-fried beef) are easy to find on the streets.

Meals: B,L
Accommodation: Duong Chan Hotel
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Day 10: Kampong Cham

After a short transfer to the outskirts of Phnom Penh, ride along the Mekong River for a good part, and through a tropical plantation landscape consisting of rubber, cashew, and cotton. Today’s ride takes us through remote bucolic villages, and past beautiful wats and riverside towns. Kampong Cham is a less visited place yet has the charm of a beautiful riverside town. phnom penh-Kampong Cham.PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi
Accommodation: LBN Asian Hotel
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Day 11: Kampong Thom

A short ride along the Mekong River brings us to Wat Hanchey, an 8th-century hilltop pagoda offering the best views of Mekong in Cambodia. Continue riding along tropical farmlands dotted with cashew and rubber plantations and bucolic villages. Later take a transfer and arrive at Kompong Thom. Kampong Cham-Kampong Thom.PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 50km / 30mi
Accommodation: Sambor Village
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Day 12: Siem Reap

In the morning, ride around Kampong Thom’s Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex, which predates Angkor Wat by at least 200 years.

Later, ride through the bucolic countryside with a spectacular view of paddy fields and lotus farms all around.

In the evening, explore some of the local food in the cafes that flank the narrow roads. Kampong Thom-Sien Reap.PNG

Meals: B,L
Cycling Distance: 60km / 36mi
Accommodation: Steung Siemreap
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Day 13: Siem Reap

The Angkor temple complex is synonymous with Cambodia, so a ride around the temple is essential. We start riding directly from the hotel and reach the moat of Angkor Wat. Exquisite sculptures, tall towers, and maze-like trails flanked by large banyan roots, you might want to spend ample time photographing as you would have seen nothing like this before. We will loop back to Angkor Wat for a detailed tour at the end of our ride.

Continue riding towards Angkor Thom and enter the city from the South gate. Beat the crowd and climb the surrounding wall of the city and ride on top of it. Take a break here for a rich fascinating account of the city from our guide. A further ride through East gate takes us to Bayon, a richly decorated face temple within the Angkor complex is one of the highlights here. Exit from the second East gate of the city and ride towards jungle-clad TA Prohm. Our guide shares historical anecdotes and walks you through temples along the way.

The Angkor Wat requires more than a morning, so we loop back for a more detailed guided tour. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the largest religious complexes in the world and it’s bound to enthrall you. If time permits, climb Phnom Bakheng for a classic view of Angkor during sunset. Siem Reap-ANgkor.PNG

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 30km / 18mi
Accommodation: Steung Siemreap
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Day 14: Siem Reap – onward travel

We recommend making a final early morning visit to Angkor and witnessing the magnificent views in the backdrop of sunrise. If you prefer to do, please have a chat with your guide about the same. There may be further entry charges for Angkor that you can pay directly.

Meals: B
Accommodation:

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Map

Dates and Prices

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From US $550

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From US $235



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Essential Info

Inclusions

LODGING

All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).

trip leader

Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.

bike

Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.

shuttle

A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.

meals

Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.

refreshments

Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.

entrance

Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.

E-bikes

E-bikes are available (subject to availability) on this trip at a surcharge.

Exclusions

Airport pickup and drop

We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.

Beverages

Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.

Gratuity

Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.

Bikes

When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.

Bike Image

Trek Marlin 5 (Vietnam) or similar

mountain

Included in your trip price

Bike Image

Trek X-Caliber 7 (Vietnam) or similar

mountain

Included in your trip price

Bike Image

Cannondale Trail 4 (Cambodia) or similar

mountain

Included in your trip price

Bike Image

Trek EBike (Vietnam) or similar

ebike

Available at a surcharge

Bike Image

Senior (Cambodia) or similar

ebike

Available at a surcharge

Weather

South Vietnam and Cambodia is a year-round cycling destination because of its pleasant tropical climate. April and May can be hot, but for the rest of the year, the temperature hovers around 30°C. There is moderate rainfall from May to early November but it settles soon, leaving the weather cool and the countryside lush. November to February is the best time for cycling in South Vietnam with warm weather, clear blue skies, and a light ocean breeze blowing in from the Pacific.

January

Best

February

Best

March

Best

April

Good

May

Good

June

Good

July

Good

August

Good

September

Good

October

Good

November

Best

December

Best

Best

Good

Mixed

Offseason

Visa

Vietnam Visa

Residents from a number of countries have visa exemption status for tourist visits to Vietnam. For a full list of up-to-date visa-exempt countries, see the Vietnam Foreign Affairs website.

Starting August 15, 2023, the Vietnam government will start offering an e-visa valid for up to 90 days with multiple entries, replacing the current 30-day, single-entry option. Furthermore, passport holders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom will benefit from an extended visa exemption period of 45 days, up from the current 15 days. Eligible foreign nationals will either benefit from a longer duration of stay and greater flexibility with the extended e-visa validity of up to 90 days and multiple entries, or enjoy an extended visa exemption period of 45 days.

e-Visa – You can apply for an e-visa through the government website, then, once approved, simply print it out and present it upon arrival in Vietnam. The additional benefit of the e-visa is that it's valid at land borders, not just airports. The processing time ranges from 2 to 7 working days. We recommend applying 2 weeks in advance to avoid unexpected delays. Read more about tourist e-visas for Vietnam at the Vietnam Immigration portal and apply there.

