Futures '09 Itinerary
Trip Time: 13 days
Riding Time: 7 days
Total Distance: 480 kilometers
Overview
Participants will undertake a worthwhile challenge with 480km of cycling involved over one of the most interesting countries in Asia. There are a total of seven days of cycling, with a varied route that provides plenty of contrasting sights along the way.
South-East Asia is well known for its bicycles and cyclos and there isn't a better way to see a country and experience the lifestyles of everyday local village life than to travel through the country on a mountain bike. You'll be getting a rare opportunity to see the realities of these countries in a way that few other tourists do. This event will incorporate cycling through towns and rural areas, (we will avoid cycling in the cities because of the heavy traffic) well away from the beaten tourist trails and will provide some real insight into life in these countries.
Day 1-2 (27 - 28/02) Flight to Cambodia
We arrive into Siem Reap in the afternoon, met by the leader and check into our hotel for a rest and freshen up. Later that afternoon we have a briefing on what lies ahead for the week and meet our local team.
Day 3 (01/03) Angkor Wat temples
Today we meet our bikes for the first time and have a morning orientation ride around Angkor Wat's main temples. Then we have the rest of the day at leisure to explore further around this amazing and extensive world heritage site. Cycling: approximately 30km
Day 4 (02/03) Outlying Temples and Phnom Kulen
Today we have a beautiful and challenging ride that will take us off the beaten track. In the morning we will cycle back roads through the rice paddies towards Banteay Srei, and continue onto Cambodia's most sacred mountain and site of Pilgrimage, Phnom Kulen. We leave the sealed roads and start riding on dirt roads for 14km which bring us to the park entrance and the start of the Kulen mountain range. Here we start to climb on a winding jungle road for 12km to the top of the 487m mountain, with wonderful views of the national park en route. The overhead forest canopy provides shade and welcome relief on this section of the ride. Reaching the end of the road we find a magnificent waterfalls and 1200 year old sacred carvings in the river bed from the start of the Khmer empire. After enjoying a swim and look around the nearby Buddhist temple we return back down the same road to the park entrance where we board vehicles for the journey back to Siem Reap. Cycling: approximately 82km
Day 5 (03/03) Beng Melea / Kampong Cham
In the morning we start with a ride of some 40 km to the Tonle Sap lake and from there to the fabulous ruined temple of Beng Melea, still overgrown with jungle and very atmospheric with few visitors. Tonle Sap lake; this is largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia, to Siem Reap. The lake's waters control the flow of the Mekong and provide a living for thousands of people, as it is one of the world's richest sources of freshwater fish. After Beng Melea we board buses which will take us onwards to the capital city. Arrive in the evening in Kampong Cham, the second biggest city of Cambodia and situated on the Mekong River. Cycling: approximately 40km
Days 6-7 (04-05/03)) Kampong Cham- Phnom Penh
Today's route runs along the side of the mighty Mekong river all the way to the Town of Koh Kaong where we board buses for the last leg of our journey into Phnom Penh. After checking into our hotel the rest of the day will be free for you to look around the sights of the capital city. Phnom Penh is a fascinating city that still retains a lot of its colonial charm from its days as the French capital of Indochina. There will be time in the evening to have a drink in the famous Foreign Correspondents Club by the river. The sights of Phnom Penh, include the National Museum, Royal Palace and many Wats located in the city.
The following day is free to explore this lively city further. You'll have time to look around some of the main sights of the city such as the S-21 Museum, the Silver Pagoda, Russian market and Wat Phnom. Cycling: approximately 65km
Day 8 (06/03) Phnom Penh - Takeo
It's an early start as we hit the bikes again for a day of riding Cambodia's highways. This morning we ride out to Choeung Ek, the most famous of the Khmer Rouge's many killing fields. After spending time here to take in this moving site we start our ride to Takeo, arriving in the afternoon in time for a look around this pleasant provincial town. Cycling: approximately 83km
Days 9-10 (07- 08/03) Takeo - Kampot
We continue south today, riding on more flat easy roads through endless rice fields and waving children to Kampot, a pleasant town which sits on a picturesque river. In the evening boat trips can be taken into the mangroves or you can relax with a massage from a blind masseur at the Seeing Hands Massage Centre.
The following day is free to visit a local project in Kampot (details to be advised). Cycling: approximately 85km
Day 11 (09/03) Kampot to Sihanoukville
Day 9 is a challenging ride but probably the most interesting for the variety of scenery. In the morning we ride flat roads under the gaze of the Elephant Mountains and within sight of the southern Cambodian coastline. As the day progresses and we get closer to Sihanoukville the roads become quite undulating with the last 20km holding a few challenging hills. The effort is well worth it, however, as we finish at the beautiful beach of Sihanoukville and have a day of relaxing to look forward to. Sihanoukville is the main port of Cambodia but with its beautiful beaches, islands surrounded by coral and cool beachside bars you won't have any trouble relaxing tonight. Cycling: approximately 104km
Day 12 (10/03) Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh
After a swim on the beach in the morning we return by vehicle to Phnom Penh where we fly out later that day for our return flight to Australia.
Day 13 (11/03)
Arrive Home
Please note this is a complex itinerary subject to change dependant on local conditions, weather and airline / transportation schedules. Intrepid reserves the right to amend this itinerary and any distances stated at it's discretion. As conditions may vary all distances are approximate.