Saigon to Angkor Watt -
Cycle Challenge

A challenging bike trip across the Mekong Delta region of
Southern Vietnam to the famous temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 Depart London
Depart from London Heathrow Airport for the overnight flight to Saigon.

Day 2 Arrive Saigon
Arrive in Saigon and transfer to a three star hotel in the city centre. Time for rest and relaxation. After lunch at the hotel there will be a guided tour of the city.

Day 3 Saigon - Mytho
The bicycle tour begins from Saigon. A coach will take us from our hotel to the starting point of the challenge. We spend the rest of the day in the countryside where children point and wave at you, as we cycle along stunning rice fields and through villages. We can stop as often as we like. By the end of this challenging day we will reach Mytho located at the upper arm of the Mekong River. In the centre of the town close to the river there is a large market that sells just about anything that can be eaten! Around the Mytho area you will find a maze of small canals that can be explored on one of the many organised boat tours. Other places to visit include the local fruit plantations on Dragon Island and the Dong Tam Snake Farm. Cycle Distance: 50 km

Day 4 Mytho - Vinh Long
We continue our journey through this remote part of the Mekong Delta, cycling alongside and sometimes right through beautiful fruit and palm tree plantations. There are numerous bridges and small ferries across branches of the river, emphasising the unique character of this region. Around noon we will reach a small island in the Mekong and have lunch with a Vietnamese family. Overnight is spent at a nearby hotel in the village of Vinh Long. This was the location of one of the first American military bases set up during the Vietnam War, and for those interested in the history of the conflict, is a fascinating place. Viet Cong Forces famously overran the base during the TET Offensive of 1968. Cycle Distance: 60 km

Day 5 Vinh Long - Can Tho
Today we will reach the heart of the Mekong Delta. We cycle along narrow tracks and minor roads, passing small farms whose owners seldom see foreigners. Our destination is the famous town of Can Tho. Can Tho is the main city of the Mekong Delta. It is the transportation centre for the region, as it is connected to the other towns of the Delta by an extensive system of rivers and canals. The Mekong river is particularly wide here, and must be crossed by ferry, but it is along the smaller canals that most of the rural population lives. One of the most interesting sights in the Delta are the floating markets and associated river life. Near Can Tho, there are three different floating markets. Although they are well known, often you won't see other tourists on the water at all. Cycle Distance: 60 km plus boat trip

Day 6 Can Tho - Tra Vinh - Can Tho
In the morning we can enjoy a visit to the colourful floating markets. Simply go there on your bicycle and rent a small sampan to cruise the market. On the way back, the surroundings of Can Tho also prove very attractive and suitable for cycling. Cycle Distance: up to 50 km.

Day 7 Can Tho - Chau Doc
In the morning we will transfer by private coach to the town of Long Xuyen where we resume our cycling. The next section of our challenge follows perhaps the most remote tracks on this itinerary. People here seldom see foreigners and will be very curious about us. After our arrival in Chau Doc we should have time to visit the nearby Sam Mountain (by coach or by bicycle, 10 km extra) which gives a great view over the surrounding countryside. Chau Doc is an important trading centre for the nearby villages. Until the mid-18th century this region was part of Cambodia and there is still a large Khmer population here. There are numerous interesting temples to see, especially at Nui Sam, a rocky hill literally honeycombed with sanctuaries, tombs, and temples. Cycle Distance: 40 km.

Day 8 Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
Boat journey to Phnom Penh (depart 7.30am / arrive 12.00 noon with a stop at 8.30am to obtain visas for Cambodia). City tour of Phnom Penh. Then transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Siem Reap. Transfer to our hotel. The town of Siem Reap is a cluster of villages which originally developed around a series of French colonial buildings. Today, it is better known as the gateway to the temples of Angkor Wat. Siem Reap is a pleasant town to wander around, with an interesting and colourful marketplace. The surrounding countryside is very flat, making it ideal for exploring on bike.

Day 9 Angkor Temples
Full-day excursion by bike to the Temples of Angkor. Situated 7 km from Siem Reap, the site of the Angkor temples extends over 400 square km. There are at least 287 temples in the complex which was built between the 9th & 13th centuries, of which Angkor Watt is the most famous. Cycle Distance: 15 - 40 km depending on route taken.

Day 10 Depart Siem Reap
The morning will be free. In the lafternoon we travel to Siem Reap airport for the homeward flight.

Day 11 London
Arrival into London Heathrow Airport in the morning.