The Grand Tours Cycling across three countries of Indochina

Day 1: Bangkok Arrival
Arrival at Bangkok airport Clear immigration and customs formality Meet our Rep. at meeting point ( Gate No. 3 ) Transfer to Bangkok hotel for check in (Standard check in 14.00 hrs.) There will be a group meeting and briefing in the evening with your leader, followed by an optional group dinner. Overnight at Bangkok hotel

 
Day 2: CYCLE FROM LAEM MAE PIM TO CHAOLAO BEACH (LUNCH)
Get up early as you acclimatize to the weather. The bike ride hugs the coastline as you pass from beach to beach on small local roads that are very quiet to traffic, the seascapes are marvelous. This is an interesting bike route that lets you see the local Thai way of life, as you cycle through local fishing villages, sea food markets and plenty of temples where you can stop for a well earned rest and refreshments. The mangrove swamps and fruit plantations add a diversity to the scenery on this very picturesque of rides. You also take some short ferry crossings which help to save some distance by taking you directly across the estuaries. You finish the bike ride right on the quiet beach of Chaolao. From here it is so easy to take a refreshing dip in the sea before dinner.

Day 3: CYCLE FROM CHAOLAO BEACH TO PONG NAM RON
Today is a big day as you cycle through 110km with some steady climbs near the end. Initially you bike inland and notice the scenery changing from coastline to forests and distant mountains. Again this bicycle ride is on small paved roads that have little traffic and are a joy to cycle on. You are now in Chantaburi Province which is well known for its fruit and you will see and taste plenty as you pass by plantations, forests and lots of small local villages. The last 12km of the ride is on a busier road and this is where the small climbs begin. However, on arrival in Pong Nam Ron the reward is the hotel's pool where you can relax with a well earned beer, overlooking the adjacent golf course with a backdrop of forested mountains.

Day 4: CYCLE FROM PONG NAM RON TO PAILIN INTO CAMBODIA
This morning you head east on less travelled roads, cycling towards the quiet Thai / Cambodian border crossing, nestled in the foothills of the scenic Cardamom mountains. Immediately on crossing the border you will notice the difference in the fortunes of these neighboring countries as you leave the tarmac of Thailand and cycle on the bumpy red dirt roads of Cambodia! It is also very obvious how the concrete homes of Thailand give way to the wood and thatch shacks of Cambodia. After 20km of Cambodian cycling you arrive at the small, dusty town of Pailin, which was once home to both a thriving semi-precious stone mining industry and some former high ranking officials of the expired brutal Khmer Rouge regime.

Day 5: CYCLE FROM PAILIN TO BATTAMBANG
Ride on the tarmac road all the way to the outskirts of Battambang. After a few early climbs the majority of the day is downhill. Initially you cycle through cash-crop plantations such as corn, cassava, and cashew nut, however getting closer to Battambang this changes to the emerald green of endless rice paddies.
About 15km from Battambang you cannot fail to miss the imposing limestone outcrop of Phnom Sampeau with its hilltop pagoda. If you still have excess energy you may choose to climb the 700+ steps and be rewarded with great views of the surrounding countryside. If we have enough time, we will take the Bamboo Train, Originally, the bamboo train was set up by the villagers to transport goods but nowadays it is a popular tourist attraction. The train is very basic and consists of a bamboo platform on 4 wheels which is activated by a small motor.
Finally, we reach Battambang, a relaxed and laid back town sitting on the banks of the Sangker River and it still has a very local, provincial atmosphere. Much of the town’s architecture is French colonial and traditional Cambodian with very few buildings over three stories. Once you have checked in and freshened up, you will be taken to the bat cave and watch millions of bats emerge from a cave and create patterns as they fly in tandem across the sky – a nightly spectacular show of nature. You will have dinner in a local restaurant before return to the hotel.

Day 6: BATTAMBANG TO SIEM REAP (CYCLE TO BOAT PIER)
An early start as you cycle through the sleepy streets of Battambang to board the boat to Siem Reap. This is arguably the most fascinating river trip in Cambodia and takes around 6 - 7 hours. Yet the timeless scenes you pass makes the time disappear: fishermen returning from the lake with their night’s silvery catch; the blue smoke of fires shifting like mist in the pale pink light of dawn; the scent of breakfasts being prepared. As the river winds its way into the Tonle Sap lake (South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake) you pass an amazing variety of landscapes and lives, seemingly unchanged for hundreds of As the river joins the Tonle Sap Lake you pass the protected wetland of Prek Toal, regarded as the single most important breeding ground for globally threatened large water birds in South East Asia. After crossing the vast expanse of this inland sea and heading towards Siem Reap port you pass through the floating village of Chong Khneas where we witness an entire bamboo village complete with homes, gas stations, schools, hair dressers, and even karaoke bars floating on water! Meals included: B, L Distance cycled: 20km
 
Day 7: ANGKOR TEMPLE CYCLING TOUR
Today we may choose to have an early start to avoid the inevitable crowds drawn to the wonders of Angkor. The various temples are spread over a wide area and are linked by shady avenues; meandering our way between them by bike gives us a unique perspective. Our cycle tour will include the jungle-covered Ta Prohm, with the amazing roots of the fromager trees clinging to the ancient stones; Angkor Thom, with the Bayon temple of 37 towers (originally there were 49) topped with the four faces of the king; and, of course, the incredible Angkor Wat, which has a huge moat, long causeway and massive towers.

