Western Baray and Angkor Thom

Duration: Half Day   Cycling Distance: 35km     
Included: Trek Mountain Bike and safety helmet         

This half-day trip brings together the best of rural Siem Reap and the glorious Angkor empire. Leaving town, we head northwest through the sleepy suburbs. We pass Psar Krom and ride along the wide road that was once the city airstrip. Emerging on ricefields, we traverse busy National Highway 6 and soon come upon the massive Western Baray. Built by hand, this massive 8km by 2km reservoir was the largest irrigation project undertaken by the ancient Khmers. We loop around this impressive body of water, heading along the jungle track on the northern bank. Eventually we leave the baray behind and come upon the looming faces of the West Gate of Angkor Thom. The old causeway here has collapsed to leave a jumble of gods and devils sticking out of the soil like victims of a horrific historic pile-up. Forget the obvious and riding through the middle. We take our bikes up on the wall and ride around to the South Gate with its flagship causeway. We then head back to Siem Reap for a well-earned fruit shake.

Duration: All Day     Cycling Distance: 30km
Included: Trek Mountain Bike and picnic lunch

For the perfect mix of village life, ancient temples and life on the water, join our Roluos and Kompong Phhluk trip. We leave Siem Reap following small back roads through rural landscapes and picturesque villages. Our first stop is the temple of Bakong in the Roluos group, the first of the great pyramid mountains which were to become the signature of later kings. From Bakong, we continue into Roluos town to visit a very local market, untouched by tourism. After some refreshments here, we follow the course of the Roluos river to the nearest navigable point where we board small wooden boats for the trip to Kompong Phluk. This is a rough stretch, as during the wet season, most of this road is under water. In the wet season, the ride is short, in the dry season, quite long. Cruising down a narrow waterway, we enter this medieval floating village, where the houses stand atop stilts as much as 10 metres above the water. Everything lives on the water, pigs, dogs, crocodiles and people, all jockeying for space in this incredible floating town. We explore the local wat here, before boarding a bigger boat to take us through the flooded forest and across the Great Lake to Chong Kneas and the holy mountain of Phnom Krom. We climb Phnom Krom for a glorious view over the Tonle Sap before heading back to Siem Reap by road.

Backroads to Forgotten Temples

Duration: All Day     Cycling Distance: 45km
Included: Trek Mountain Bike and picnic lunch

For the flavour of old Angkor before it was discovered by the rest of the world, join us on this ride to some of the forgotten temples in the area. We leave Siem Reap along the river, heading to the Angkor complex on a pretty jungle path. We join the tarmac for a short stretch before bearing east along the old Angkor road near Bat Chum. This trail crosses some pretty wooden bridges, as well as a small old Angkor-era bridge. We eventually come to the pretty hilltop temple of Chau Srei Vibol and explore this peaceful place. We continue north to Phnom Bok, another hilltop temple that sees few visitors. There are two towers here, both with frangipani trees sprouting from the top like an elaborate hairstyle. We enjoy the views towards Phnom Kulen during our picnic lunch. From here the route goes west where we stop at Banteay Samre, a beautifully restored temple from the same period as Angkor Wat. We then cycle back towards Siem Reap along the grand circuit with the option to stop at Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon, Sra Srang or Prasat Kravan for those who want to see more.

Bicycle Cambodia

Day 1: We explore the highlights of Phnom Penh on bicycle, including the majestic National Museum and the glittering royal palace complex. We also visit a local market and supermarket to pick up any snacks or supplies for the ride ahead.

Day 2: Leaving Phnom Penh on NH2, we make a short side trip to the temple of Tonle Bati about 32km south of Phnom Penh, our first encounter with the glories of Angkor. We continue south to Takeo, our base for the night.

Day 3: We head west from Takeo, then veer right on the newly renovated NH31, one of the nicest rides in the country. We take lunch in Kompong Trach and visit the cave pagodas of Phnom Sor nearby. In the afternoon, we continue on to the old colonial-era beach resort of Kep, our base for the night.

Day 4: We leave today free around Kep. Enjoy the beach or take a local fishing boat to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), there is plenty to do in this area. Overnight in Kep.

Day 5: We take a short coastal ride along to Kampot, a charming riverside town under the shadow of Bokor. For the adventurous at heart, we offer an optional descent from Bokor Hill Station. We travel up by pick-up truck, but let you take to two wheels for a memorable jungle ride. Overnight in Kampot.

Day 6: Today, we take on the longer ride from Kampot to Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s premier beach resort. Heading west along the coast, we pass several picturesque fishing villages with colourful boats. Overnight in Sihanoukville.

Day 7: We leave today free to enjoy the beaches around Sihanoukville. There is the option to visit the picturesque waterfall of Kbal Chhay, a popular local spot for a freshwater swim. Overnight in Sihanoukville.

Day 8: Today, we leave the bikes behind for the morning, as we return to Phnom Penh by vehicle. After lunch in the capital, we spend the afternoon discovering the gruesome legacy of the Khmer Rouge at Tuol Sleng and Choeng Ek. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 9: This morning we transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by boat. We then take an adventurous ride around the Western Baray, the largest manmade reservoir from the Angkor period. We enter Angkor Thom from the forgotten West Gate, offering a first glimpse of these incredible temples. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Today we take on the main temples of the Small Circuit in the morning, visiting Ta Nei, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm and Sra Srang by bicycle. After lunch out at the temples, we explore the massive complex of Angkor Thom. We ride around the upper walls from the South Gate to the West Gate. We eventually arrive at the enigmatic Bayon. We then check out a sunset over Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: This morning, we offer an optional sunrise at Angkor Wat, the Mother of all temples. We spend much of the morning exploring this magnificent structure. After lunch, we explore the main temples of the Big Circuit by bicycle, including Preak Khan, Neak Poan and Pre Rup. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Today we ride through pretty villages to Roluos, following the route outlined in the Roluos and Kompong Phhluk itinerary above. We experience the unique life on the water before returning to Siem Reap from Phnom Krom. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 13: We leave today free around Siem Reap and Angkor to recover from the rides of the previous two weeks. Shop in the markets of Siem Reap, return to your favourite temples or just relax in the hotel. Tour ends in Siem Reap.