Siem Reap to Saigon
Cambodia, Vietnam Bike Tours
Bike through scenic and historical Southeast Asia
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length7 days
- Prices from$1890 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Few bike tours contain as much variety as this one that runs from Siem Reap to Saigon. Ancient temples, friendly villages, and two rapidly modernizing cities emerging from a difficult past, are all waiting to be explored.
This is a journey in the truest sense of the word. From the most significant archeological sites in Cambodia to the most significant commercial city in Vietnam, the contrasts along the way are what make this an educational, enjoyable, and achievable ride for anyone passing through Southeast Asia.
With hardly a hill in sight, but enough variety in scenery and surface to keep the ride interesting, the cycling is punctuated by a boat ride down the Mekong River and finishes off with two full days of riding through the intriguing Mekong Delta.
If you want to get far away from the daily grind and immerse yourself in Indochina, this is the ride for you.
Highlights
- Cycle to the jungle of Kampong Thom and see the Angkor ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk
- Explore the small villages of the Silk Islands Phnom Penh for a day
- Enjoy a scenic boat ride to Can Tho
- Experience daily Vietnamese life as you cycle through the countryside
- Visit the hustle and bustle of the floating markets of Can Tho
- Take a walking tour of Saigon and its historical sites
Interested in more? Check out all of our Vietnam Tours.
Itinerary
Day 1: Siem Reap - transfer to Kampong Thom - cycle Sambor Prei Kuk, 34 mi (55 km)
Day 2: Transfer to Oudong Mountain - cycle to Phnom Penh, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Islands of the Mekong, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 4: Boat to Chau Doc, Vietnam
Day 5: Cycle and transfer to Can Tho, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Long Xuyen - Can Tho, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 7: Floating markets and transfer to SaigonAll distances are approximate. All itineraries are subject to change due to variables in weather and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with route and road access, sailing conditions etc.
Day 1: Siem Reap - transfer to Kampong Thom - cycle Sambor Prei Kuk, 34 mi. (55 km)
Starting with an early pickup from your hotel, we have a 2.5-hour drive to reach Kampong Thom, the neighboring province to Siem Reap. After a bike fitting, we set off on a ride north of the town to find the sprawling complex of pre-Angkorian temples known as Sambor Prei Kuk. These ruins date back as far as the 7th-century and are remarkably intact for their age. The leafy surrounds and the absence of tourists make this a really special experience. After we see out the heat of the day in the shade, we return to Kampong Thom by a different route and enjoy a tasty, authentic meal.
Meals: L,DDay 2: Transfer to Oudong - cycle to Phnom Penh, 28 mi. (45 km)
Following a relaxed morning in order to time the day correctly, you transfer around three hours to Oudong Mountain, the former capital of Cambodia, and today a hilltop temple with fine views. After a Cambodian style picnic, you will then take an afternoon ride on lovely village roads and trails, mostly unpaved. You zig-zag your way through rice fields and farmland, passing Oudong's smaller brother, Basset Mountain. Crossing a recently refurbished but as yet un-operational railway line, the scenery changes rapidly. For those comfortable cycling in traffic, you can ride right up to the hotel door. For those that are not game, the support vehicle awaits. Dinner tonight will be enjoyed by the Tonle Sap River, not far from where the three main rivers of Cambodia converge.
Meals: B,L,DDay 3: Islands of the Mekong, 19 mi. (30 km)
This morning you take to bikes again and explore the nearby Mekong islands through charming village communities, fruit orchards, traditional silk weaving workshops, and a variety of temples from a more recent time. This is a highlight ride and provides a unique perspective to Phnom Penh and its surrounds.Phnom Penh has a turbulent history. Little more than a collection of wooden shacks when the French first arrived, the colonials transformed it into a beautiful city. With the evacuation of the city by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, its decay and decline began, with regeneration and rapid economic development only a recent trend. Your guide can dispense a great deal of advice on how the city can be explored and will offer a late afternoon walk to introduce you to some of the lesser-known aspects of this eccentric city
Meals: B,LDay 4: Boat to Chau Doc, Vietnam
Today is a day off the bike. In the morning you can have a bit of leisure time to enjoy the pool or wander a bit around Phnom Penh. After an early lunch, you embark and enjoy a boat ride down the Mekong River and enter Vietnam via Chau Doc, a bustling Delta town, whose specialty is salted fish.
