Home Multi-Day Tours Cycling Tours Cycle the Backroads of Cambodia
Discover real Cambodia on a bicycle tour and experience the world’s best preserved temples, colonial towns, and the rural beauty of the countryside.
Starting your journey off in the historic capital of Phnom Penh, you will first explore and learn about the country’s tragic history before embarking on a bike tour that will take you to many varied and beautiful destinations. Cycle through the port town of Kampong Chhang and colonial Battambang, as well as remote villages and across gentle rivers. The quiet rural paths that dot the countryside make for a perfect place to explore by bike. Your journey ends in Siem Reap, at the magnificent temples of Angkor, which is the heart of the Great Khmer empire and home to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.
Suo Sdei! Welcome to Cambodia.
Upon arrival, please look out for the Siem Reaper Travel welcome sign at the arrivals gate. We will transfer you to your hotel, where you can take your time and relax by the pool or venture out for your first exploration of the capital city.
In the early evening, your guide will meet you at the hotel reception where a trip briefing will be held. Then, you will enjoy the creative Cambodian cuisine.
Start your adventure on a mountain bike by crossing the river by local boat and then riding through the villages on an island in the Mekong River. The island is famous for silk weaving, agriculture, and aquaculture. Stop to see locals at work in the village and enjoy cycling on quiet roads through orchards and along rice paddies. Then return to Phnom Penh in the afternoon for lunch.
Then, your guide will take you to explore Phnom Penh, which remains a living relic of the country’s past struggles. We head out south of the main center of the tourist side to Toul Sleng. Toul Sleng was a former high school that was used as Security Prison 21 (S21) under the control of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. We tour the complex for an hour before heading back to your hotel.
Today, we say goodbye to Phnom Penh and transfer to Prev Phnov Bridge, where the bikes will be waiting for us to begin our journey to Udong Mountain. We ride through the rice paddies and small villages that cover a distance of approximately 45 km from Phnom Penh to Udong, the ancient capital of Cambodia. This peaceful countryside is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle that we have experienced during our stay in Phnom Penh.
We then continue our ride, pausing at the silversmith hamlet of Kampong Luong, cycling down the Tonle Sap River to Longvek, resting for lunch, and finally transferring to Kampong Chhnang.
This morning, we ride on a flat and dusty road that takes you to the town of Battambang. Depending on the condition of the road, it may be quite a bumpy ride past a pottery village, rice paddies, and local farms. Today is a combination of cycling and some driving, approximately 2 to 3 hours in total.
Upon arrival in Battambang, there’s a chance to relax by the pool in the afternoon before the evening walking tour of the city center. Battambang has been shaped by Khmer, French, and Chinese influences to create a fascinating cultural tapestry. This has created a fascinating local culture and a clash of colonial-era and modern architecture.
Today, we’ll hop on a mountain bike and cycle pass Neo-Khmer buildings as well as colonial structures, including the Sala Khaet (the governor’s residence). Stop on a bridge over the Sanger River and admire the architectural remains of old shops, colonial mansions, and crumbling pagodas lining the banks. You see children on their way to school and boats gliding down the river. Enjoy the scenic surroundings with palm-lined country roads and lush rice fields. Learn some Cambodian words from your guide. Meet families whose generations work together to make rice paper, rice noodles, banana chips, dried fruit, rice wine, and the famous Battambang rice cake.
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.
Today, we take a quick break and start cycling through other areas of Battambang, towards Banon temple and Pailin. We cycle on a quiet backroad, a great way to see the real Cambodia, we may be greeted by local children all eager to say hello as we pass by before transferring to Pailin province to check into our hotel.
Upon arrival at our hotel and after checking in, you will have the option to either take a short break before exploring or take a short ride to explore the area.
We leave the hotel early this morning to bike to Siem Reap, where we will see and hear more rural sights as we cycle through the endless forest. After finishing this morning’s ride, we will transfer approximately 2 hours by minivan to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be greeted by the soothing sounds of the pool. You will be given time to rest before we start our city orientation walking tour at 16:30. You will explore historical places like the old town and, not to mention, enjoy a nice walk along the Siem Reap river with viewpoints that overlook the local Cambodian lifestyle. Afterward, you will enjoy your dinner with the creative local cuisine at Marum Restaurant (Marun is an NGO that has been working with street children and other marginalized young people).
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.
Today, we explore the great landscape of the Tonle Sap lake by bike and boat. This is a unique experience offering a great outdoor adventure in Siem Reap’s countryside by exploring a floating village and enjoying the scenic ride along Siem Reap rivers.
You will ride on a charming backroad in order to explore the local ways of life in Siem Reap. You will be greeted by friendly locals and get a deeper understanding of their lives and traditions. The journey will end at the Tonle Sap lake, where you will experience the livelihoods of Cambodian people living in the floating villages, offering you the opportunity to see how families adapt their lives to living on the water. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the local family house with a variety of local dishes.
