Cycling Indochina: Vietnam To Cambodia

This 12-day cycling adventure goes well beyond a highlight reel, taking you from the bustling streets of Saigon through the lush Mekong Delta and into the heart of Cambodia, exploring ancient temples, floating villages and vibrant cities along the way, with local guides and support vehicles on both sides of the border.

After a bike fitting and welcome dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, you'll ride through the Coconut Kingdom of Ben Tre, where shady palms line quiet paths and canal bridges, to Tra Vinh and the 800-year-old Khmer Ba Om Pond. Rice paddies take over as you head to Can Tho, where a morning boat trip visits the famous Cai Rang floating market before riverside trails through fruit gardens lead to the Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary. A brick-making factory, vast canal networks and Vietnam's largest rice fields follow on the way to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, explored by boat, before a final night in Chau Doc.

A scenic speedboat ride up the Mekong carries you across the border to Phnom Penh, where a morning cyclo ride and free day let you explore the capital at your own pace. Back on the bike, you'll ride through the silk-weaving villages of Koh Dach and on to the UNESCO-listed brick temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. The journey ends with two incredible days around Siem Reap, cycling through the majestic Angkor temple complex and out to the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake before a farewell dinner.

Highlights:

• Shady coconut groves and canals of the Mekong Delta
• Cai Rang floating market and Tra Su Bird Sanctuary by boat
• Speedboat ride up the Mekong from Vietnam to Phnom Penh
• Silk-weaving villages of Koh Dach and the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk
• Guided cycling tour of Angkor Wat and the Angkor temples
• Floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake

Surface and terrain:
Mostly flat, paved country roads and quiet riverside trails, with some narrow concrete paths through coconut plantations and small canal bridges. Countryside lanes and temple roads in Cambodia. Daily rides of 45 - 80 km, with van options on some afternoons.

Weather:
December to February is dry and warm, around 25 - 32°C, the most comfortable time to ride. March to May is hot, often 33 - 36°C. June to November is the wet season, with afternoon downpours and high water levels on Tonle Sap Lake.

Suitable for:
Riders of moderate fitness comfortable with consecutive days of 45 - 80 km on mostly flat terrain, who want a rich mix of rural life, river journeys and history. E-bikes are available for those wanting extra help.