Meals: B,L,DDay 5: Cycle and transfer to Can Tho, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today you officially begin your two-wheeled exploration of the Mekong Delta. After a short ferry ride, you will jump on the bikes and begin crisscrossing the canals by bridge and boat, exploring your way through the maze of waterways. Along the ride, you’ll get your first good glimpse of the fertile delta lands that are used for food production and see the locals hard at work to grow, harvest and transport these products. Throughout the morning, you will enjoy cycling on small, paved canal roads that allow for only cycling or motorbike travel.After a rest stop with some deliciously fresh tropical fruit, you will visit a local brick factory and get to know the process of making and baking bricks in the Delta. Lunch today will be in a local restaurant and following your well-earned feast, you will transfer approximately one hour by van to Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong Delta.
Meals: B,L,DDay 6: Transfer, cycle & boat loop, 31 mi. (50 km)
Your last day on the bikes begins with a small transfer out of town to escape any city traffic, set up your bikes, and start riding. Today you will be pedaling through the scenic countryside laced with many small canals and large crop plantations such as jackfruit, an intriguing spiky tropical fruit that can reach incredible proportions.You will ride past mat weavers and wooden boat builders along your way and learn about your trade before enjoying another unforgettable Vietnamese lunch. The day’s explorations conclude in a laid-back style, with a relaxing boat ride back into Can Tho in the late afternoon.
Meals: B,L,DDay 7: Floating Markets and transfer to Saigon
An early morning visit to the floating markets is offered today. It's an impressive site with boats of varying sizes and all manner of fruit and vegetables being bought and sold. After breakfast, you pack up and board the van for a 3-hour drive into Saigon. If you have done your reading and research before the tour, you will have read that Saigon is actually now officially called Ho Chi Minh City, though most residents still call it Saigon. The tour concludes after lunch and a short walking tour of the city center and major historical sites. Saigon is an exciting city and is certainly worth a couple of extra days if you have time to spare.
Meals: B,LLooking for more? Check out all of our bike tours or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news.
Hotels & Bikes
The hotels that are used are a great, and sometimes unexpected, part of this tour. In the larger cities and established tourist centers, stylish and supremely comfortable hotels and resorts are used, while in the smaller and more out of the way areas we stay in the best available accommodation, which is often simple yet always well run, clean, and comes with air-conditioning and a private bathroom.
Bicycles
Inclusions
What’s Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- Meals as per itinerary
- Energy bars, local snacks, water, and sports drinks during your cycling itinerary
- Cannondale and GT mountain bike
- Helmet
- Handlebar bag
- English-speaking local guide
- Air-conditioned support vehicle
- Entrance fees to visited sites (as per itinerary)
- Boat/train/road transfers during the tour (as per itinerary)
- Complimentary cycling jersey and water bottle
What’s Not Included
- Transportation to/from the start/finish
- All beverages with meals other than water
- Gratuities
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
January 16, July 4, July 25, September 5, October 30, November 21, and December 27, 2021
Minimum of 2 people to confirm a departure.
Maximum group size is 14 travelers.
This tour can be made private. Pricing on request.Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
January, October, and November 2021
Twin/double: $ 2777 £ 1565 $ 2,726 € 1760 NZ$ 2983 kr 17772 $ 2,100 Single room: $ 608 £ 343 $ 597 € 386 NZ$ 653 kr 3893 $ 460 *July, and September 2021
Twin/double: $ 2499 £ 1409 $ 2,453 € 1584 NZ$ 2685 kr 15995 $ 1,890 Single room: $ 608 £ 343 $ 597 € 386 NZ$ 653 kr 3893 $ 460 *December 2021
Twin/double: $ 3193 £ 1800 $ 3,135 € 2025 NZ$ 3431 kr 20438 $ 2,415 Single room: $ 608 £ 343 $ 597 € 386 NZ$ 653 kr 3893 $ 460 **Single supplement can be avoided if you are willing to share with another traveler of the same gender. Even if a match cannot be found, you will not have to pay the supplement.