In the afternoon, we transfer by vehicle back to Siem Reap, and your time will be at your own leisure.
Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner together at a special local restaurant. Take the day to reflect on the rewarding cycling, beautiful destinations, and cultural immersion that this tour has provided!
As there are no activities planned for today, you can leave your accommodation at any time before 12:00 PM. Our driver is already to transfer you to Siem Reap Airport. If you would like to spend an additional day in Siem Reap, our guide can recommend activities or hotels where you can stay for the evening.
You’ll ride on a top-quality mountain bike that has been designed to be both comfortable and durable. All bikes come with front suspension and offer a great ride whether you’re off-roading or going for a leisurely ride.
We have secured rooms in these hotels for most of our departures. Sometimes this may change, but we will choose somewhere of similar quality.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia | ★★★★
Duong Chan Hotel is designed for comfort, all guestrooms offer a range of amenities to ensure a restful night. Rooms at the hotel are equipped with linen service and air conditioning. Its convenient location right in the city center allows you more time to see what Phnom Penh offers. They offer impeccable service and all the essential amenities to travelers with the hotel’s free Wi-Fi and front desk services, including concierge service, luggage storage, and safety deposit boxes, which can assist with your needs.
Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia | ★★★
Sovann Phum Hotel is a hotel that brings the best of Kampong Chhnang to your doorstep. Guests have access to a 24-hour front desk, room service, and a concierge while staying at Sovann Phum Hotel.
Battambang, Cambodia
Wake up to the wonder of Battambang with a stay at The Sanctuary Villa Battambang, located only minutes from the heart of the city. This resort villa offers impeccable service and all the essential amenities for travelers. Guestrooms are designed to provide an optimal level of comfort with welcoming decor and essential amenities. The resort villa provides linen service, blackout curtains, and air conditioning in some rooms for the benefit of guests.
Battambang, Cambodia | ★★★★
Pailin, Cambodia | ★★★★
Set amidst the mountains and lush greenery, Memoria Palace and Resort features an outdoor swimming pool and spacious rooms with tranquil garden views. It provides a 24-hour front desk, free Wi-Fi access in its public area, and complimentary parking on site. They offer excellent service and superior facilities make for an unforgettable stay.
Siem Reap, Cambodia | ★★★★
The Khmer House – Secret Oasis is a Khmer traditional-style hotel with peaceful and beautiful surroundings and two beautiful swimming pools. Located just minutes away from the city center. This hotel provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool, and a bar. Guest rooms at the hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box, and a private bathroom with a shower, bathrobes, and slippers.
Meals are characterized by fresh, seasonal ingredients, prepared in a simple, classic style of Cambodia. Western food is also available during the trip.
Dietary Requirement
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies), please inform in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
You will be led by an English-speaking guide who offers local insight, pursues great experiences and makes every tour exceptional. Our guides are well informed about the local culture, history, and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also a medically trained cyclist, who has the experience and knowledge to handle most minor repairs en-route.
The included cold water, local snacks, and fresh fruit will keep your energy levels up while you enjoy the tour and ensure that you stay hydrated and well nourished.
A support vehicle that follows the day’s route and will stop at various locations to distribute refreshments, carry your luggage, and in case you want a break from riding, you can hop on a van.
Read important information about your destination(s), including weather,
terrains, bike repairs, and tipping guidelines.
The terrain is varied, mainly flat, and characterized by a mixture of tarmac roads and single dirt lanes passing through the countryside and Angkor complex. We cycle on backroads with lovely open landscapes, leisurely with plenty of stops to rest or take photos. Our Siem Reaper guides can also easily accommodate type riders who seek a shorter ride with a boost in the van.
We strongly recommend that you ride a mountain bike for our trips that involve asphalt, dirt, and backroads, some of which are sandy and rocky. If you are much more comfortable with your own stuff, we highly suggest bringing items such as pedals, saddles, helmets, and water bottles. Our mechanic will make adjustments to your bikes and personal belongings.
The tools and spares are carried by your tour guide in the vehicle along with a full toolkit for the tour. However, it is also gauche for us to carry spares for every eventuality. Therefore, it is necessary that before departing, you have a quick look at your two-wheeler to see whether it is in good order.
We recommend you wear a helmet on all our biking adventures. This is non-negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet, you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour guide is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree, you must be responsible for your own safety while riding.
Travel insurance is not covered in the tour price. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred insurance company. As medical facilities in Cambodia are rather limited, it is imperative for you to take out a good medical insurance policy when traveling.
Visitors to Cambodia require a passport to enter the country, and all travelers must hold a passport with validity for 6 months after their planned exit from Cambodia.
Citizens of the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and almost all other nationalities will require a visa to visit Cambodia. Non-UK residents should check with the Cambodian Embassy in their country of residence for the most up-to-date information. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports without prior registration. A visa is issued on arrival for most nationalities for US $30/pax, and the visa has a one-month validity. You need to pay in cash and in US dollars and provide two recent, identical passport photographs.