Day 8: Tonle River Cruise Tour
Discover Siem Reap's secrets by remork (Cambodian tuk tuk) on a half-day, small-group tour. Take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap lake through floating and stilted villages. See seasonal agricultural activities of rice planting and harvesting, making fish paste, duck farming and cricket catching! Explore a local village, where you will sample Cambodian snacks and visit a Buddist monastery

Day 9: Drive to Phnompenh
Today we take a bus journey of approximately seven hours along National Road 6 to Phnom Penh, with a couple of stops along the way.
We visit Sambor Prei Kuk, the most impressive group of pre-Angkorian monuments in Cambodia, with some of the oldest structures in the country. We'll also pause for a traditional Khmer lunch at a community restaurant. The road is currently undergoing some resurfacing, so some sections will be a bit bumpy.
We should arrive in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the late afternoon, the perfect time for a sundowner on the Mekong.

Day 10: Phnompenh Sightseeing Tour
The fortunes of Phnom Penh have shifted dramatically during its history and the terrible years of the Khmer Rouge and subsequent civil war through the 1970s and ‘80s have scarred the country. During our stay we visit two sites, which give us a vivid impression of some of the horrors. There is the Genocide Museum, which is the former Khmer Rouge prison known as S-21 or Tuol Sleng, in the city centre. And 9.3mi (15km) out of town is the area known as the Killing Fields, a mass grave and execution site for the former inmates of S-21. While visiting Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields may not appeal to everyone, we feel they give us an important understanding of what the country and people endured.
On a more positive note, the city is on the rise again and is a fascinating place with fine examples of French colonial architecture. We tour the Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda. There is also excellent shopping at the Russian market, and the lively Mekong waterfront area.

Day 11: Transfer to Takeo then cycle to Vietnam border and Chau Doc
This morning we transfer south out of Phnom Penh to the town of Takeo. Here the road becomes quieter and we mount our bikes for the 31mi (50km) ride to the Phnom Den-Tinh Bien border. Once border formalities have been completed, we cycle approximately 18.6mi (30km) to Chau Doc.

Day 12: Drive/cycle through the Mekong Delta to Vinh Long; catch boat to homestay guesthouse
This morning, we ride from our hotel along a lovely quiet backroad lined with villages and dwellings before stopping for lunch and transferring the rest of the way to Vinh Long by bus. Leaving the bikes on the mainland, we take another boat (20 minutes) to reach our homestay guesthouse on an island in the Mekong Delta, known as the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. After settling in we can explore the area on foot. The rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta form an amazing network of waterways. The area is best known for its abundant rice production, but in many areas farmers are now moving to more profitable fish farming and fruit and vegetable growing. The evening is tranquil with dinner at the homestay and true Delta hospitality. We spend the night sleeping at a simple guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided.

Day 13: Cai Be Cycling Tour
We leave by boat, stopping en route for a look at the Cai Be floating market. Here large boats moor up in the Mekong River, weighed down with fruit and vegetables. Traders and shop owners buy in bulk at this strictly wholesale market. Recently, Cai Be is becoming less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks due to the bridge being built. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and traditional trade on a smaller scale.
A little further on we make a short stop to see cottage industries producing items such as popped rice, pancakes, wine and other homemade products. We start our ride towards Cai Lay where we take a scenic route through orchards and alongside the Mekong. Back on the bus in My Tho, we drive on to the heat, hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, still usually known as Saigon. This is an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a free-market city where (almost) anything goe

Day 14: Halfday  tour to Cu Chi Tunnels
Attend the most exciting history lesson ever on a Củ Chi Tunnels Tour! Learn about Vietnam's guerilla war by climbing into the underground tunnels that used to be rigged with booby traps, which played a crucial part in the fight. Built by local fighters during the Indochina conflict, the Cu Chi tunnels served as a base for the Viet Cong, the National Liberation Front. It included almost everything needed for the life of the Viet Cong, where the local soldiers and residents used to eat, sleep, work, cook and even go to school. Started in 1948 as a hiding place from French air attacks, by 1965, the tunnel was estimated to consist of an astounding 200km of tunnels within a larger tunnel system. Have an unforgettable experience as you explore the underground tunnels and get to know what life was like for the Viet Cong soldiers!

Day 15: Airport transfer
You’ll begin your return home after breakfast this morning. To make your journey as easy as possible, there’s a free shared transfer to the airport.

INCLUSION

• Air-conditioned vehicles with experienced driver
• English speaking licensed guide
• All admission fees as mentioned in the program
• VAT 7% and all Government taxes (no service charge)
• Accomodation based on twin/double/Triple sharing room

EXCLUSIONS

• Lunch meal
• Food and drinks
• Travel insurances
• Gratuities
• Sinlge Suplement