This Southeast Asian bicycle tour takes you well off Cambodia's beaten path, away from the temples and into the heart of natural wonders such as mangrove forests, secluded beaches, waterfalls, rivers and the rainforest of the Cardamom Mountains. Using boats to go deep into forests we'll explore small villages and even ancient burial sites containing cultural artifacts.
Best way to see a country and eat like a local
The combination of biking and activities like kayaking and trekking was great on this trip.
View more: Touring
Tours in: CambodiaMulti-CountryThailand
DestinationsThailand, Cambodia
Tour MeetsPhnom Penh
Fly in toPhnom Penh International Airport (PNH)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
We ride 460 km on a mixture of tarmac roads in reasonable repair, vehicle width dirt trails, and some single track. Most of the rides are on flat terrain, with a few rolling hills towards the end of the tour, and on quiet back roads. We try to avoid the highways where possible.
Suitability: This trip has been designed to be easy with flat riding, but there are variations in the surfaces. This trip can be done by anyone of a reasonable fitness level. A support truck is always available to help when required, with the exception of Day 4.
Biking Conditions: The roads are a mixture of tarmac, broken tarmac, vehicle-width dirt roads, and single track trails. The distances aren't overly long and can be handled by those with basic fitness levels. Some off-road experience is suggested to enjoy the day riding in Chi Phat.
Meet in Phnom Penh and be picked up from your hotel to transfer directly to Takeo Province. We stop for a sombre visit to the Killing Fields, an extermination camp for political prisoners during the terror reign of the Khmer Rouge. The remains of 8,985 people were exhumed from mass graves and are kept in a memorial here. We drive on to Banteay Meas, where we have a picnic lunch before we start our 48-km bicycle adventure on quiet country roads to Kep, Cambodia’s prestigious beach resort of the 1960s that is reawakening to its former glory. The cycling is flat and on tarmac roads, so we'll quickly find ourselves at Kep, riding past villas that have fallen on hard times since their heyday. We have a wonderful view of the bay and outlying Rabbit Island from our eco lodge.
Veranda Natural Resort
Lunch, Dinner
Ride 48kmWe cycle directly from the hotel, riding to Phnom Chhngok to visit a temple built in a cave between the 7th and 8th centuries. It's just a short ride, through picturesque fishing villages, to Kampot, where we have lunch at a restaurant on the river. We beat the afternoon heat by transferring for just over an hour and then jumping back on the bikes to ride into Ream National Park. This park has mangrove forests and miles of secluded beaches. We then transfer to a lovely beach resort.
Secret GardenBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 80kmAfter a seaside breakfast, transfer to Otres Beach where we hop on our bikes to begin our day of seaside cycling. We ride along Otres Beach, enjoying the sound and smell of the sea while pedaling along the scenic coast. We cycle on main roads today, but they are not too busy and it is a comfortable ride. We then ride up a hilly road to Ream to meet a boat, which takes back to the beach for cycling on a white sand road. In the afternoon, we have a 3-hour transfer to our next overnight in Chi Phat, a community-based eco-tourism initiative. Once the centre of illegal logging and poaching, Chi Phat is now working to preserve the natural environment and giving the community an alternative form of income.
HomestayBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 40kmToday we have a full day of riding ahead of us! We will be on dirt trails all day, as we explore where nomadic indigenous tribes once roamed the jungle and visit one of their sacred burial sites wedged into a cliff face. The cycling will be through rivers and over fallen logs, with the trail varying from soft and sandy to wet and muddy – the perfect playground for any biking enthusiast of any level. We stop at waterfalls to cool off. We won't have a support vehicle today, but we will carry extra water and lunch. When we're back in the village, we have a group dinner provided by the local community made from fresh local ingredients, and then it's time to retire to your simple, but clean bed for the night..
HomestayBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 42kmAfter waking to the village sounds, there is the option to give back to the community by planting a tree. We then cross back over the river and transfer to Trapeang Rung, the start of today's hilly ride. We cycle on a tarmac road that undulates and is flanked on either side by the Cardamom rainforest. The hills will be a big change after all the flat riding we have done. We stop for a picnic lunch en route to Tatai Waterfall, the end of our riding for the day. Here we grab our swim suits and spend some cooling off time at the waterfall. Once all feels normal again, we take a boat directly from the waterfall up the Kep River to our eco lodge. Here you can go for another swim in the tidal river, go for a kayak ride, take a short hike, or just relax.
Tatai ResortBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 60kmToday is free for exploring the river by kayak, going on a hike organised by the lodge, or spend the day touring the waterfalls by boat. The other option is to relax by the river and let life slow down.
