Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat Airport, you meet our tour guide and transfer to hotel down town for check-in. After check-in you will be free at leisure for the rest of the day. In the evening we will have a tour briefing and a welcome dinner with Vietnamese delights. Overnight in Saigon.
Summary
Transfer airport – hotel: 25 mins
Meals: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 2: City tour of Saigon & Cu Chi Tunnel
After breakfast in hotel we take a city tour to see the different faces of this bustling city on a full day tour with extensive visits to the Re-Unification Palace, the Central Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Jade Emperor Temple and the Ben Thanh market. Lunch in local restaurant. After lunch we drive to the famous Cu Chi underground tunnel system to experience how the Viet Cong lived and fought during the American War. Back to Saigon in the afternoon.
Summary
Sightseeing: Half day city tour & half day tour to Cu Chi tunnel
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 3: Sai Gon – My Tho – Vinh Long
Leave hotel for Long An at 8.30 am. We drive around 1hr to reach Long An, where we begin our interesting biking day over a picturesque area of expansive rice fields, luxuriant fruit orchards and plenty of small canal. After 2hr biking we will reach My Tho, a quiet town by the bank of the Mekong River. Lunch break in My Tho before riding to Vinh Long, the capital of Vinh Long Province which lying between two big branches of the Mekong River. From My Tho to Vinh Long we ride on small paved roads running through a vast expanse of rice field. Upon arrival in the small town of Cai Be we take an interesting boat trip to cross the mighty Mekong River to reach a village on a small island in the middle of the river, where we spend the night in a local home. The home-stay will be an unforgettable experience and can give you a unique insight into the culture of the locals. A fantastic dinner with local delights is cooked by the family.
Summary
Transfer: 40 mins
Biking: 60km, small paved road, village dirt road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay in village
Day 4: Vinh Long – Can Tho
After breakfast we start cycling 1/2 hour under natural green canopy to the ferry crossing for VinhLong. Then we have much more ride to Can Tho. Depends on group cycling ability, our guide will tailor a special route for this day: passing villages of brick kiln, terracotta and pottery kiln or riding on immense rice fields, cycling through numerous rural riverside villages. Lunch break at local place. Bus pick up to Can Tho City. Late afternoon free time for promenade along city quay or more cycling along Can Tho river bank (if time permitting). Overnight in Can Tho.
Summary
Biking: 40km, flat country road, partly unpaved road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho
Day 5: Can Tho – Chau Doc
Early morning boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, the busiest market on Mekong River. We would cruise in natural waterways before turning up a quiet canal and mounting our bikes for a ride 3 hrs along a country road, enjoying the beautiful Delta scenery and meeting the locals (many on bicycle too). Continue biking to O Mon and the Thot Not Stork Sanctuary. Lunch break in Long Xuyen. Afternoon we have around 80km nice road to Chau Doc, monkey bridges over canals, Khmer pagodas, Sam mountain, sun set from the summit etc… The highlight of this part is from Tri Ton to Chau Doc (40km). Dinner and overnight in Chau Doc.
Summary
Biking: 65km, smooth paved road & village dirt road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc
Day 6: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
Breakfast before we board the speed boat for a river journey upstream to Phnom Penh, where our Cambodian team will be ready to greet you with new bikes. We will then continue our journey into Cambodia. Phnom Penh was once considered one of the most beautiful in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history, it still retains a colonial charm. We will transfer to an atmospheric local restaurant for lunch with Khmer cuisine. After lunch we check in hotel and have the rest of the day free at leisure to explore the town or to fit and check the new bikes. Overnight in hotel in Phnom Penh.
Summary
Boat transfer: 4hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Day 7: Phnom Penh sightseeing tour
Breakfast in hotel. Today we will tour in Phnom Penh visit to famous tourist sites including Royal Palace, National Museum and Wat Phnom Temple. Lunch will be served in local restaurant. In the afternoon, shopping in Russian market. Free at leisure the rest of the day. Overnight in hotel in Phnom Penh
Summary
Sightseeing: Full-day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Day 8: Phnom Penh – Kampong Chnang
Breakfast in the hotel. Today we depart in the early morning by bike and we head north on National road N5 via the ancient Japanese bridge and start traveling through the Cambodian countryside. You will share the road with light local traffic and get a good sense of what Cambodian transportation actually is. After 12Km you get to Prek Phnov and at the junction we left turn to unpaved roads passing local villages and rice fields. We pass the ancient capital of Udong where Udong Mountain is still home to many of the old Royal Palaces. We pay a visit to one of the remaining stupa’s and after a visit we will ride on the paved road heading north-west to Kampong Chnang.
Kampong Chhnang is the provincial capital of the province with the same name. The Tonle Sap River passes by Kampong Chhnang and the floating village is an attraction itself. It is located 91 km North of Phnom Penh. The area is scenic and if you cross the river you will find several ancient temples from the Chenla period, such as Samrong Sen and Prasat Prah Srey. You’ll get great views of the countryside and for sure will meet hordes of people welcoming you with a broad smile. Check in hotel and have dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Kampong Chnang.
