Saigon to Siem Reap Cycling Tour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Ho Chi Minh City Arrival

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax and refresh yourself before enjoying an evening performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and an endearing, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight: La Jolie Hotel & Spa

Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh City - Tra Vinh

After escaping from Ho Chi Minh City’s urban sprawl, you’ll travel to Long An Province by support van with your professional cycling guide. Arriving at the small delta town of Tan An, you’ll take out your bicycles and start your tour on quiet back roads heading toward My Tho. You’ll cycle along small lanes with peaceful villages, orchards, and buffalo herds alongside. You’ll pass over narrow bridges and see the real life of rural towns. A box lunch will be served along the way. If time permits, we’ll call in at the beautiful and ancient Vinh Trang Pagoda. Our support car will then take you to Ben Tre where you’ll continue biking along zigzagging pathways through coconut groves, past thatched houses and, local schools to Tra Vinh for a chance to relax after enjoying the vibrant, rural scenery along your route. Arriving in Tra Vinh in the late afternoon, you’ll have time to refresh yourself at the hotel and the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight: Cuu Long Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch included)

Day 3 - Tra Vinh - Can Tho

Your day will begin by cycling to visit several attractions in Tra Vinh: the Khmer Minority People’s Museum and Ong Met Pagoda, a large Khmer Pagoda with an antique structure; and Ba Om Pond with its magnificent lotus flowers. You’ll then leave for Can Tho. The route will pass by paddy fields and rural scenery. The quiet road winds through villages and fruit gardens, with delicious aromas and lush verdant colors making for a memorable biking experience. You’ll stop by to chat with some locals, with our guide’s help, and enjoy the sweetness of fresh coconut or other seasonal fruits – no matter the season there are always fresh fruits available in the Mekong Delta. You’ll pass over small bridges and take in the peaceful scenery. If you'd like, you can visit a vegetable farm to see, and join in, the daily work of the farmers planting and watering vegetables. Today’s distance is a bit longer, but you may cycle as much or as little as you wish; our support van is always nearby when you need a break. Upon arrival at Tra On, you’ll board a boat for a relaxing and scenic voyage up the Tra On River to join the Mekong and proceed to Ninh Kieu Port at Can Tho City, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel for the night.

Overnight: Kim Tho Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch included)

Day 4 - Can Tho - Cai Rang - Chau Doc

After breakfast you’ll board a boat and cruise to Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong River, then on to Phong Dien floating market. Both the journey and the markets provide an unvarnished look at the rural Mekong Delta lifestyle. You’ll be eye to eye with all the activity, with hundreds of big and small boats exchanging goods and turning the mighty Mekong into a succession of floating farmer’s markets. If you like, join a local on a small rowboat to chat and explore narrow channels along the river for great photo shooting opportunities. After that, you’ll disembark at My Khanh Village to cycle around the Phong Dien area. You will bike along the canal system to see the real life of local people. The paths lead you over small bridges and past fruit gardens and ancient tombs shaded by the dense, green trees along the route. You’ll stop for lunch at a local house before settling in to our support van for the drive to Chau Doc where you’ll spend the night.

Overnight: Chau Pho Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch included)

Day 5 - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh

Today you’ll cross into Cambodia at Vinh Xuong border gate, and continue by high speed boat for 3.5 hours up the Mekong River to the outskirts of Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh. Upon arrival at Phnom Penh pier, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. After lunch, you’ll be taken to visit the National Museum, with its 5000 object exhibit including Angkor era statues, lingas, artifacts – most notably the legendary statue of the 'Leper King’ - and a good collection of pieces from later periods. You'll call in at the Royal Palace and the nearby Silver Pagoda, and your guide will show you Wat Phnom before returning to your overnight accommodation in Phnom Penh.

Overnight: Frangipani Villa Fine Arts Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch included)

Day 6 - Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham

After breakfast, you’ll be driven out of the bustling city to get back to bicycling at Rokakong Village, heading up along the Mekong River. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch along the way, and continue cycling upriver in the afternoon. Upon arriving at Kampong Cham you will check in to your hotel, clean up and enjoy dinner. Your overnight stay will be in Kampong Cham.

Overnight: Mekong Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Day 7 - Kampong Cham - Kampong Thom

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll cycle out of town about 14km, then turn on road No 71 where you’ll pass through a major agricultural district of rubber plantation and corn fields. When you reach Highway 6, you’ll be transferred by support vehicle the rest of the way to Kampong Thom and check in to your hotel where you’ll have lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll explore the nearby Pre-Angkorean complex of Sambor Prei Kuk by bus. You’ll stay overnight at hotel in Kampong Thom.

Overnight: Arunras Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Day 8 - Kampong Thom - Siem Reap

After breakfast, a one hour transfer brings you to Dragon Bridge, an ancient structure built by King Jayavaraman VII in the 12th century. Then you’ll get on the bike and peddle straight toward Siem Reap, passing by scenic rice paddies and friendly villagers. In the afternoon we’ll turn off the main road, stop at local house for a picnic lunch and to visit the nearby temple, then continue along countryside roads until reaching Siem Reap.  Your overnight accommodation will be in Siem Reap.