Tatai ResortBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerAfter waking to the sounds of the jungle coming to life we have a relaxing breakfast before taking a short boat transfer to our waiting bikes. We have a fairly long journey ahead of us today. We ride on a gently undulating tarmac road before descending to the plain. We ride on to the border town of Koh Khong where there's one last hill before we see Thailand. Here we say goodbye to our Cambodian crew and be met by our Thai guides. We will transfer by van to Ban Tha Ranae, a mangrove conservation forest, where we will learn about the Eco-tourism project that the locals are involved in. You will be able to take part in restoration activities such as planting of palm tree saplings. We will have lunch here. If there is time, we might ride south to the pier before heading to the hotel and have our dinner. The hotel is quite unique as it is located within a mangrove forest and boasts both scenic lake and sea views.
Banpu Trat ResortBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 75kmAfter a good breakfast, we start our journey towards Chanthaburi province. First, we ride to Ban Nam Chiao, a community village steeped in Eco-tourism projects. The community is famous for making multi-purpose hats, called Ngop Nam Chiao, which are made from atap palm leaves. Can you see where the community gets their name from? Here we also observe how the Muslims and Buddhists live in harmony and learn about the wisdom they have attained over generations. From the village, we ride towards the coast and then swing back up north through undulating hills, surrounded by lush vegetation and forest areas. There are a couple of steep, challenging climbs but nothing too difficult. It will be a fun ride for about 10 kilometers before we reach a relatively flat road. We ride for about 35 km till we reach the highway where we transfer all the way to our beachside hotel in Chanthaburi. If we have time, we may ride to a Buddhist temple nearby before having our dinner.
Chaolao Tosang Beach HotelBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 62kmToday we make our final ride as we pedal our way to the outskirts of Rayong. We will cycle to Hat Mae Phim where we will have a delicious seafood lunch. Along the way, you will encounter the coast, lush vegetations, rice paddies, small towns and quaint villages. At lunch, we will look back on our journey, share stories and say our goodbyes before being transferred to your Bangkok hotel or the airport. Those looking to extend their trip can explore more of Thailand’s capital city Bangkok, or visit one of the other culturally rich countries in Southeast Asia!
Breakfast, LunchRide 53kmDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.
If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
Update: All passengers travelling to Cambodia must now submit an electronic arrival card before entering the country. This 'Cambodia e-arrival card' can be completed and submitted up to 7 days prior to arrival via the official website or through Apple's App Store and Google Play Store. The platform also offers the option to apply for an e-visa or reserve a visa on arrival for eligible nationalities, eliminating the need for separate visa applications. At present, this process is applicable to travelers who arrive by flights into Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports. Those entering Cambodia by land crossing, boat or through Sihanoukville airport will use the paper-based forms at this time.
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
Cambodia has two distinct seasons - wet and dry. The dry season usually lasts from October to April. The wet season starts in May until September. Within each season there are variations in temperature. The coolest being 24C around November/December and hottest hitting 35C around April/May.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Cambodian cuisine is a mixture of Thai, French and Chinese dishes and we make sure you can sample a wide variety. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20, for incidentals.
Thai baht and US dollars are widely used in Cambodia, especially in larger cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, Cambodian riels are usually preferred. There are ATMs in most areas, however, machines dispense US dollars. The guides will be able to show you where the ATMs are. Spend riel before departing as no one will exchange them for you once you leave.
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
Thailand generally has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. The North and Central region have a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. Northeast Thailand has a humid hot and dry weather alternatively with medium rain while the coastal areas of the east is humid and hot with intermittent rain. The South of Thailand has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity.
There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27˚C/80 F and 40˚C/104 F, with night temperatures in the 20s. The rainy season is from July to October, but temperatures are slightly lower, because of the effect of the rain. During this time it will not rain continuously, but in sharp bursts, and the sun can come out quickly. The cooler season is from October to February, with average temperatures between 20˚C/68 F and 30˚C/86 F.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we cannot match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20 per day, for incidentals.
The Thai currency is the baht. ATMs, which are abundant, are the easiest ways to get Thai baht. Have a supply of US dollars in cash on hand, just in case your card doesn’t work. Banks or the rarer private moneychangers offer the best foreign-exchange rates. Credit cards are accepted in big cities and resort hotels but you’ll need baht for family-run guesthouses or restaurants.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
youtube.com/user/spiceroads
instagram.com/spiceroads
I have already done various rides with Spiceroads in all sorts of destinations. It was always super interesting, and the riding was never neglected. Very informative for bikers interested in geopolitics