Cycling Phnom Penh to Saigon: Life Changing Adventures with Social Cycles

Itinerary

Day 1: Phnom Penh- Arrival Day

Stop At: Romdeng
Learn about the wonderful people at Romdeng and how their social enterprise model of empowerment brings opportunity to the youth of Cambodia.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Dinner: It’s a feast of tarantula’s at the famous Romdeng restaurant, a social enterprise restaurant from the Friends Intl team.
Accommodation included: Mito Hotel, central Phnom Penh. Three stars.

Day 2: Phnom Penh - Friends International, S-21 genocide museum and Khmer BBQ

Stop At: Friends-International
A unique opportunity to speak to local experts about social impact in Cambodia. Hear about the incredible programs and work carried out by local social workers to empower and educate local children.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh
The former school, turned interrogation facility for the Khmer Rouge during Pol Pot's regime. This Genocide Museum also includes a solemn and moving audio guide.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Enjoy a local Khmer BBQ feast! Vegetarian options available.
Accommodation included: Three star hotel in central Phnom Penh- Mito Hotel

Day 3: Kampot - Chisaur Temple

Stop At: Phnom Chisor, Rovieng, Takeo Province
Cycle from Phnom Penh to Phnom Chisor, some 63km to the south via back roads and rice fields. If you feel up to it, you can walk up the 'hill' to visit the temple and take in the surrounding views
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Three star comfortable hotel with a pool in Kampot

Day 4: Kampot - Bokor Mountain Challenge

Stop At: Bokor National Park, Kampot, Kampot Province
Start the day with an (optional) mammoth Bokor Mountain cycle challenge! It’s 30km to get to the top. The first 10km is flat, then it just keeps on going up, and up, and up! If cycling uphill doesn’t rock your world, we can bring your bike in the van and you can cycle down! If you feel like taking some time off the bike, Kampot is a great town to caffeinate, people watch and relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Three star comfortable hotel with a pool in Kampot

Day 5: Kampot - Salt Fields, CLS and Khmer cooking class

Stop At: Salt Fields, Kampot, Kampot Province
Learn from local NGO, Chumkriel Language, and see for your self the community that benefits from the wonderful programs at CLS.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: Enjoy a local Khmer cooking class and obtain the skills to cook a three course meal- then tuck in and enjoy!
Accommodation included: Three star comfortable hotel with a pool in Kampot

Day 6: Rach Gia - Pepper farms, live crab markets and white beaches

Stop At: La Plantation, Kampot, Kampot Province
Learn about the wonderful world of pepper, with this guided tour of an organic pepper farm. Kampot is famed for having some of the best pepper in the world!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Kep Crab Market, Kep, Kep Province
Wander through the hustle and bustle of the crab market and feast on the fresh seafood for lunch!
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner: Great food in Vietnam and this restaurant has some of the best Ban Xeo (Viet pancakes) in the country!
Accommodation included: Comfortable two star hotel in Rach Gia

Day 7: Can Tho - Cycling the Mekong Delta

Stop At: Mekong Delta River
Can Tho is where the Mekong Delta really comes into it’s own! To get there we cut through the back roads of rice paddy’s and farm land, arriving in the city by late afternoon. The ride finishes about 20km out of the city, but if your legs and daylight permit, there’s an option to continue all the way in.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Four star hotel in Can Tho - Ninh Kieu

Day 8: Can Tho - Sunrises, floating markets, noodle factories and cocoa farms

Stop At: Cai Rang Floating Market, Can Tho, Mekong Delta
Get on the boat nice and early and see the floating market in action!
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Muoi Cuong Cocoa Farm, Can Tho, Mekong Delta
Learn the origin of chocolate at this local and organic, family run cocoa farm
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Rice noodle factory
See how rice noodle is made and if you're lucky, you might even get to have a go at making your own!!
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Four star hotel in Can Tho - Ninh Kieu

Day 9: Ben Tre - More Mekong cycling and a local homestay

Stop At: Ben Tre, Ben Tre, Ben Tre Province, Mekong Delta
We’ll take a day to casually explore the oasis that is the Mekong Delta. From the coconut candy factories of Ben Tre to the canals and floating markets of My Tho, this is a place to relax and unwind. We’ll avoid the hordes of tourists in My Tho by using Ben Tre as a base to explore the region. It’s still a full day cycling from Can Tho and we’ll enjoy getting amongst the maze that is the Mekong Delta.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Local hoe cooked food at the local homestay!
Accommodation included: Homestay accommodation among the lush green surrounds of the Mekong Delta, in the heart of Ben Tre

Day 10: Cycling into Saigon

Stop At: Ben Tre, Ben Tre, Ben Tre Province, Mekong Delta
Visit a coconut candy factory and see how this delicious local treat is produced
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: District One hotel in Saigon

Day 11: Mekong Quilts and KOTO

Stop At: Mekong Quilts, Ho Chi Minh City
Great NGO experience at Mekong Quilts as we learn about the sustainable programs and holistic vision this small NGO has, and the difference it's making to the local communities.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Enjoy our last meal together at KOTO, a social enterprise restaurant empowering local youth with vocational training.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 12: Departure Day

Pass By: TripWriter Hotel
ongratulations! You’ve cycled across a couple of countries, covered almost 700km in the saddle and more than scratched the surface as to what these fantastic countries are about. We’ll enjoy a final breakfast together before you set off to the airport or your next adventure.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.