Journey through Cambodia on an 11 day cycling adventure taking you into the country's heartland as you learn about the local NGOs along the route. Cambodia is an amazing country to cycle across. From the chaos of the Phnom Penh to the calm of the countryside, Cambodia is easy to fall in love with. The days are long, the country is hot and the people are super friendly. From the constant and random “HELLO!!” from the children on the side of the road, to the Community Development programs set up by the truly selfless and unsung heroes of this world.
Travelling Cambodia by bike is an incredible adventure! You will cycle from Siem Reap and finish in Phnom Penh (via Kampot) on an 11 day adventure. The pace of the tour is relaxed and casual. There’s always time to stop for a photo and you will rarely cycle more than 2 days in a row. When the journey is just as good as the destination, there’s no need to rush!
Some days are 30km (18.6mi), some are 50km (31mi) and some are a little further. See itinerary for daily details. When you embark on a 75km (46.5mi) day, the distance can seem quite daunting. However, an early start of 7am and an ETA of 4pm arrival gives you 9 hours to get there. And two hours of extra daylight up your sleeve if needed! Travelling by bicycle is not about the destination, but the journey. You’ll stop for Khmer coffees, local treats, lunch and of course, to take plenty of pictures. When you are moving, the average pace is about 15-20km (9-12mi) per hour. The small group policy means it’s easier for all of the group to stay together. You don’t need to be super fit for this ride, you just need to be positive.
The tour operator will take you on a journey to interact and connect with local grassroot Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and the beneficiaries of a funded project of your choosing. Research what really happens on the ground and out in the villages on a holiday that carefully balances ethical research and local impact with cycling and sight seeing.
All riders are requested to contribute a nominal sum for the purpose of a donation. Usually AU$200 per rider. During the course of the tour, you are given the chance to engage with, and learn from, local NGOs. You will visit no less than three NGOs during the tour and spend some time learning about their projects, strategies and challenges. At the end of the tour, the riders are then empowered with new found knowledge and have the opportunity to combine the allotted donation money and make an impact towards a project of their choosing. In addition to building a profile for impact partners, the tour operator also pays each NGO for their time and resources. You will spend 1-2 hours with each NGO. The donation part is not mandatory, but it is an expectation. The tour operator wants people to be open to the idea of supporting one or more of the NGOs you will visit and learn about. If, after meeting some of the local teams and learning about their programs, the riders do not want to donate, then you are not required to. Find out more about the NGOs you'll visit on the FAQs page.
*Note that there is a longer version of this tour so if you have a few more days to spare you can journey into Vietnam and end the tour in Saigon. See here for more info.