Extra Options
Electric bike: $ 231 £ 130 $ 227 € 147 NZ$ 249 kr 1481 $ 175
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads, tracks, and trails. The tour takes place as much as possible on traffic-free tracks and trails, but at times it is necessary to resort to secondary roads, although no more than 5 km over the whole tour on anything resembling a highway. The riding is easily achievable for those who are comfortable on a bike, with hardly any hills and no daily distances over 75 km. You should be comfortable riding in quite hot conditions and it is highly recommended to get some practice on unsealed surfaces with a little loose sand and gravel as this will help you feel more confident at times on this ride. The support vehicle is always on hand should you require a break from riding, and in the Mekong Delta, where you are on narrow bike and pedestrian style paths and trails (where the support vehicle cannot follow), it will meet you at intervals of 10 km or so.
Airport Info
For the start of your tour in Cambodia, fly into Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (REP).
For the end of your tour in Saigon (Vietnam), fly out of Tan Son Hnat International Airport (SGN).Local Travel
Arrival:
Siem Reap is less than 15 minutes from the airport and taxis charge a flat rate of $7 to all hotels in town. There are no public transportation options available.
Departure:
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is the largest airport in Vietnam. It is located 4 mi (6 km) north of the center (District 1) of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Taxi to the airport will be approximately the equivalent of $15 USD.Climate
The coolest time of year is from November to February with temperatures rising to a peak in April and May. With the arrival of the rains in June, temperatures drop, with rain falling mainly in the afternoons in short, heavy showers. September and October are the wettest months with a return to dry conditions in November. A combination of lower numbers of tourists, sharp light and refreshing showers make July and August a great time to cycle in this part of Indochina
Day of Rest
Day 4 is a rest day.
Recommended
We recommend that you speak with a doctor for professional advice before you depart and have your tetanus shots up to date. You can check the World Health Organization’s website for more information on recommended vaccines.
Important to know
Passports and visas:
A trip to Vietnam and Cambodia and a holiday there, require a certain amount of preparation in regard to formalities. Foreigners need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a valid visa. Be sure as well that your passport has sufficient blank visa pages for all necessary visas and stamps.
Please allow yourself enough time!
Cambodian visas are easy to obtain on arrival at a Cambodian border crossing or an international airport. The cost is US$30 and you will need one passport photo. If you do not have a passport photo you will be charged $1-$2 USD.
In order to enter Vietnam, foreigners need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a valid visa to be obtained from the Vietnamese embassy. Vietnam has introduced an electronic visa system on 1 February 2017. Citizens from 40 countries will be eligible to apply for the e-visa valid for 30 days, single entry. The land port you need to apply for is named Song Tien Landport. When you apply online your name will be placed on a pre-approved list for obtaining a visa on arrival at any international airport. Be sure to submit your online application at least 30 days before your arrival date and bring a copy of your approval letter. For multiple entry visas, you must follow standard mail-in or in-person protocol. So please consider all your travel plans as you begin the application process. The following documents must be submitted either in person or by mail:
-Passport (original document, not a copy!)
-Completed application form
-Current passport photograph (1.5 x 2.3 inch/ 4 x 6 cm)
-Visa fee as a non-negotiable check or in cash
-A sufficiently prepaid envelope for registered mailRead more about visa exemptions and online applications.
Extra Stay
Extra nights are highly recommended. If you would like to book extra time in Siem Reap, ask us about the day tours that are offered here. For example, we can offer a day bike tour to the Ankor Temples. If you would like to explore Saigon more, there are various activities including food tours that will keep you occupied. Ask us about the one day tour to the Cu Chi tunnels. We can help book your hotel accommodation.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Grasshopper Adventures.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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