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Cultural Road from Hoi An to Siem Reap
Duration
14 days
Site savings
$87
From
$2,813 USD
Riding along the Vietnamese coastline, visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hoi An, Southeast Asia’s major trading ports during the 17th and 18th centuries, and My Son, the ancient center of the Cham civilization. Stop at My Lai for a somber tour of one of the worst massacres of the American/Vietnam War, then head into the central highlands, riding through scenic countryside before reaching Pleiku, home of the best coffee in Vietnam. The next day, cross the border to Cambodia to explore the local Khmer life. Take a cruise on the Mekong River to see the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and ride through the picturesque town of Siem Reap, which hosts the magnificent temple sites of the Angkor Wat complex.
- CategoryAdventurous
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration14 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level2 - Novice
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainHilly
- Distance494 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance44.7 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration14 days
- Main DestinationHoi An
- Distance494 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance44.7 miles
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainHilly
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Meet in Hoi An
- Day 2Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An
An easy start to riding with a visit to a World Heritage Site. After a short transfer to avoid busy H1, you'll ride to see My Son, the ancient center of the Cham civilization. Cycle along scenic country back roads, past rice paddy fields, through a eucalyptus forest, and pass many scenic villages. The road eventually climbs away from the coast, offering stunning views, and then turns into rough gravel as you move into an increasingly more remote region. This 14-km (8.6 mi) road cuts a gorge through the lush jungle alongside the Song Tranh River and eventually leads to My Son, which was once Champa’s greatest city. Although many temples were destroyed during the war, there is still enough of the archaeological site to impress most visitors. Have lunch before spending the afternoon visiting the site.
In the afternoon, transfer by bus back to Hoi An. Dinner is on your own to choose from Hoi An's many fantastic restaurants.
- 33.6 miles
- 75.5 ft
2,483.6 ft
2,408.1 ft - Pho Hoi Hotel
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 3Hoi An – Quang Ngai – My Lai
Start the morning with a pleasant ride from Hoi An to Tam Thanh where you can eat lunch and spend time admiring the beautiful beach. Afterwards transfer to My Lai, the site of the American War/Vietnam war, and spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the site and museum to learn about the massacres that took place there. After the tour, transfer back to the hotel in town.
- 31.1 miles
- -3.3 ft
679.1 ft
682.4 ft - Central Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Quang Ngai – Kon Tum
Today is more challenging as you leave the coast and head into the central highlands towards Quang Nam and on to Kon Tum. You will cycle only part of today, along undulating roads through thick pine forests with stunning photo opportunities. There will be a transfer for about 2 hours to the town of Bato in the highlands and cycle 15 km (9.3 mi) uphill to the top of Violak Pass (1300 m /4265 ft above sea level) and the brand-new town of Mangden. This is an incredible experience, followed by a 20-km (12.4 mi) descent to the bottom of the pass. From here, the route undulates past many remote villages, tropical forests, over bridges, and along quiet and scenic roads.
There will be transfer to the hotel where you can relax for the evening. Cyclists should note that cycling uphill to the Violak pass is extremely challenging and should consider the option to transfer during this part of the ride if needed.
- 39.1 - 55.9 miles
- 1,328.7 ft
8,070.9 ft
6,742.1 ft - Indochine Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 5Kon Tum – Pleiku
After breakfast, ride out into the countryside to visit some local villages of the Jarai and Bhanar ethnic minorities. These tribes still practice animism, believing that demons inhabit all of creation. The area is well known for their communal houses with very steep and tall roofs. Each village takes great pride in these unique designs as they define the regional landscape.
After a local lunch, pedal to the Pleiku, home of the best coffee in Vietnam. This is an easier day, and you will notice the change in scenery as you cycle through a wide valley surrounded by mountains, punctuated by tea and coffee plantations along the route.
- 37.3 miles
- 767.7 ft
2,129.3 ft
1,361.5 ft - HAGL Hotel and Resort
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 6Pleiku – Cambodia Border – Banlung
A two-hour transfer by car after breakfast takes you to the border with Cambodia. At this point, it is time to say goodbye to the Vietnamese team. After the immigration formalities at the Le Thanh border checkpoint, the tour operator's team will be waiting for you on the Cambodia side.
You'll start the ride from the O Yadao border to Banlung in Ratanakiri. Banlung is one of the most remote of the Khmer provincial capitals. You'll be spending the night in the surroundings of Terres Rouge, a traditional Khmer-style house oozing with old world charm in this remote part of Cambodia.
- 43.5 miles
- 328.1 ft
2,106.3 ft
1,778.2 ft - Terres Rouges Lodge
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 7Banlung Rest Day
Wake this morning to a well-deserved day of rest and relaxation. The full day is yours to do as you wish. For the early bird, there is the early morning market buzzing with merchants of every description hawking their wares. Enjoy lunch on your own today. Take a picnic lunch and explore the mysterious crater lake of Boneng Yeak Laom, believed to be the home of water demons and is so deep, its bottom has never been touched. Or just stay and enjoy the lodge, where you can meet up with the rest of the group for dinner beneath the stars.
