Saigon to Angkor Premiere Bike Tour
Overview
This tour takes you through the two most fascinating countries of Southeast Asia: Vietnam & Cambodia. We start our journey witnessing the life around Mekong Delta in Vietnam and then take a boat ride and enter into the land of the majestic Angkor Wat and home to some of the most pristine and untouched sceneries on earth, Cambodia is sure to leave you wonderstruck. Enjoy pulsating history stored in its vivid monuments, local culture rife on its river banks, warm and welcoming people, and awesome food.
Saigon, Vietnam | 13:00hrs
Siem Reap, Cambodia
premiere
easy
50km or 30mi
Age: 13+
Min. 2, Max. 14
Highlights
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
Day | Place | Hotel | Meals | Distance | Activity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAY 1 | Saigon | Hotel Des Arts | D | ||
DAY 2 | Cai Be | Mekong Riverside Boutique Resort | B,L,D | 40km / 24mi* | cycling |
DAY 3 | Can Tho | Victoria Can Tho | B,L,D | 50km / 30mi | cycling |
DAY 4 | Chau Doc | Victoria Chau Doc | B,L,D | 70km / 42mi | cycling |
DAY 5 | Phnom Penh | Raffles Le Royal | B,L,D | ||
DAY 6 | Kampong Thom – Oudong Trail | Sambor Village* | B,L,D | 30km / 18mi* | cycling |
DAY 7 | Siem Reap | Raffles Grand d’Angkor | B,L | 60km / 36mi* | cycling |
DAY 8 | Siem Reap – Angkor Loop | Raffles Grand d’Angkor | B,L,D | 30km / 18mi | cycling |
DAY 9 | Siem Reap | B | cycling |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Saigon
The morning is free for you to explore the city. Post-lunch, 13:00hrs, our guide meets you at your hotel for a walking tour to explore 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). This walking tour gives an excellent introduction to the city’s history and provides you with plenty of opportunities to soak up the unique mix of chaos and tranquility that is modern-day Saigon.
Later we do bike fit and convene over dinner tonight to celebrate the start of our awesome journey on a bike.
If you arrive early then we recommend seeing China town (Cho Lon in Dist 5), Thien Hau Pagoda, Landmark 81 building, Jade Emperor Pagoda on your own.
Day 2: Cai Be
Our guide meets you at your hotel in Saigon at 8 am.
A shuttle transfer brings us to Cai Lay, outskirts of Saigon. Ride along a small creek to Mekong estuary past gorgeous paddy fields and dragon fruit farms. Arrive at Cai Be and take a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to experience the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta. We also visit the floating market at Cai Be, and a family-run business producing rice paper – a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. Break for lunch on an island at a local house, set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees.
After lunch, continue riding to our hotel in Cai Be where we spend the night. Seasonally, on the way to the Mekong Delta, we can enjoy the peaceful scenes of farmers seeding, ploughing, and harvesting the rice crop.
Day 3: Can Tho
Today cycle into the heartland of the Mekong Delta, past the pristine hamlets nestled in the orchards and coconut plantations. Along the way, see farmers working in nursery fruit tree gardens. Set on the southern bank of the Hau River, Can Tho is known for its network of canals and nearby floating markets.
Day 4: Chau Doc
Experience early morning Cai Rang floating market on a boat ride and later ride to the culturally diverse Chau Doc as you get to see mosques, temples, and churches here. If we make it on time, take a boat trip to the Cham communities across the river.
Day 5: Phnom Penh
Take an early morning 07:30 am speed boat and arrive at the capital city of Cambodia via boat, 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.
Post-lunch get ready to be immersed in the Cambodian culture and history of the city as we kick off our walking tour from Wat Phnom. 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.
We recommend tasting some local Khmer cuisine at one of Phnom Penh’s finest dining place ‘Romdeng’. End day with a walk or tuk-tuk ride back to the hotel.
Day 6: Kampong Thom – Oudong Trail
After a hearty breakfast, we start our day with a short shuttle transfer to the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Here, set out on a bike ride on a dirt road through some of the most interior parts of Cambodia. It’s a flat ride past paddy fields, lotus farms, and typical rural hamlets. Expect young kids to stretch their arms and give a big wave or locals inviting you into their homes. We may have to share our road with water buffaloes and cows and reach Oudong. Oudong was the capital of Khmer for around 200 years. A gradual climb takes us to the top of the mountain surrounded by many stupas. Admire the spectacular views all around. An hour shuttle brings us to Kampong Thom.
Day 7: 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.
Day 8: Siem Reap – Angkor Loop
The Angkor temple complex is synonymous with Cambodia, so a ride around the temple is essential. Our guide meets you at your hotel and takes you back into the Angkor era on a bike ride. After bike fit, start riding directly from the hotel and reach the moat of Angkor Wat. Catch the brilliant morning rays on the ancient temple complex and 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. Climb Phnom Bakheng for a classic view of Angkor during sunset.
Day 9: Siem Reap
Make a final early morning visit to Angkor and witness the magnificent views in the backdrop of sunrise.
Dates and Prices
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Open your date as a join-in tour or customize further as private one.
We offer private departures on almost all our itineraries, and for groups of four or more, they cost the same as our standard trips!
Essential Info
Inclusions
LODGING
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details (subject to availability). All options are personally reviewed.
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 that 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 on this trip at a surcharge. Please send a note to your tour consultant to book one.
Exclusions
Airport pickup and drop
We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.
meals
Some meals may not be included. Please check your itinerary.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Reviews from our friends
Mary Beth C from US
5.0we'll return again
We had a private tour for 4, premium hotels biking through Vietnam and Cambodia. Hotels were excellent (loved the two Raffles); we had some food restrictions and guides were meticulous in ensuring our dietary needs were satisfied; the meals were good, and countryside beautiful. A highlight was the "homestay" in Cambodia...the family was delightful. Be sure to send your height in advance of arrival so they have the right size bike for you....the bikes were in great condition and the drivers carried sufficient equipment to make any necessary repairs along the way. This was our second trip with Art of Bicycle, and we'll return again.
Juliette Lacriox from US
5.0Good trip
Good trip, good choice in tour ( little roads without cars ) , very good guides ( queng Vietnam and at Cambodia) Sometimes l have regreted e.bike ! Thanks
Domitille Teze from FR
5.0Perfect guides, great hotels, we loved it
Perfect guides, great hotels, we loved it. One little recommendation : if it is possible for you to adapt the restaurants/food to the clients it would be great... we would have preferred local food and less tourist food. Apart from that, thank you for a great trip !