Vietnam To Cambodia Cycle
itinerary
9 days
ITINERARY
5 days
CYCLE
417km
DISTANCE
Dates
2025 & 2026
Cycle through Vietnam to Cambodia
This remarkable 9-day challenge takes us from the colourful city of Ho Chi Minh in Southern Vietnam to historic Angkor Wat in Cambodia along a tailored route predominantly off the beaten tracks. The adventure begins
with the exploration of the elaborate warren Cu Chi Tunnels and progresses as we spend 5 days cycling through
rural Vietnam over the border into Cambodia. On our journey, we find ourselves surrounded by paddy fields,
rubber plantations, and traditional wooden houses that take shade under the coconut palms. We may also catch a glimpse of water buffalos or the rare Mekong river dolphin, before peddling into the busy city of Kampong Cham.Our challenge culminates with an exploration of ancient temples and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, before sharing our last dinner together in Siem Reap.
Day 1 Departure UK
- Inflight
- Dinner inflight
The team will meet at the airport, at the check in zone, 3 hours before departure. Please look out for our trip Leader & Medic in a red ‘Action Challenge’ t-shirt. You don’t need to worry about your tickets as the Action Challenge team will have these ready to give you at the airport. You will just need your passport to hand.
Day 2 Arrive Vietnam
- Hotel
- Lunch & Dinner
On arrival in Ho Chi Minh (formally known as Saigon), we will be met at the airport by our private bus transfer and will be driven to our comfortable hotel, Avanti Hotel, in the heart of the city. Once we are all checked into the hotel, we will have a briefing from our Action Challenge Leader and local head guide who will be leading us on the challenge. In the evening, we will enjoy a welcome meal together, providing us with the perfect opportunity to bond and relax as a group before our early departure in the morning.
Day 3 Cycle Day 1
- TAY NINH
- Guesthouse
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 80km
After breakfast a transfer to the west of the Kilimanjaro National Park and the Londorossi Gate, where we meet the rest of our Kilimanjaro support team – including guides, cooks and porters. Our bags are weighed to ensure it’s within the 15 kg limit – and finally the moment we have all been waiting for! We’re driven to the Kilimanjaro trail head, and we begin our trek through lush forest vegetation; the ascent is steady and the pace is always quite slow. We have short breaks en route, allowing time to snack and keep hydrated. Eventually we reach our camp at Big Tree Camp (2,780m) positioned in the higher reaches of the rainforest. There is a chance of spotting Colobus monkeys on today’s trek.
Day 4 Cycle Day 2
- SVAY RIENG
- Guesthouse
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 80km
Day 2 of our bike ride will commence with an early breakfast to fuel us for the adventure that lies ahead. We will subsequently set off for the Moc Bai border crossing, via the striking Caodai Great Temple. A stunning historical piece of architecture that you will want to take a photo of! This will provide us with the perfect opportunity to have some lunch, whilst admiring the stunning landmark.
Once formalities have been completed at the crossing, we will enter Cambodia and catch our first glimpses of rural life here. We will then pass traditional wooden houses on stilts, framed by a backdrop of vast rice fields, before stopping at a school for an afternoon snack and rest stop.
As the sun sets, we will continue our ride into the quiet provincial town of Svay Rieng. Here, we will check into a local guesthouse Red Cross Guesthouse, and enjoy an evening meal before getting some much needed rest after such an exhilarating, yet challenging day.
Day 5 Cycle Day 3
- KOMPONG CHAM
- Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 98km
Following breakfast, we will begin our cycling straight from our hotel in Svay Rieng. We will then continue our journey north through serene paddy fields and Water Lily flower ponds. Along the route, we will pass many quaint villages and the children like to say hello as we cycle past. You should note that we will be cycling mostly on dirt gravel countryside roads. We will make an essential water stop at a primary school as we pass, and will stop to have a packed lunch in a Buddhist Temple. A very unique, and enjoyable experience.
Our cycle will then continue into the afternoon. As we approach Cambodia’s third largest city, we will be greeted by the sight of a hotel, LBN Hotel, complete with a luxurious pool to soothe our weary limbs! We will have the opportunity to relax, before a group dinner in the hotel and a good nights sleep.
Day 6 Cycle Day 4
- KAMPONG THOM
- Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 90km
The day will commence with a fuelling breakfast for the strenuous day ahead. This will be the longest day of the challenge! We will initially cycle into the backwaters of Cambodia, then on through tropical countryside until we find ourselves right in the heart of the sleepy waters!
In the afternoon, we will stop at a suitable point of the ride for lunch and a rest stop, whilst admiring the breath-taking scenery.
We will then re-commence our bike ride adventure into the afternoon. As evening approaches, we will conclude the day at a local school before transferring the final busy section into our accommodation in Kampong Thom, Glorious Hotel. This is where we will be settling down for the evening and enjoying some well-deserved dinner and rest.
Day 7 Cycle Day 5
- ANGKOR WAT
- Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 82km
This will be our final day of our bike ride, so although it will be another tiring day, it will be an extremely rewarding one. In order to avoid some of the poorer roads in Siem Reap province, we will start our day by transferring two hours to the Ancient Bridge at Kampong Kdei, one of the best examples of the remaining 800 year old bridges in Cambodia. This is a highly fascinating attraction, and is well-worth a visit. This will also be another perfect opportunity to take some memorable photos!
From the bridge, we will follow the historic highway connecting the provinces of Kampon Thom and Angkor Wat. We will begin to cycle off
road from Ou village through the remote countryside to Samrong and will stop for lunch at the traditional Stung Tracheck restaurant. This will be the perfect opportunity for us as a group to reflect on the incredible experience and inspiring memories we have made over the course of this amazing adventure!
After lunch, we will continue to cycle off road again until we arrive in the Angkor archeological park. The road into the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is lined with temples and creates a fitting entrance to this unique and spiritual city. After celebrating our arrival in Angkor Wat, we will cycle the last few kilometres to Siem Reap where we will spend the night at Steung Siem Reap Hotel, and enjoy a well earned celebratory meal together.
Day 8 Siem Reap
- Hotel
- Breakfast
The day will begin with a group breakfast in our comfortable hotel in Siem Reap. In the morning, we will be taken for a tour of the beautiful Angkor. This is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia, and is most well-known for containing the popular Buddhist Temple of Angor Wat. If there is time, we will have have the opportunity to have some free time to explore more of the outlying temples of Angkor by Tuk Tuk or souvenir hunting in the markets of Siem Reap. You will also have the opportunity to purchase some Cambodian cuisine for lunch.
We will then embark on our 6 hour transfer by road to the vibrant Capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. As the sun sets, you can have the evening to yourselves and there will be plenty of restaurants to purchase an evening meal if you wish, before returning to the centrally located hotel.
Day 9 Phnom Penh
- Inflight
- Breakfast
Following breakfast, you will have another free morning to explore the beautiful landscapes of this city, soak up the history and pay your respects at the Killing Field, Choeung Ek. This was transformed into a memorial site and tourist attraction in a bid to educate Cambodians – and the world – about what happened to the victims of the Khmer Rouge 1975 and 1979, while also commemorating those who died. The day will conclude with a transfer to the airport for our flight back to Heathrow via Malaysia.
Day 10 Arrive UK
You get to head home, rest and relax, and share the stories of your incredible trip with your family and friends!
