Thailand & Cambodia by Bicycle

After picking you up from your hotel in Bangkok, it is a 3-hour drive to reach the starting point of the ride. On a sleepy beach far from the bustle of Bangkok we unload and set up the bikes before embarking on a lovely ride along the coast of Thailand’s Gulf. At times a few small hills provide nice views out over the water as we cycle, and just as your mind starts to drift into communication with your stomach, we discover our lunch stop where the first of many great meals awaits you.

We ride into the town of Chanthaburi in the mid-afternoon where our friendly host awaits to introduce you to his cozy guesthouse and his vegetable garden, two things he is very passionate about.

50km ride (L,D) 

Leaving Chanthaburi, we pass through the old town, the Catholic quarter and then into the surrounding orchards. Today enjoy pedaling solid, quiet roads with very little traffic. Late morning, we transfer past a busier section to our next culinary stop. From here it isn’t a far ride to the border with Cambodia. When the immigration process is completed, we drive to the hotel in the gem-studded hills of Pailin.

Pailin is known not only for gems but also for housing several high-ranking members of the Khmer Rouge long after its violent reign was over. Since the town is no longer home to these officials, Pailin is attempting to become a tourist destination by providing hospitality to visitors. We spend the night in this place of historical significance.

60 km ride (B,L,D)

Today we veer off of paved roads and cycle down some fun dirt paths through the villages behind Pailin. Although the locals are accustomed to seeing a few foreign passersby, they will still greet you warmly and inquire about your journey. After an hour and a half, we join the main road again and then cycle our way over rolling hills out of the highlands and into the flatlands. We finish up the day’s cycling on the outskirts of Battambang. As the sun hits its peak in the sky and the surroundings become more populated, we hit the heart of the city to enjoy a delicious local lunch. After waiting out the heat of the day, we saddle up and pedal to one of the province’s most impressive 11th-century temples on Phnom Banan. We check into our well-located accommodation and use the rest of our time to wander through this charming town.

55km ride (B,L,D)

This morning we will take a tour led by students of Kinyei: a local vocational training NGO that has created a cycling program called Soksabike. With this cycling tour we will discover the various village industries of Battambang, most of which are food related, so be prepared to see that food baby emerge! Our exploration provides a great insight into how the locals live and get by here. We will see the production of rice wine, dried bananas, and a local snack called Kralanh (bamboo sticky rice) before we return to town to eat once again. From here we have a three-hour transfer to Siem Reap. Once we get there, we’ll have the opportunity to glimpse the sunset over Southeast Asia’s largest body of freshwater, Tonle Sap, from a small mountain nearby.

25km ride (B,L,D)

Bright and early we’ll be at the most significant religious sites in Cambodia, watching the sunrise over the towers of Angkor Wat. Once the crowd subsides, enjoy a memorable walk through the temple, where the morning glow and low temperatures make for an optimal visit. Hop on the bike for a short ride to a hearty breakfast.

When our morning meal is complete, we cycle the hidden trails of the Angkor National Park to discover some of the best-kept secrets of Bayon, Ta Prohm, and the Elephant Terrace. We take a break from the increasing heat to eat lunch with a view of Sra Srang Lake, then you’ll be transferred to the hotel around 2 pm.

Today provides a fundamental introduction to this otherworldly complex that will leave you with a good basic understanding of the park’s history and your orientation within it so that you may explore on your own should you wish to extend your stay in Siem Reap. We have a late checkout at 4pm when the tour concludes.

You can book flights out of Siem Reap starting from 6 pm if you wish to leave today.

25km ride (B,L)