While applying online for an approval letter, please ensure that you have the following documents:

  • Passport scanned copy: A scanned copy of your passport - front (main) page. It shouldn't be a mobile photo or a photo taken from a laptop. Strictly scanned copy done through a computer scanner.
  • Passport size photo: portrait photo (4*6 size, colored photo, white background, straight looking without glasses). A photo taken from a mobile or laptop may or may not work, so I would strictly advise getting one made through a nearby photo studio (retail shop) that specializes in taking photos for visas.

Here is an excellent resource on Vietnam visas that may be worth looking at.

Cambodia Visa

Cambodia has three international gateways for arrival by air – Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville – and a large number of land borders with neighboring Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Formalities at Cambodia’s international airports are generally smooth.

Travelers can get a Cambodia visa upon arrival at the airport with a valid passport for 6 months and no longer need to have a pre-arrival COVID-19 test, present a full COVID-19 vaccination card/certificate, or a passenger's health declaration form on arrival in Cambodia. Remote electronic temperature-checking systems remain at the entry and exit gates for Immigration officers to check and advise passengers who may have COVID-19 symptoms.

On this tour, we will cross into Cambodia via the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia through Ha Tien. Here, you can apply for a Cambodian visa at the border during your bike tour wherein we enter Phnom Penh via Ha Tien. The port on the Vietnam side is Ha Tien Landport (known as Xa Xia border). Its counterpart across the Cambodian border is Prek Chak. Please bring 2 current colored passport photos and ensure you have the visa fee of US $30-40 each. Please note that the Cambodian e-Visa is not applicable at the port of entry during your bike tour. Please apply for a Cambodian visa in advance with the embassy or obtain a visa on arrival at the port.

For Visa on arrival at the Cambodian border, please make sure to bring the following things:

  • 2 current passport photos
  • Ensure you have the visa fee of US $30-40 each
  • Passport copy
  • Vaccine card copy (proof of vaccination)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water or RO water in a camper in the support van for guests' use.

Yes, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.

We've designed this itinerary such that most of the cycling happens on quieter countryside roads far from busy traffic. The shuttle transfers on this tour have been strategically planned to bypass busy vehicular traffic.

The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on this bike tour happens on paved roads.

Yes, you may wear riding shorts while riding your bike. When not cycling, it would be advisable to wear comfortable full-length pants. We recommend keeping a pair of comfortable pants handy in you support van.

When visiting temples and monuments, visitors should wear full-length, loose-fitting pants. Holy places of certain religions may also require covering your head. Your guide will inform of the dress etiquette required for visiting specific religious places.

We are not medical advisors, and as such are not qualified to dispense medical advice. However, we recommend consulting the resources below for advice on vaccines and medications:

  1. CDC portal for travelers from the US
  2. NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travelers from the UK
  3. Smart Traveller portal or travelers from Australia.

In addition to the above, you may also refer to the travel advice issued from time to time by your government.

  1. US residents may refer to the State Department's travel and vaccination advice for Vietnam here.
  2. UK residents may refer to the FCDO's travel advice for Vietnam here.
  3. Residents of Australia may refer to Australian government's travel advice including medical advice for Vietnam here.

Although your tour price includes most common expenses, except a few meals not included in the itinerary, you can refer to the following broad guidelines for extra expenditures:

  • US $25 per person per day for tours with stays in casual inns
  • US $35 per person per day for tours with stays in premiere inns (luxury bike tours)

Most cities in Vietnam have ATMs where you can use your card to withdraw local currency. Any international card with Visa and Mastercard will work at most ATMs.

Tips are not included in your tour price.

As a general rule, you may tip US$ 15-25 per person per day.

This figure is for the entire crew including the trip leader, the driver, and other support staff.

However, you are not obligated to tip, and you can always tip less or more than the above amount depending on the level of service you received on tour.

It is usually the norm to tip the tour guide, who then distributes the amount among the entire crew. However, you can also tip each individual member of the crew if you so desire.

In case you want to tip the staff at a hotel such as porters, you may pay them US $2-3 per day.

The fitness level required for each trip is indicated by the "level" of the tour, which in turn is mentioned on each tour page right next to the price and the trip duration.

Easy: The terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle climbs.

Moderate: The terrain is either mostly flat or consists of rolling hills with a few challenging climbs. There could also be a few days with longer riding distances of up to 75 kms (45 miles)

Difficult: The terrain is mostly hilly with strong elevation gains and/or has long days on the bike. Such trips are recommended for intermediate to advanced cyclists.

Please note that we usually bike around 4-5 hours per day irrespective of the level of the trip.

No, airport transfers are not included in the price for this tour. We recommend booking a cab from the airport to your hotel on the day of your arrival, and booking a cab from the hotel to the airport on the day of your departure.

There's no special clothing required for riding. You can pack a fleece jacket for evenings and early mornings if you're doing this trip from November to February.

The meeting time on Day 1 is mentioned in your travel planner shared with you. You can arrive either on the morning of Day 1 depending on the meeting time, or book a pre-tour night to arrive a day earlier.

We don't have anything planned for the last day, so you are free to depart at your discretion.