Read more about applying for an electronic visa here: www.evisa.gov.kh
For travelers who are planning their vacation as well as for trips that have already been booked, there are many questions about “Traveling in Times of COVID-19”.
As a traveler, you are responsible for complying with the travel regulations prescribed by airlines, airports, and destination countries. These include requirements for visas, vaccinations, COVID-19 passports, COVID-19 tests, and other entry documents. These requirements may change between the booking of the trip and the departure date. Therefore, it is important that you keep up to date with any changes in entry requirements until the date of departure.
If you have any further questions or need information about traveling to Cambodia, please contact us; we look forward to hearing from you!
Cambodia is located in the tropical climate zone, in which neither the temperatures nor the hours of sunshine show great variations over the course of the year. Due to the tropical monsoons in Cambodia, a distinction is made between a dry season and a rainy season, and each of these seasons has its own charm.
The dry season runs from October to April and is the time to visit the coastal towns of Cambodia or the tropical islands. Temperatures are warm and comfortable during this time of year, and there are long periods of sunshine. Although it is relatively dry during this time, individual showers can occur.
The rainy season runs from May to September and is ideally suited to experiencing Cambodia’s nature in a, particularly green and lush way. The warm temperatures remain unchanged, while the rain ensures high humidity. There is a lot of rainfall, especially in the last months of the rainy season. For the entire time, however, the rain falls in short downpours.
While Cambodia can be visited year-round, it is important to note that small country roads that may pass through the more remote areas, e.g., the province of Mondulkiri, are impassable during the last two months of the rainy season.
Any time of year is a good time to visit Cambodia, with each season offering its own range of benefits. Throughout the year, the climate in Cambodia is hot and humid. The temperature remains in the 30°C range for the majority of the year, dropping to 20°C at night.
The local dishes are among the healthiest in the world. It smells and tastes good and is reminiscent of Thai cuisine, but without the strong seasoning. Because of the shared history, there is also a great closeness to Vietnamese cuisine.
The best-known local dish is “Amok“, a fish curry with coconut cream, whereby the fish can also be replaced by chicken.
Only drink bottled mineral water that is cheap to buy anywhere. Do not drink tap water!
The currency of Cambodia is called “Riel”, and there is, however, no need to change the currency into riel as US dollars are accepted everywhere. Please kindly note that ripped, torn, or old bills will not be accepted.
ATM machines are available in the main cities across the country, mostly in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and on Saturday morning until 12:00 PM.
Most hotels and restaurants in the major cities will charge US dollars, but for other currencies, it is advisable to visit a bank. Traveler’s checks can be exchanged at banks and some hotels, but they are not usable outside of major cities.
We would highly recommend using a Visa or Master Card, as they are now accepted in many hotels, restaurants, and shops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. If you wish to travel in a local taxi or Tuk-Tuk, make sure to have the right amount of cash and change with you, as the drivers are unlikely to keep a lot of cash with them.
Allow $20 per day for basic living expenses (drinks, meals, etc). A bottle of local beer will set you back roughly $1, a two-course lunch will set you back $7, and a two-course dinner would set you back $10.
It is interesting to get to know foreign customs and traditions, but respect is required. Below, we’ll give you a few tips on how you can move around the country without causing offense.
Please note: the central tower of the Angkor Wat complex is closed to tourists on Buddhist holidays.
The international code is +855. Since making calls with a cell phone can be expensive (incoming and outgoing calls), the costs should be clarified in advance. It may be worth buying a SIM card (prepaid) in the country. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, and there are internet cafes in larger cities.
We recommend carrying a modest supply of basic health care medications such as travel sickness tablets, anti-diarrhea tablets, antacids for indigestion, insect repellant, sun creams, and chosen antibiotics. Although the majority of these things are available in Cambodia, the security afforded by well-known names is comforting.
The earlier you book, the lower your price and the more days you have to pick from. You can rest assured that once you book, your price will not change. If don’t see your ideal travel date, please contact us.
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We had a wonderfully organized vacation thanks to Siem Reaper Travel and our tour guides and support staff. There are so many advantages that I can’t think of a better way to avoid a 10-day bicycle trip in Cambodia. The accommodations on this trip were of a higher standard than the previous company I chose last year. All were spotless, and the room sizes were generous. Although the cycling in Battambang and Siem Reap was excellent through rural villages and quiet backroads, especially around the Angkor Wat temples. Our tour guide (Borith) was superb. He was cool, calm, and collected at all times, friendly, helpful, and always smiling. The average distance cycled was 35 km per day, which was literally great. The bikes they provided were very clean and well maintained. We also had really great food, brilliant snacks were provided and all the backup support team, as well as the bus and truck drivers, were lovely.