Itinerary

Day 1 – After being picked up from your hotel in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap you will travel by air-conditioned mini-van or tourist coach to Kampong Thom province. After a familiarisation session on the bikes you will settle into a comfortable guesthouse in Kampong Thmar and the rest of the day is free. You can catch up on rest, wander around the colourful and fragrant markets to take photographs or do whatever you please.

Day 2 – On our ride to Kampong Cham today we’ll stop at the 1^st of January Dam, which cost the lives of thousands of people through starvation and overwork under the Khmer Rouge regime. Then we’ll pass through the rubber plantations of Chamkar Leu district. This area was once a Khmer Rouge stronghold and saw heavy fighting and B-52 bombing during the Cambodian Civil War. Enroute we will stop at Phnom Bpros Phnom Srey Temple (Man and Woman mountain), once a Khmer Rouge killing field but now a place of peace and serenity.

We’ll visit the Helping Hand Orphanage where you’ll meet some of the 32 children who live there. Pastor Meng Hong, who runs the orphanage, will show you around and may even have some work for you to help with. After leaving the orphanage, we’ll ride across an incredible bamboo bridge to a large island in the Mekong River. Every year the islander dwellers have to rebuild their bridge after the rainy season but soon a new concrete bridge will be built which will make their life much easier. Unfortunately a piece of living history will be gone forever.

Day 3 – We will visit the children at The Mekong Kampuchea Kids Project run by the Venerable Vandong Thorn. Here the children learn traditional Khmer dancing, as well as how to make their own dance costumes and other craft work. They will give a demonstration of their dancing and handicraft is available for purchase at reasonable prices. The traditional kramas (scarves) from here are some of the best made in Cambodia.

Later in the afternoon we will take a leisurely cruise up the river in a traditional wooden boat (subject to availability and river levels) to visit an island farming village where the inhabitants live in bamboo houses on stilts. When the river floods, there can be a metre of water over the island and most of the people go and stay on the mainland. The farmers mainly produce tobacco for the large multinational tobacco companies.

Day 4 – A leisurely ride along the Mekong today, stopping at the pagoda on Han Chey mountain to look out over the Mekong and maybe partake of some local delicacies. Feeling a little peckish? Perhaps some sparrows on a stick would satisfy that craving? Further along the river is crossed by ferry and the road continues through Cham (Muslim) villages until eventually it brings us to Kratie.

In the afternoon a short ride will take us to Kampi pool, where you may be fortunate enough to see some rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Taking a photo is another matter. They are very difficult to capture on film as they only surface for a brief period. If the weather is warm, the boatman will take you upstream to the rapids, where the water is cleaner and safe for swimming.

Day 5 – Cruising along the bitumen today, our destination Stung Treng which is only 40 km from the border with Laos. On the way we will stop to see the 100 Column Pagoda. Later we will visit the Stung Treng Women’s Development Group, where the famous Mekong Blue silk is manufactured.

Day 6 – Now for some dirt! After crossing the Sekong and Mekong Rivers, we hit the dirt to Preah Vihear City. The condition of the road depends on the time of year of course, but it is usually fairly good. It pays to keep a good lookout for patches of loose dust though, hitting one of these at speed can get a bit exciting! We ride through open forest country where people make a living cutting timber, extracting resin from trees and hunting.

Day 7 – Today we visit the ancient temples of Koh Ker on our way to Siem Reap. Koh Ker was the capital of the Khmer Empire before Angkor Wat was built. Prasat Thom is an awesome pyramid shaped temple mountain. There are a lot less tourists here than at the temples around Siem Reap so you can make the most of the peace and solitude! There is a small market here where cold drinks, meals and handicraft can be purchased.

From here to Siem Reap the roads are dirt then bitumen and in reasonable condition. We may stop at Beng Mealea temple on the way, depending on our progress. It is a large, unrestored temple about 80 km from Siem Reap.

Day 8 – Today you’ll travel by tuk tuk to Angkor Wat, said to be the largest religious building in the world. There are many other temples from different eras in the surrounding area including Ta Prohm, made famous in the movie “Tomb Raider”.

Day 9 – Final day. Travel back to Phnom Penh in air conditioned mini-van or tourist coach. Alternatively you may choose to spend more time in Siem Reap, and fly out from there. Paleriders – Cambodia can arrange a reliable, English-speaking tuk tuk driver to take you around the temple circuit.

Note:

The trip detailed on this page may vary according to seasonal conditions and other factors outside the control of Paleriders – Cambodia. With sufficient notice, the itinerary can be tailored to suit the requirements of each group. If you want less riding and spend more time in each area that can be arranged.
Conversely, trips can be tailored to suit the more adventurous riders and take in the more remote regions. In this event, Paleriders – Cambodia will arrange an experienced Cambodian off-road guide and bikes more suited to that style of riding.