Overnight: Frangipani Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Day 9 - Siem Reap: Angkor Temples

In the morning after breakfast you’ll cycle to the jungle temple of Ta Prohm, and then to the Angkor Thom complex with its ornate entrances decorated by gods and demons. You’ll also see the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, and then the Bayon Temple with its smiling faces in the heart of the temple complex. Moving on to the incredible Angkor Wat itself, you’ll have some time to explore this fascinating structure. After lunch, you’ll take a boat trip to the floating village of Chong Kneas to see how people live bobbing on the surface of the Tonle Sap Lake. Tonight, your dinner will be followed by a traditional Khmer Apsara Performance at Angkor Village Theater. You’ll stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Overnight: Frangipani Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Day 10 - Siem Reap: Angkor Temples

After breakfast, you’ll take an easy cycling jaunt through the countryside to the Banteay Srei Temple. The name Banteay Srei means “Citadel of Women” and this is one of the most beautiful temples from the Angkorian period. You’ll return to Siem Reap for overnight.

Overnight: Frangipani Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch included)

Day 11 - Siem Reap: Kampong Kleang

This morning you’ll be driven to Tonle Sap lake, east of Siem Reap to visit the remote Kompong Kleang stilt village. The villagers’ dwellings are perched on wooden stilts up to a height of 10 metres, designed to cope with the annual inundation of water into the lake during the wet season. A fascinating and insightful excursion to visit an authentic and friendly fishing community whose population is supremely well adapted to a life of adverse change. Depending on the time of your visit, the village houses may be perched towering on their poles, high above the ground, enabling you to stroll its ‘streets’ or a floating waterborne community navigable only by boat. You’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel, with the remainder of the day to enjoy in your own style. You’ll spend the night in Siem Reap.

Overnight: Frangipani Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch included)

Day 12 - Siem Reap Departure

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrive to transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Accommodation Information

La Jolie Hotel & Spa

La Jolie Hotel enjoys a fantastic location of downtown HCMC but in a quiet corner of Thi Sach and Dong Du Streets. Upon entering the hotel, you will be impressed by the grand view of the Saigon River with the infamous Bach Dang pier - where "Uncle" Ho Chi Minh embarked on the journey trying to find the revolutionary path for the people of Vietnam.

The hotel is close to the famous streets including Dong Khoi - Le Loi - Nguyen Hue - Le Thanh Ton where modern meets classic, West meets East. The area offers not only the experience of luxury shopping, romantic restaurants & bars but also many historical buildings and traditional Vietnamese shops and eateries.

Cuu Long Hotel

The most modern, well-managed hotel in Tra Vinh, the Cuu Long Hotel is a standard, three star hotel. The rooms are very clean and well-kept, with hot water showers, air conditioned and carpeted. The hotel is central to Tra Vinh and features a locally popular restaurant.

Kim Tho Hotel

The cutting-edge premise of Kim Tho includes 51 rooms equipped with 3-star facilities

Its luxurious restaurant serves a wide range of Western and Eastern cuisine, including the unique specialty of the Mekong Delta. Conference facilities provide state-of-the-art sound and lighting and can accommodate up to 200 guests.

Chau Pho Hotel

This 40 guestroom hotel located in the delightful town of Chau Doc is a superb family hotel at an affordable price. The rooms are very spacious including more amenities than expected from a three star hotel.

Delicious dishes are served up from the hotels very own restaurant. Breakfast is complimentary and a good incentive to get you up nice and early to explore this amazing town filled with markets, museums, and culture. Lady Chua Xu Temple and the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau are must sees if you are into historical monuments.

Frangipani Villa Fine Arts Hotel

The Frangipani Fine Arts Hotel is tucked away down a quiet side alley close to the campus of the School of Fine Arts on the edge of Phnom Penh's bustling art district.

This contemporary boutique hotel has 22 rooms on 3 floors cleverly built around a leafy central courtyard that ensures the hotel is naturally well lit and airy. The Fine Arts Restaurant is on the ground floor.

The spacious rooms are examples of contemporary Cambodian design, featuring polished concrete floors, terrazzo bathroom styling, and furniture and fittings in wood, silk and other natural materials manufactured by leading Cambodian producers.

The Frangipani Fine Arts Hotel is located in the center of Phnom Penh a short distance from the Royal Palace and the National Museum and close to the city's vibrant Sisowath Quay river front home to an extensive range of restaurants and designer shops.

Mekong Hotel

This traditionally styled Khmer establishment is the most colorful structure around as its loud yellow color seemingly attracts visitors. Similar to its exterior, the inside of the Mekong Hotel is just as eye-catching. The large rooms and oversized soft beds are the perfect combination after a day of sightseeing or meetings. Sleeping in or spending a day inside could be a very comfortable activity as all rooms are equipped with cable television, hot water and air-conditioning. Suitable for the business or leisure traveler as the inexpensive rates make for quite a bargain. As the sunset and the temperature cools, enjoy a long walk along the Mekong River located next to the hotel.

Arunras Hotel

Arunras, being strategically located, offers two kinds of accomodation. Guests can choose to stay in a guesthouse-like rooms or in standard hotel room at the newly build 4 stories high hotel. Hotel facilities include an in-house restaurant and rooms equipped with air-conditioner.

Frangipani Hotel

The hotel is in a quiet neighborhood one block east of the river and 8 minutes walk from the popular 'Pub Street' restaurant area. It’s an ideal base from which to explore the Angkor temples or visit Siem Reap’s environmental attractions.

All hotel rooms, interior spaces and landscaping are examples of some of the best contemporary Cambodian design making Frangipani Villa Hotel the boutique hotel of choice in Siem Reap. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome from the hotel staff who can advise you on how to make the most of your time in Siem Reap and assist with booking transport and other services. Use one of the hotel’s guest bikes for an early morning ride around the town and then enjoy breakfast in our restaurant or on the terrace overlooking the pool. International and local cuisine and a selection of drinks are available throughout the day.