Family cycling tour of Cambodia

Siem Reap

Day 1: Arrive in Siem Reap & Welcome Dinner

Suo Sdei! Welcome to Cambodia.

We’ll be ready and waiting at the arrivals gate to welcome you and whisk you off to your hotel. You’ll be able to take your time to relax by the pool or venture out for a taste of this ancient city.

At 5 pm, your guide will find you in the hotel reception area for a quick briefing. Then it’s time to try some local delicacies at HAVEN Cambodia Restaurant – a social enterprise providing vocational training and education to young Cambodians from poorer backgrounds

Angkor Wat - Bayon Temple - Ta Prohm

Day 2: Bike the Angkor Sunrise

Today, you will begin your cycling adventure in the early morning, and take a short transfer to Angkor Wat in time to see the sunrise. Your guide will take you to the best spots to watch the colorful sunrise. Then, you will go through the Angkor central complex and hear about the history and symbolism of the temple.

Once you have discovered Angkor Wat and had breakfast, continue with the bike tour down the trails behind Angkor Wat. Follow tracks that take you through small villages in the Angkor Wat complex, and see how the locals go about their daily lives.

From there, visit other sites such as the Angkor Thom City, Death Gate, Bayon, and Ta Prohm temple. End your day by having a Cambodian meal with a large spread of local dishes, followed by a quick siesta.

Banteay Srei - Kbal Spean

Day 3: Cycle to Banteay Srei Temple & Kbal Spean

This morning, the bike tour will take you on unpaved roads through rural villages. Continue on a flat road for about 20 km to the temple of Banteay Srei. There are plenty of beautiful and real country views to see along the way as you cycle past the local markets, schools, villages, and Buddhist temples.

Taking a water break under the shade of the tree before we reach Bantey Srei, which is known as the Citadel of Women, this red sandstone temple is one of Angkor’s most significant structures as its walls are decorated with elaborate carvings, which have been preserved remarkably well.

Enjoy your lunch at the foot of the mountain before taking a short transfer to Kbal Span. Then trek uphill along the jungle trail for 3 km to the waterfall and the River of Thousand Lingas. You can see the carvings on the riverbed and waterfall and return to Siem Reap by transfer.

Siem Reap - Mechrey

Day 4: Biking & Kayaking to Mechrey

Today, you’ll cycle to Tonle Sap Lake through the lush countryside surrounding Siem Reap, following the dirt road that winds through endless rice fields and Cambodia’s ubiquitous sugar palms. On arrival at the boat station, we board Finfoot, a refurbished fishing boat that takes guests along a charming channel lined with water-loving plants to where we launch the kayaks and paddle out to the floating village of Mechrey.

Kayaks allow us to experience and learn about the culture and environment that are shaped by the extraordinary habitual rise and fall of the water level. We discover the mystifying and varied landscape of the Great Tonle Sap Lake, the largest in Southeast Asia

Siem Reap - Battambang

Day 5: Cycle Siem Reap to Battambang

Today, you’ll have a great ride out of the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap’s downtown to the wonderful views of the Siem Reap countryside through paddy fields and stunning scenery to explore the everyday life of Cambodians. Cycle to the Angkor Silk Farm, where you can see the whole silk creation process, from growing the food for the silkworms, breeding the worms, silk extraction, spinning and refinement, traditional dyeing, and looming. Angkor Silk Farm is part of the Artisans D’ngkor not-for-profit organization set up to revive Cambodia’s artistic pursuits and provide employment opportunities in poor rural areas.

After spending some amazing days in Siem Reap, it’s time to leave behind this wonderful city and head to Battambang—a beautifully scenic, approximately 3-hour drive. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and relax at the pool.

Battambang

Day 6: Ride the Bamboo Train & Explore Battambang’s Livelihoods

Today, you’ll take a fun ride to the Bamboo Trains and enjoy a nice ride on a bamboo bed, known locally as a Norrie. Here you will catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Battambang countryside. 

Then, we’ll hop on a mountain bike and cycle pass Neo-Khmer buildings as well as colonial structures, including the Sala Khaet. Stop on a bridge over the Sanger River and admire the architectural remains of old shops, colonial mansions, and crumbling pagodas lining the banks. Enjoy the scenic surroundings with palm-lined country roads and lush rice fields. Meet families whose generations work together to make Prahok and other local specialties. 

You will continue on to enjoy a delicious Cambodian lunch at a family home. Then visit a Buddhist Temple to gain an understanding of the principles and practices of a religion that is central to Cambodian life. Afterward, return to your accommodation.

Battambang - Phnom Penh

Day 7: Cycle Battambang – Phnom Penh Transfer

Today, we cycle through the traditional riverside villages and across the scenic landscape of Battambang that reveals the remnants of a long-lost French colonial past.

Battambang is a sleepy town that has a lot to offer in terms of colonial-style charm and traces its roots back to its days as a trading hub. Indeed, the surrounding province is often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of Cambodia,” being the country’s most fertile area for agriculture.

After all this exploring, we’ll take a 4-hour drive to Phnom Penh, stopping along the way for lunch in Pursat and to see the home of Cambodian pottery in Kampong Chhnang. We arrive in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon.

Phnom Penh - Silk Island - Tuol Sleng

Day 8: Cycle the Silk Island of Mekong & Phnom Penh City Tour

Today we escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and cross the river by ferry boat, making our way towards the north of Phnom Penh and the Silk Islands. After arriving on land, we will bike through orchards and vegetable farms, enjoying the peaceful farmland and learning about the lives of the people who call the Silk Islands home.

In the afternoon, we enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the city. Then, you’ll take a tour to the Killing Fields, an extermination camp for political prisoners during the terror reign of the Khmer Rouge where thousands of people were executed. It is worth continuing with the establishment of a memorial museum, “Tuol Sleng,” which is a testimony to the Cambodian genocide of that historical period. Afterward, return to your hotel.

Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh Airport

Day 9: Transfer to Phnom Penh & Tour Concludes

Today, your journey to the highlights of the family bike tour in Cambodia ends. There is no activity planned for the last day. Our driver will be ready to transfer you to Phnom Penh airport to catch your return flight.