Cycling the Mekong Delta to Siem Reap

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, make your own way to the hotel. At 14:00, our guide will meet the group in the hotel lobby for a welcome briefing. We’ll then set out to explore some of Ho Chi Minh City’s key historic landmarks, including the colonial-era Central Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the bustling Chinatown district of Cho Lon, and the iconic Ben Thanh Market.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant, where the guide will share more details about the cycling tour ahead.

Please note: We recommend booking a flight that arrives before 11:00 to ensure you can join the afternoon activities. Travellers arriving later will meet the group for the welcome dinner only.

Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Lay - Cai Be. Meet the guide in the hotel lobby to begin our cycling adventure. Before departure, the guide will go over the cycling rules and tour details, followed by a bike fitting to select your bicycle. We’ll then transfer by vehicle to the starting point.

Our ride begins in Cai Lay, where we’ll cycle along quiet paths and across narrow creeks bordered by lush orchards. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity to observe traditional local crafts, such as rice paper production, coconut candy making, and popped rice preparation. A local ferry crossing provides a closer look at life in the Mekong Delta, with its fertile landscapes and abundant tropical fruit plantations, including durian, jackfruit, mango, coconut and pomelo. We expect to arrive at the hotel in Cai Be by mid-afternoon.

Distance and duration of cycling: 50 kilometres / 5 hours (including breaks)
Difference in elevation: None
Terrain: Off road, concrete canal paths

Cai Be - Vinh Long - Can Tho. We begin the day with a local boat ride to meet our vehicle, which will transfer us to Vinh Long – a town well known for its abundant fruit orchards in the heart of the Mekong.

From Vinh Long, we’ll cycle along narrow country roads shaded by fruit trees, passing riverside homes and vibrant villages typical of life along the Delta. After a stop for lunch, we continue riding through a scenic coconut plantation.

Later in the day, we’ll board a ferry to cross one of the Mekong’s main branches, before continuing on to Can Tho, where we’ll spend the night.

Distance and duration of cycling: 60 to 70 kilometres / 7 hours (including breaks)
Difference in elevation: None
Terrain: Concrete canal paths, narrow countryside lanes

Can Tho - Long Xuyen. This morning begins with a boat trip to the lively Cai Rang floating market, one of the largest in the Mekong Delta. From here, you can choose to cycle or travel by vehicle along the riverside to explore the market and surrounding area.

We then set off on our bicycles, pedalling through a series of welcoming villages en route to a local stork sanctuary. Along the way, we witness the rich patchwork of daily life in the Delta – from cottage industries and timber yards to coconut processing, rice loading docks and bustling neighbourhood markets.

Depending on your energy levels, you can either continue cycling or transfer by support vehicle to a nearby restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, we continue riding through the rural landscape before transferring by vehicle to our hotel in Long Xuyen. Dinner will be enjoyed as a group this evening.

Distance and duration of cycling: 50 to 90 kilometres / 5 to 8 hours (including breaks)
Difference in elevation: None
Terrain: Concrete canal paths, countryside narrow lanes

Long Xuyen - Chau Doc. After a short transfer to our starting point, we begin the day cycling along the river’s edge, passing bustling waterways and traditional brick kilns en route to Chau Doc.

Along the way, we’ll stop to visit the Tra Su Nature Reserve – a peaceful haven of flooded forests and diverse birdlife – before continuing on to Chau Doc, where we’ll check in to our hotel. This evening, enjoy a final dinner with the group and cycling guides (not included).

Please note: From tomorrow, a different guide will lead the tour into Cambodia, and other travellers may leave and join the tour.

Distance and duration of cycling: 60 to 100 kilometres
Difference in elevation: None
Terrain: Concrete canal paths, narrow countryside lanes

Chau Doc - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). We meet at the hotel at 06:30 before boarding a speedboat to Phnom Penh. The journey takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, with departure from Chau Doc at 07:00.

On arrival in Phnom Penh, your Cambodian guide will meet you at the pier and transfer you to the hotel. After check-in, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, explore Phnom Penh by tuk tuk – a unique way to experience the city’s vibrant contrasts and rich cultural life. This immersive tour includes visits to lesser-known temples and monuments, bustling local markets, architectural gems, cultural centres with private short film screenings, and even a riverside fortune teller.

Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham. After an early breakfast, we depart the hotel at 07:30 to begin our Cambodian cycling journey. Meet your driver and cycling guide before transferring to Diamond Island, where we’ll take a ferry across the Mekong River.

