Backwoods Biking: Hoi An to Angkor Wat - 14 Days & 13 Nights
Day 1 - Hoi An
Our local expert will meet and greet you in Hoi An, which used to be a major trading ports during the 17th and 18th centuries. Recognized by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage Site, Hoi An is a living museum offering ancient Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture and traditional Vietnamese hospitality. The center of Hoi An resembles as it was 200 years ago. Time has stood still. A warm-up ride is the best way to see the wooden-fronted former homes of merchants, the Japanese-covered Bridge and the wonderfully authentic local market.
After our welcome dinner, we will have trip safety and logistics briefing. Get some good rest, we have an amazing journey ahead of us!
Day 2 - Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (45 km ride)
Today is a slightly easy day- 45 km ride to visit another World Heritage Site: My Son Holy Land.
My Son was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the 4th and 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. My Son Holy is right in the valley surrounded by mountains. That makes it more holy and mysterious. This is really a photographic site to enjoy, with a great backcountry roads ride through rice paddy fields, through a eucalyptus forest to the jewel of the Champa civilization.
Day 3 - Hoi An – My Lai – Quang Ngai (46 km ride)
After breakfast at your hotel, our team will drive you out of town, and begin your ride from a small village to My Lai- the site of one of the worst massacres of the American-Vietnam war in March 1968. The road is shaded by arching palm trees, and surrounded by tended rice fields. After lunch at a local restaurant, the cycling continues into the country side, and through the Sa Ky fishing harbor. Before transferring to the hotel in town, you can visit a couple places here like Thien An Pagoda and Chau Sa. The ride route today is approximate 46 km.
Day 4 - Quang Ngai – Mangden (70 km ride)
Today we will head up to Mang Den, the central highland over 1,000m elevation with a cooler climate. We only cycle part of the route, and take in the stunning scenery as we rise up into the highlands. It takes about 2 hours to pass the town of Bato, then we keep cycling 20 km through the rice fields, villages and rivers to the bottom of Violak Pass. After Violak Pass the ride is rolling through thick jungles and minority villages all the way to Mang Den! We will enjoy the quiet back roads and fresh air all afternoon!
Day 5 – Mang Den – Kon Tum – Pleiku (60 km ride)
After breakfast, we will check out of hotel, transfer to visit Pa Sy Waterfall, then return to Mang Den to start riding down a fantastic 12km pass and onward to Kon Tum. On the route, we have a chance to visit local villages of the Jarai and Bhanar ethnic minorities who are living in very steeply and tall roofs house. These tribes still practice Animism beliefs, that all things have a spirit or soul. According to Animism, spirits must either be worshiped or appeased. We will stop cycling at a unique wooden church in Kon Tum, be sure to check the entire complex around: school, orphanage, dining hall, workshops. You will be impressed! Don’t forget to have a cup of local coffee while interacting with local people who often hang out at the church’s backyard.
Day 6 - Pleiku – Cambodia border – Banlung (70 km ride,)
From the hotel, we will have a 2 hours transfer to the Vietnam-Cambodia border, it is the time to goodbye Vietnamese team. Our Cambodian crew is waiting for you at the check point. Are you ready to start your first ride in a Khmer provincial town? Your ride will take you along a recently paved, winding road with some incline riding to the highlands. Tonight will be a great night in a traditional Khmer house oozing with old world charm in this remote area. Sleep well!
Day 7 - Banlung – Stung Treng (75 km ride)
After breakfast, we will make it to the Mekong River at a point below a series of falls and rapids. These fall re-oxidize the water and make an amazing area of bio-diversity. We will be away from the bikes for a while to take our kayak, and gently kayak down the Mekong stream through a flooded forest that is home to a wide range of bird-life. A picnic lunch will be served by the riverside. Our driver will pick us up, and we will keep driving down to Stung Treng province. Tonight, you will have an authentic Khmer dinner with personalized service from the students who are being trained in hospitality and tourism to ensure a better future!
Day 8 - Stung Treng – Kratie (85 km ride)
Today is going to be a long day of riding. It is up 85km, we will head to Kratie Province located on the bank of Mekong River. Along the way, a must see, must do, and must experience is taking a boat ride to see the Irrawaddy dolphins.
Day 9 - Kratie – Kompong Cham (85 km ride)
From Kratie, we will be driving south through the town of Chhlong and take a ferry to the western bank of the Mekong to start riding from Phnom Han Chhey on quiet roads along the river, through small rural villages and scenic countryside. The many French colonial houses in this town are amongst the most beautiful in Cambodia. We will keep riding up to Wat Han Chhey, a small hilltop pagoda that houses an 8th century Pre-Angkorian temple and offers spectacular views over the Mekong. The last 22km today will take us to Kampong Cham, where you can relax at the hotel’s swimming pool and rejuvenate!
Day 10 - Kompong Cham – Kompong Thom (80 km ride)
We will leave Kampong Cham through dirt and tarmac roads along the Mekong and eventually head for a quiet secondary highway towards Kampong Thom. Kampong Thom is a picturesque town on the banks of the Stung Sen River, which hosts the magnificent Khmer temple site Sambo Prei Kuk. You will be flanked by rubber plantations, paddy fields and typical Khmer Villages on today’s ride.
Day 11 – Kompong Thom – Siem Reap (95 km ride)
After breakfast, we will drive about one hour to the town of Kompong Kdei where you will start cycling. Your pedals will pass though quiet villages, rice paddies and palm trees in the area. After another 20km you will arrive at Kvao Village where we are treated to a ride down a 700 year old ancient road to Beng Mealea, then transfer to Siem Reap, the home of the ancient Khmer empire and the spectacular Angkor Wat!
Day 12 - Cycle Angkor Wat Temples (40 km ride)
Early morning is the best time to take on the majestic Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious building. We will focus on the small circuit which features temple greats such as the jungle-clad Ta Prohm made famous by the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Tomb Raider’, Sras Srang known as the King's bathing pond, and the impressive Royal City of Angkor Thom, where you will find Bayon, a temple famed for its many gigantic carved faces with their captivating eyes while they smile down at you!
A farewell dinner with a traditional Khmer dance will be icing on the cake for this trip! Have a good rest after long journey from the Ancient Town of Hoi An in Vietnam to the Ancient Wonder in Cambodia.
Day 13 – Relaxing day
Today is another for you to discover Siem Reap on your own, or only just to pamper yourself at a nice spa after a long successful trip. Head down to Pub Street for a fish pedicure and a street side foot massage!
Day 14 – Departure
Enjoy breakfast, and leisure time on your own before we transfer you to airport for your departure flight.
Have a safe flight home, if you are continuing your journey with us, our local team with give you your connection information and our local team will meet you at your next destination! Thank you for choosing 4UTOURS INTERNATIONAL for your Southeast Asia adventures!
Please note: All of our tours are catered to give you exactly what you want. This is a popular program that we offer but the beauty of this is you can get an idea of what’s offered, then we can tweak it together, and you fill in the blanks with all the other amazing things offered in these regions! Let us know your dreams and wishes for your ideal vacation and we will create an adventure that you will be amazed by. Thank you for choosing 4UTOURS INTERNATIONAL!
We also have many other unique & special interest programs for Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam as well as full country exploration programs, as seen on the next page!
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