- Terres Rouges Lodge
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 8Banlung – Stung Treng
After a day of rest, it's time to get back in the saddle. In the morning, set out to cycle to Stung Treng province along a tarmac highway. On route, you can expect to see true rural Cambodia. Rice paddies and rubber tree plantations roll away from the raised road as the flat expanse of the landscape is met by electric blue skies. There will be a stop to enjoy the simple pleasures of rural life in Rattanakiri.
Making your way into Steung Treng, you are welcomed by the shade of lush green plantations lining the road as you cycle towards the setting sun. Tonight, experience a special dinner at Le Tonlé Tourism Training Centre, where young locals are being trained in hospitality to ensure a better future in Stung Treng. Dining here means having the most delicious Khmer food paired with a very personalised service. The students are as excited to meet their guests as the guests are to meet the students.
- 68.4 miles
- -731.6 ft
1,827.4 ft
2,559.1 ft - Tonle Meas
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 9Stung Treng – Kratie
Rise early for your breakfast in town. You have a long day of riding ahead towards Kratie, a small provincial capital located right on the Mekong River. This place is primarily known for the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, whose largest population can be found here, near Kratie.
After a short morning transfer, set the bikes down and begin cycling through rural villages. After a while, pick up the bikes for another short transfer to the junction between the new National Road 7 and the old. Here, you'll need to watch out for playing kids, chickens, cows, dogs, ducks, and oxen. Just before we arrival in Kratie, board a boat and enjoy an afternoon cruise on the Mekong to see the Irrawaddy dolphins. You'll then transfer to the hotel where you can enjoy views of the Mekong from the rooftop terrace of your hotel.
- 52.8 miles
- -213.3 ft
948.2 ft
1,161.4 ft - Oudom Sambath Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 10Kratie – Kampong Cham
Transfer south through the town of Chhlong and take a ferry to the western bank of the Mekong to start riding from Phnom Han Chey on quiet roads along the river, through small rural villages and scenic countryside. There will be a stop for a drink and snack at the tiny town of Chhlong. The many French colonial houses in this town are among the most beautiful in Cambodia. It is a scenic ride as you pass many Cham communities, which are predominantly Muslim. Buddhist pagodas form a pretty contrast with small mosques, and the particularly friendly locals will welcome you warmly in each village you pass.
Cycle up to Wat Han Chey, a small hilltop pagoda that houses an 8th century pre-Angkor temple and offers spectacular views over the Mekong. Here, you can enjoy a well-deserved picnic lunch complimented by sweeping views of the Mekong. After, cycle the last 22 km (13.6 mi) to Kampong Cham, where you can relax at the hotel.
- 52.8 miles
- -39.4 ft
1,263.1 ft
1,302.5 ft - Monorom VIP Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 11Kampong Cham – Kampong Thom
Leave Kampong Cham via dirt and tarmac roads along the Mekong and eventually head for a quiet secondary highway towards Kampong Thom. You will be flanked by rubber plantations, paddy fields, and typical Khmer villages on today’s ride. Kampong Thom is on the banks of the Stung Saen River, and is a good base to visit the wooded Khmer temple site, Sambor Prei Kuk.
- 59.7 miles
- -82 ft
1,023.6 ft
1,105.6 ft - Glorious Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 12Kampong Thom – Siem Reap
Today you'll avoid some of the poorer roads in Siem Reap by transferring 85 km (52.8 mi) for one and half hours to an ancient bridge at Kampong Kdei, one of the best examples of the remaining 800-year-old bridges in Cambodia. Continue to transfer another 31 km (19.2 mi) to Domdek village where the team and bike are ready for you to start your 66-km (41 mi) challenge on back roads through the historic highway connecting the province of Kampong Thom and Angkor Wat.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll continue the challenge to celebrate when we finish our cycle for today, located a short distance from the Western Gate of Angkor Wat. Tonight, enjoy a celebratory Khmer dinner at Viroth's, a stylish and comfortable restaurant set in a quiet garden.
- 40.4 miles
- 6.6 ft
502 ft
495.4 ft - Steung Siem Reap Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 13Siem Reap – Angkor – Siem Reap
This morning, start the bike ride to the entrance of the Angkor temple complex. Enter from the south and traverse up portions of tarmac road and jungle paths until you reach the first temple of today, Tah Prohm. After the visit, carry on through the jungle and toward the eastern gate of Angkor Thom, ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. Near the center of this massive enclosure, you'll find the enigmatic temple of Bayon. This temple is known for its many smiling faces.
As the sun reaches its zenith, take a short rest and lunch before visiting the grandest temple of them all, Angkor Wat. Depending upon the time, you can choose to return to Siem Reap after the visit, for a brief rest before returning to the Angkor complex. This evening, you'll enjoy a beautiful sunset in the Angkor Park and return to the hotel by transfer for a farewell dinner.
- 18.6 miles
- 23 ft
400.3 ft
377.3 ft - Steung Siem Reap Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 14Onward Travel