Summary
Biking: 91km, smooth paved road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampong Chnang
Day 9: Kampong Chnang – Siem Reap
This morning you will start with a transfer by private boat to Siem Reap crossing the immense Tonle Sap Lake. The Tonle Sap Lake is the beating heart of Cambodia and nearly half of the Cambodians live from this lake. It’s the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia and its biodiversity has put the lake on the ecological 7 wonders of the world. The transfer takes about 4 hours. Upon arrival in Siem Reap we pass the floating village of Chhong Kneas. This large sized village is a bustling trade centre for fish, other lake “products” and tourism. The arrival will definitely one you will never forget. We cycle the 12km into town and settle in our hotel. A lunch will give us the power we need in order to explore the world largest heritage site: Angkor Wat. We will cycle towards a small but very significant temple called Banteay Srey. This temple is best preserved and its carvings and painting are remarkable. The road leading there passes through the Angkor Area and you get a glimpse of the massive complexes that were built between the 11th and 13th century. We continue the 25km to Banteay Srey through pretty countryside over a good and paved road. The late afternoon sun will only contribute to the beauty of the pink stone walls and towers of Banteay Srey. After our visit we cycle back towards Angkor Wat where a nice surprise awaits us. Back to the hotel. Overnight in hotel in Siem Riep.
Summary
Biking: 70km, smooth paved road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep
Day 10: Full day in Angkor Wat by cycling
If you want to this morning you can ask our tour guide to arrange a sunrise visit to the temples of Angkor to give you the opportunity see the ruins in all their splendor. Angkor Wat itself is just one of the many temples in the region but is one of the best preserved and most impressive. It is worth climbing the remarkably steep and narrow steps of the central spire for the view over the whole temple surrounded by jungle. Angkor Thom, is a fascinating ruin featuring many mysterious giant carved faces and some incredible wall carvings, and is one of the most remarkable sights in the area. Also not to be missed is the temple of Ta Prohm, which has been left to be reclaimed by nature and features incredible tree roots breaking through the stone carvings and walls, a fascinating tribute to the power of nature over man and an experience reminiscent of ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Tomb Raider’. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Summary
Biking: 25km, smooth paved road
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep
Day 11: Departure
Breakfast and free at leisure until transfer to airport for departure. Trip completes.
Summary
Airport transfer: 25 mins
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.
Group size
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Price guide (USD/person)
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Services and Activities included:
• Hotel room base on twin shared
• Home-stay permission
• Meals as indicated in the program
• Support vehicle for the whole trip
• All transfer with AC vehicle
• Speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh
• English speaking guides
• Mountain bikes & helmet
• 01 bottle of drinking water per day
• Sightseeing and entrance fee
• First-aid kit
Tour Exclusions:
• Visa
• Air ticket
• Airport tax
• Travel Insurance
• Personal expenses
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Group size: 08 persons
Depart from: Saigon
End at: Siem Riep
When: Year round
Activities: Cycling, Angkor temple exploration, Boat trip
Biking grade: Moderate to Challenging
Transportation: Mountain bike, AC vehicle, Boat
Accommodation: 9 night hotel, 1 night home-stay
Tour guide: English speaking guides
Meals
– Day 1: Welcome Dinner
– Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch
– Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
– Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch
– Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
– Day 6-7: Breakfast, Lunch
– Day 8: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
– Day 9-10: Breakfast, Lunch
– Day 11: Breakfast
Food
All meals, which are indicated in the itinerary, are included in the price of this trip. In big towns we will enjoy local cuisine in fine restaurants. Once we travel away from big towns, the emphasis will be on healthy and nutritious fresh local produce.
Please inform us at the time of booking if you have any special dietary requirement.
Hotel & Home-stay
In main cities we use the finest 3-star with centre location. Please contact us if you prefer higher hotel category.
Home stay in villages is simple in term of bedding condition and toilet. We will sleep on beds or floor with mattress, clean sheet, pillows and mosquito nets. Toilet is usually flush-style
Our tour guide
The tour will be guided by our local tour guides who are experienced in guiding specialized tours like biking and kayaking tours as well as culture tours. They have been carefully trained to be tour guides and also fully licensed in tour guiding by the government. In addition, they are trained in first-aid and they know how to deal with difficult situations. You will have a great time traveling with them.
The biking day
A typical biking day starts at about 8.30 am after breakfast. Lunch times can vary depending on the distance. We aim to reach the next overnight stop by 4.30 or 5. During the biking we will have short breaks for rest, snack and photographing.
What to bring
Biking shoes or sandal, sun block, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses, rain coat, flash-light, toiletries, original passport.
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.