Once on the eastern bank, we travel a short distance to a local weaving house to learn about the traditional silk-making process used to craft the distinctive Cambodian krama scarves.

We then continue to our cycling starting point and begin pedalling along the Mekong, passing through vibrant villages and observing the rhythm of daily life along the riverbanks.

Following lunch, we resume our ride and take a second ferry crossing before continuing on to Kampong Cham – our destination for the night.

Distance and duration of cycling: 60 to 90 kilometres / 4 to 7 hours
Difference in elevation: Less than 150 metres
Terrain: Mainly paved road with some off road trails crossing local villages along the Mekong River

Kampong Cham - Sambor Prei Kuk - Kampong Thom. After an early breakfast, we depart the hotel at 07:30 and set off towards Kampong Thom – home to the remarkable Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site, recently recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This extensive complex spans 25 square kilometres and includes a walled city centre along with numerous temples dating from the 6th to 9th centuries, including ten rare octagonal structures unique in Southeast Asia.

We’ll cycle along dirt tracks through rural villages, rice paddies and plantations, with opportunities to stop at roadside stalls and sample seasonal Cambodian fruits and local snacks. After lunch, we reach Sambor Prei Kuk, where we’ll ride through wild, jungle-clad surroundings and explore the ancient temple ruins by bike. We then continue to Kampong Thom by vehicle or bike, depending on your preference.

Distance and duration of cycling: 60 to 80 kilometres / 4 to 6 hours
Difference in elevation: + 150 metres
Terrain: Flat dirt roads, paved road last 5 kilometres

Kampong Thom - Siem Reap. Today’s ride takes us to Beng Mealea – a once-forgotten temple now reclaimed from the forest. Built in the 12th century by Suryavarman II, the architect of Angkor Wat, this temple mirrors its more famous counterpart in layout, though it has been left largely unrestored and overgrown. We begin by exploring the surrounding hidden temples before concluding our visit at Beng Mealea itself.

Afterwards, we continue cycling south along a countryside trail, passing through traditional villages, palm-lined roads and expansive rice fields. We’ll stop for lunch at Troav Kot Lake before riding on to Siem Reap – our final destination.

Distance and duration of cycling: 65 kilometres / 4 hours
Difference in elevation: +105 metres / -67 metres
Terrain: Dirt and sandy roads, paved road last 6 kilometres

We depart early, around 05:00, to witness sunrise over the iconic Angkor Wat. After exploring the site in the early morning light, we head to the starting point of today’s cycling adventure.

We begin at the impressive South Gate of Angkor Thom – once the grand capital of the Khmer Empire – and continue by bike to the heart of the complex to visit Bayon Temple. Known for its 54 serene stone faces, Bayon is one of the most striking temples in the archaeological park. You’ll then have time to explore more of the ancient city at your own pace, including the Elephant Terrace and several jungle-shrouded temples. From here, we follow an off-road trail to Preah Khan – the “Sacred Sword Temple” – and Ta Prohm, famously known as the “Tomb Raider Temple”, where giant tree roots entwine with the ruins in a dramatic display.

We continue on to Srah Srang, the ancient royal reservoir, where we pause to enjoy the tranquil view before returning to the hotel.

Distance and duration of cycling: 40 kilometres / 4 hours (full-day activity including temple visits)
Difference in elevation: Less than 150 metres
Terrain: Mostly narrow jungle off-road trails, some sections on paved road

After transferring to the starting point, we begin cycling along an unpaved road through peaceful rural villages, flanked by rice paddies and palm trees. Traditional wooden houses with flourishing vegetable gardens line the route, offering a glimpse into everyday life. Along the way, you’ll notice betel fruit – a culturally significant crop – being harvested and dried in front of local homes.

Our ride continues to the boat pier at Kompong Kleang, one of the largest floating villages on the Tonle Sap Lake. Before boarding the boat, we’ll stop at a local stilted house for a picnic lunch, surrounded by the distinctive scenery and atmosphere of this remarkable community.

After lunch, we set off by boat to explore the village and the vast Tonle Sap. As the canal opens out onto the lake, the sheer scale of this inland sea becomes apparent, with the horizon seemingly endless. During the dry season, a short walk through the village offers a chance to meet locals before the cruise. We return to Siem Reap in the afternoon.

Distance and duration of cycling: 50 kilometres / 5 hours
Difference in elevation: Less than 150 metres
Terrain: Mainly off-road with countryside trails, last part paved road to access the town

Our tour comes to an end today. Enjoy a final breakfast and check out by 12:00 - make your own way to the airport for your onward flight.