The journey
Cycle roughly 700 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City through the Mekong Delta, cross the border into Cambodia on foot, and continue by bike through Kep, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh to the temples of Angkor, twelve days built for genuinely active travellers.
Saigon to Angkor Wat: A Cycling Challenge is a twelve-day cycling journey from Ho Chi Minh City to the temples of Angkor, covering close to 700 kilometres of Vietnam and Cambodia's back roads, river paths and rural lanes, including two genuinely demanding days rated Hard. Begin in the Mekong Delta, pedalling narrow paths past rice paddies, fruit orchards and floating markets from My Tho through Tra Vinh and Can Tho to Chau Doc, climbing Sam Mountain for sweeping views before crossing the Vietnam-Cambodia border on foot at Xa Xia.
Highlights
- Cycle through the Mekong Delta's rice paddies, fruit orchards and waterways from My Tho to Chau Doc
- Cross the Vietnam-Cambodia border on foot at Xa Xia, swapping to a new set of wheels and a new guide team
- Ride Cambodia's coastline through Kep and past Kampot's colonial streets to the beach resort of Sihanoukville
- Visit Phnom Penh's Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum, and learn Cambodia's history at Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields
- Climb the 400-plus steps of Oudong Mountain, once the capital of Cambodia, for sweeping rural views
- Cycle to Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom's Bayon temple and Ta Prohm, the temple made famous by Tomb Raider
Included
Accommodation
11 nights across Ho Chi Minh City, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Kep, Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, Kampong Thom and Siem Reap
Activities
guided cycling through the Mekong Delta (My Tho to Tra Vinh, Tra Vinh to Can Tho, Can Tho to Chau Doc via Sam Mountain and the Cai Rang floating market) · a walking border crossing from Vietnam into Cambodia at Xa Xia · cycling from the border to Kep, Kep to Sihanoukville via Kampot, and Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh · a Phnom Penh city tour (Tuol Sleng Prison, the Killing Fields, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum) · cycling from Phnom Penh via Oudong Mountain to Kampong Thom · a visit to the 7th-century temple site of Sambor Prey Kuk and the ancient bridge at Kampong Kdei · cycling from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap · a full day cycling the Angkor temple complex (Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Bayon and Angkor Wat)
Also included
bike, helmet and a biking water bottle per person, plus water, snacks and local fruit throughout each cycling day · 1 EXO Adventure certified English-speaking guide, with an assistant guide for groups of 8 to 15 riders · a support vehicle carrying spare parts and a first aid kit per guide · private air-conditioned vehicle transfers and backup as itinerary · sightseeing tickets as mentioned · flight reconfirmations · breakfast daily from Day 2 (11 total), lunch on Days 2 to 11 (10 total) and dinner on Days 1 to 11 (11 total)
The route
01Ho Chi Minh CityDay 1
02Tra VinhDay 2
03Can ThoDay 3
04Chau DocDay 4
05KepDay 5
06SihanoukvilleDay 6
07Phnom PenhDays 7 to 8
08Kampong ThomDay 9
09Siem ReapDays 10 to 12
The full day-by-day itinerary is below.
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, where you'll be picked up at the airport and transferred to the hotel. After a trip briefing and bike fitting, enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the city's best restaurants. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City to Tra Vinh
After breakfast, transfer by road to My Tho, gateway to the Mekong Delta and the start of the cycling journey. Ride along narrow paths through the heart of the delta, past sugar cane fields, fruit plantations and lush rice paddies, watching local life unfold along the waterways as you pedal up to 52 kilometres to Tra Vinh. Overnight in Tra Vinh.
