Mekong to Angkor: A Cycling Adventure

We take our bike ride through the city of Kampong Chhnang and visit some French colonial architecture buildings including one of the French colonial houses, Felix Louis Bardez. He was beaten to death by the villagers of Kraing Laev on 18th April 1925, where he had been attempting to collect delinquent taxes. Bardez was an experienced administrator, with over ten years of service in the Protectorate. He was forty-two years old. Two Cambodians who had accompanied him to the village, a militiaman and an interpreter, were killed at the same time.

Continuously, we cycled to the Khmer ceramic pottery villages where they made a lot of products for household use like pots, stove, Earthenware​ etc from the clay. Interestingly, we try that handmade of ceramic pottery products, explore that peaceful village which is covered by paddy rice fields, pamp trees with a mountain view of Neang Kang Rei mount that most of people in Kampong Chhnang known that legend and recognized her body turned into the mountain which lies across the river in Kampong Chhnang and still resembles the body of a prone woman. Then we cycle through the local village and have a short transfer to the hidden waterfall which is located on the foothill on cardamom mountain range.

After relaxing and enjoying Khmer food there, we have a few hours to transfer to Battambang which is a classically quaint provincial capital – old-world architecture.

• Cycling Distance: 35 km (22 miles)
• Accommodation: Classy Hotel & Spa, Battambang
• Meals: BLD

After breakfast, we get a sightseeing tour through the Battambang town which is a classically quaint provincial capital – old-world architecture and even older pagodas set picturesquely along a river, and even though the city is one of the country’s largest, it is still lightly touristic. In town, charming colonial-era buildings line narrow lanes, including the ‘walking district’ near the market where contemporary art galleries, local and foreign cafes, shops and bars inhabit the old shop houses. Then we continued to visit the oldest Khmer traditional house, Ek Phnom Temple and its countryside through the Sangke river.

We went back for lunch in the town and rested at the hotel for a few hours before we continued to get a bamboo train, visit Phnom Banan temple and sunset at Sampov mountain where the bat will fly out from the cave. Phnom Banan is a mountaintop, mid-11th century Angkorian-era ruin consisting of five prasats (towers) arranged in the quincunx (five-pointed) form reminiscent of Angkor Wat.

• Cycling Distance: 40 km (25 miles)
• Accommodation: Classy Hotel & Spa, Battambang
• Meals: BLD

There is no biking today, perhaps we have another interesting thing to do is go by boat from Battambang to Siem Reap through the Tonle Sap River where it is the richest setting of beautiful floating villages, farmlands and chance to see any species of wetland birds.

On the arrival of Siem Reap town, we checked in the hotel and relaxed before enjoying an Apsara Dance Dinner at this beautiful city of the world religious monument.

• Accommodation: Memoire D’ Angkor Boutique Hotel
• Meals: B L D
• Boat Trip: Battambang to Siem Reap

The majestic and astonishing sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple

Get to the Angkor Wat temple early, we pickup from your hotel upon the time we confirm your booking. Going by van or car through the busy road, ahead of the crowds and heading to the Angkor Archeological Park and the Angkor Wat temple where your guide will find out the perfect position to watch the dawn break. If the weather is good, it will allow the spectacle of the temple itself, and the dramatic colors of the sky to appear mirrored in the water as the sun rises.

Angkor Wat Encounter & Breakfast

Discover the world religious temple with your guide where they will brief you with overviews of Angkor Wat temple, and some more stories behind the bas-relief carvings, and provide insight into life during the height of the Khmer Empire, after you enjoy breakfast, outside the temple within the peaceful area.

Biking through the Angkor Archeological Park

The rest of the day is biking through the hidden jungle trails of Angkor Archeological Park enveloped by Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom City and Bayon Temple which are the most magnificent jungle temples, where you can soak up the spirit of Tomb Raider. After the enjoy of cycling through the mysterious jungle surrounding the temples and local villages before we take lunch . We will get back to the town and our hotel with the expect to arrive around 2:30pm.

• Accommodation: Memoire D’ Angkor Boutique Hotel
• Meals: B L D
• Distance: 40 km (25 miles)

During our time at Siem Reap, we will make several mountain bike adventures and on this day we will ride out beneath the peak of Phnom Bok, taking quiet roads to the temple of Banteay Srei, which is located 23 kilometers to the north-east of Angkor Wat. Banteay Srei or ‘Citadel of Women’ is one of the most elaborate temples in the Angkor region and arguably the jewel in the crown of Angkorian artisanship, with perhaps the finest stone carving seen anywhere on earth.

After a visit to the temple and a relaxing packed lunch, we continue to the Siem Reap River to the site known as Kbal Spean, the ‘Thousand Lingas River’. Rocks on either side of the stream and even under the water have been intricately carved. The carvings represent epic Hindu themes; including Shiva, Nandi (Shiva’s bull), as well as the innumerable phalluses. A refreshing dip in a waterfall is the ideal way to end our day, before we return to our hotel in Siem Reap.

• Accommodation: Memoire D’ Angkor Boutique Hotel
• Meals: B L D
• Distance: 40 km (25 miles)

As there are no activities planned for today, you can leave your accommodation at any time. Breakfast is served at the hotel and upon your flight schedule, we will leave from the hotel at any time to the airport for the flight to your next destination.

Our guide and driver will serve you and say goodbye from Cambodia.

• A single airport transfer: Provided
• Meals: Breakfast