Cambodia - Hike, Bike & Kayak

Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. The sensational Angkor ruins may be the main attraction, but Cambodia’s exquisite temples, remote villages and magical markets deserve lots of attention too. With genuine locals always ready to share a sincere smile, Cambodia will steal your heart and enrich your spirit. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm tonight – check with hotel reception for more information.

Start your adventure on mountain bike, crossing the river by local boat, and then riding through the villages on an island in the Mekong River. The island is famous for silk weaving, agriculture and aquaculture. Stop to see locals at work in the village and enjoy cycling on quiet roads through orchards and along rice paddies. Then return to Phnom Penh for a free afternoon to sightsee. 

This morning leave early by private bus for Kratie (approximately 4.5 hours). En route, pass through Skuon, a small town famous for its tasty spiders where it's possible to sample an eight-legged snack. Eat these furry arachnids like a crab, cracking the body open and pulling the legs off one by one – a delicious snack for the adventurous! Kratie is a picturesque town on the banks of the Mekong, and was until recently a strategic trading port between Phnom Penh and Stung Treng. Both the French and Khmer Rouge found the town useful and there are a number of French colonial buildings that remain. Board a local boat from Kratie waterfront to Koh Trong for your homestay – approximately 280 families call this 6-kilometre island home. Depending on the season and the river height, you may need to walk up a stretch of beach and then take a local bike to your destination. The island is famous for growing the citrus fruit pomelo (supposedly some of the best in Cambodia), rice and other agricultural products. Your homestay is a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday Cambodian life, and this evening you'll taste a traditional-style dinner. Facilities are basic and multi share with mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets provided. With hammocks strung up beneath the house, this a very scenic place to unwind. A 9-kilometre loop around the island’s perimeter is perfect for a leisurely cycle through traditional Khmer villages, fruits orchards and rice fields, observing daily rituals and routines of traditional village life.

After breakfast, take a guided walk and then cycle on a local bike around the island (1 hour walking, 1 hour cycling). It's a great way to see how the locals live and to learn more about the culture of this particular part of Cambodia. During the Khmer Rouge a lot of the forests in the centre of the island were cut down, and so the villagers have started a tree-planting project at Wat Ty Pram Kbal Koh Trong. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the project by helping to plant a tree in the pagoda grounds. Then say goodbye to your island home and head back to the mainland. In Kratie you’ll wander down the river boulevard and take a break for lunch. Afterwards, travel to Stung Treng (approximately 2 hours), situated on the banks of the San River (which flows into the Mekong River a few kilometres out of town). Once part of southern Laos, Stung Treng switched to Cambodian ownership during the French colonial era. However, many people here speak both Khmer and Laos.

This morning start early for a full day of activities. Travel to the village of Ou Svay and then catch a local boat close to the famous thundering Sopheak Mitt Waterfall in the Mekong River on the Cambodia-Laos border, which crashes over limestone crags and boulders in a wonderful example of nature’s raw force. Then, surrounded by beautiful countryside filled with wildlife, hike back to Preah Rumkel, a small jungle village alongside the Mekong. In a village with a fascinating mix of Khmer and Laotian cultures you’ll enjoy a simple local lunch cooked by the community. Afterwards, there’s the unique opportunity to view the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins as you explore by kayak at the nearby Anlung Cheuteal Dolphin Pool. The freshwater dolphins frolic in these wetlands filled with birdlife, and you get to enjoy the memorable experience of paddling and floating in a kayak down the river through the spectacular flooded forests to Veun Sien village. After a wonderful day out in nature, return to Stung Teng for the night and give your muscles a relax after working them out all day.

This morning, set out on your journey to Siem Reap, travelling through the wilds of Cambodia (approximately 4.5 hours). Before you hit civilisation, jump out of the bus and get ready for a scenic walk on sandy dirt trails through the villages into Siem Reap. Get your first preview of the Angkorian temple magnificence that you’ll experience tomorrow as you pass Wat Bakong (unfortunately you can’t go in). Walking under shady old trees, past small villages and rice plantations, finish at a modern pagoda before climbing back into the bus for the last few kilometres to Siem Reap. The small but expanding town of Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor. This is the most popular destination for travellers in all of Cambodia, perhaps even in South East Asia. You'll probably notice a different pace here, so with your free time today, take a walk and enjoy the atmosphere. With its cafes, bars, restaurants, food and drinks stands, Siem Reap caters for foodies of all persuasions. A visit to the old market is a must, even if you're not looking for souvenirs; wandering through the stalls and surrounding shops, the silks, cottons, sarongs, silver and statues are a riot of colour and a feast for the eyes. There's also a long tradition of shadow puppetry in the region, and if you're lucky you might catch a show at one of the local restaurants in the evening, perhaps while you're eating the speciality cuisine of Cambodia – amok, the name given to curry steam-cooked in banana leaves.

Temple hop with your local guide today to make the most of your visit to the world-famous Angkor complex, built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer empire was the pre-eminent influence in South-East Asia. The ruins are scattered over an area of some 160 square kilometres, but the main cluster of temples is close to Siem Reap so you'll have plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites. These include Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. The temples were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing and there are spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day. Tonight there’ll be an included Street Food by Night tour. From a culture at least 3,000 years old, Khmer is one of the oldest cuisines in the world. Siem Reap’s street food has been influenced by Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and French techniques, but has a style and flavour profile that is uniquely Cambodian. On this night-time food tour, hop on local transport and travel away from the tourist trail to sample authentic Siem Reap snacks, desserts, and Khmer cuisine staples. Delicious, authentic, and something you don’t want to miss.

This morning, get set up on mountain bikes for a fun ride around the Angkorian ruins. By taking the bike you can avoid some of the crowds and get a unique perspective on this amazing site. Take the back roads along the river through local villages and into the Angkor Park. Your first stop is Phnom Bok – climb up 633 steps to the temple-ruin on top of the hill for an amazing view of the surrounding countryside. You can feel like Indiana Jones as you explore the small temple, together with the remains of a 5-metre long sandstone fertility symbol. On your return to Siem Reap, you’ll cycle along the wall of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. With the moat on one side and thick jungle on the other, you will rarely see another visitor. With the rest of your free time in the city a great optional activity is to visit to Phare, the Cambodian Circus. Coming from vulnerable households, the performers have gained international recognition through their art practice. Like a Cambodian Cirque Du Soleil, modern Khmer tales mix theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling, aerial acts, and contortion. 

The final day is departure day and no activities have been planned.