Day 3
Tra Vinh to Can Tho
Set off after breakfast along roads lined with Khmer temples and river scenes, stopping to rest, visit peaceful temples and spend time with students at a local school. The flat, picturesque ride covers up to 82 kilometres, the trip's longest day, rated Hard. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 4
Can Tho to Chau Doc
Start with an early boat ride to the Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets, cruising among boats trading livestock, fruit, rice and fish for a close look at local commerce. Then set off on the final Vietnam cycling leg, up to 70 kilometres through gently undulating scenery as mountains begin to appear in the distance; near Chau Doc, detour up Sam Mountain for a steep climb rewarded with sweeping countryside views before coasting back down in time for dinner. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Day 5
Chau Doc to Kep
Ride out from the hotel up Sam Mountain past dozens of pagodas and temples, including Tay An Pagoda, its eclectic iconography reflecting the region's blended Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist history, with Cambodia visible in the distance. Say goodbye to Chau Doc and continue to the Xa Xia border, leaving your Vietnam bike behind to cross on foot; on the other side, a new guide team and a new set of bikes are waiting with a warm welcome to Cambodia. Cycle up to 90 kilometres from the border to Kep, a small beach resort with colonial charm, riding past curious farmers and children waving hello along the way. Check in to the resort with the rest of the day free. Overnight in Kep.
Day 6
Kep to Sihanoukville
Ride up to 85 kilometres to Sihanoukville, Cambodia's premier beach resort, on good tarmac roads with glimpses of the Gulf of Thailand along the way. Pass Kampot and its backdrop of the Damrei Mountains, topped by the visible ruins of Bokor Hill Station, stopping to explore the provincial capital's well-preserved French colonial streets before continuing through paddy fields toward Sihanoukville, with the option to transfer or cycle the final hills into town. Overnight in Sihanoukville.
Day 7
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh
Enjoy a free morning at the beach, then transfer after lunch to Phnom Penh, once considered the most beautiful city in the Orient and still home to many surviving colonial buildings. Check in to the hotel, with dinner free this evening. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 8
Phnom Penh City Tour
Visit Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21), a former extermination camp for political prisoners, and the Killing Fields to learn about Cambodia's history under the Khmer Rouge, then lunch at a Cabaret restaurant. In the afternoon, tour the Royal Palace, dating to 1866 and home to the Silver Pagoda's more than 5,000 silver floor tiles and a collection of gold, silver, crystal and bronze Buddhas, followed by the National Museum, built in traditional Khmer style and home to the world's foremost collection of Khmer artistic and archaeological artifacts from the 4th to 13th centuries, its roof also home to a resident bat colony. Return to the hotel for time at leisure before a Khmer welcome dinner at Romdeng, a charity restaurant in a restored colonial building where former street children are trained in hospitality. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 9
Phnom Penh to Kampong Thom
Take the back roads out of Phnom Penh for around 45 kilometres to Oudong, once the capital of Cambodia, then climb the 400-plus steps of Oudong Mountain for a rewarding view. Continue cycling through rural Cambodia, past stilt houses, rice paddies, ox carts and waving children, with river views along the Tonle Sap, covering up to 89 kilometres before transferring on to Kampong Thom. Overnight in Kampong Thom.
Day 10
Kampong Thom to Siem Reap
Transfer to the 7th-century temple site of Sambor Prey Kuk, once the capital of the Chenla Empire, then continue by road to the 800-year-old bridge at Kampong Kdei, one of Cambodia's best-preserved ancient bridges. From the small town of Damdek, get back on the bikes for the final stretch, up to 65 kilometres, into Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 11
Siem Reap and the Angkor Complex
Cycle to the temples of Angkor, starting at Ta Prohm, made famous by the film Tomb Raider and deliberately left as it was found, overgrown by strangler fig and silk-cotton trees. Continue to Angkor Thom and Bayon temple, with its enigmatic stone faces, and the Terrace of the Elephants, stopping for lunch at Angkor Café before exploring Angkor Wat itself, the largest religious monument in the world and considered the masterpiece of Khmer architecture, its walls covered in carvings depicting Hindu mythology and the wars of King Suryavarman II. Cycle the final 7 kilometres back to Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 12
Departure from Siem Reap
Enjoy the day at leisure before transferring to the airport for the departure flight.
Moments
Along the way
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