Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat along the Mekong

This morning, you’ll be transfer out of hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh streets before embarking on a ferry to the other side of the river. It is part of Phnom Penh City, but the lifestyle is totally different. You will cycle on back roads where you will encounter friendly locals and children. We will stop and have lunch at either a host family or pagoda on the way. Arrive in Kampong Cham, visit Koh Pen Island, a rural island in the Mekong River, connected to the southern reaches of Kompong Cham town by an elaborate bamboo bridge. This bridge is hand built by locals at the beginning of every dry season (Jan-May), and it then taken down at the beginning of the wet season, when a ferry transports people across to the island.

An early start this morning as you leave Kampong Cham on a paved road along the Mekong River toward Wat Hanchey, we cycle up to Wat Hanchey, a small hilltop pagoda that houses an 8th century pre-Angkorian temple and offers spectacular views over the Mekong. We then continue our ride along the river to Steung Trang, then we gradually climbing through many traditional villages, where you will witness people busy with their everyday lives: cooking, cleaning, playing, leading the cows to the river, cycling school kids, pagodas and monks and bright red chilies, rice and fish drying in the sun by the side of the road. After lunch, we hop in the van and transfer to Kampong Thom.

After breakfast, we will have a beautiful ride to the ancient temple of Sambor Preikuk through the paddy fields and small villages. Sambor Preikuk temple is the lesser visited pre-Angkorian temple complex. Most temples in the complex brick between the years 615 and 650. Cycle through these magnificent ruins, which are connected by shady dirt paths.   After exploring the temple of Sambor Preikuk temple, we transfer to Prey Pros for Lunch. Prey Pros is a man-made resort with a beautiful view of Cambodian countryside along the river which adds to the charm and beauty of the place The view of the surroundings is truly enhancing and the atmosphere is just the perfect one for the tired travelers to refresh. After lunch, we drive to Siem Reap. Cycle distanced approx. 50km

You may choose to rise early today to catch the awesome sight of the sun rising behind Angkor Wat’s five carved towers, then return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we cycle to the main circuit road and just as we enter Angkor Thom, we leave the road and spend the rest of the day on charming, quiet trails through these majestic structures. We visit The Bayon, famous for its serene faces, we continue to Baphoun and Phmeanakas then the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of Leper King. We then continue to our ride to Ta Prohm, made famous by the Hollywood blockbuster “Tomb Raider,” and Srah Srang. After lunch it is time to take on the majestic Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious building. After being initially inspired by its overall size you will explore in more detail, getting up close to fully appreciate its architecture and intricately detailed bas reliefs. The evening is free to explore Siem Reap’s eclectic mix of restaurants and bars.