Overview
Biking through the countryside and ancient ruin temples, experience an overnight stay at the villager home where you can embark on the authentic experience of the local life. Discovery of the lost capital on Kulen holy mountain which is actually not just only waterfalls and reclining Buddha that it is famous for but also many obscure ruin temples in the jungle, interacted by nature, art and architecture dating from the early 9th century, the birth of the Khmer Empire.
About this tour: Angkor - Kulen Mountain Biking & Trekking
7 day(s) 6 night(s)
Aprox duration
3 nights at hotel in Siem Reap, 2 nights at different homestay and 1 night at camp tent site.
Accommodation
Itinerary
Expand AllSee all our itinerary to learn more about our experience.
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Arrival – Siem Reap, Cambodia
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. (IATA Siem Reap–Angkor Int’l Airport Code: SAI)
Siem Reap is the gateway to the world’s most spectacular ancient temples dating from 8th-13th centuries with their countless sculptured decorations. The small province lies between great lake and Kulen-holy mountain, it also homed the magnificence of several former Khmer capitals. Beyond, there is plenty to do in and around for much more fun activity when you are out of the temples.
Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport by flight, you will be welcomed by local English-speaking guide who will escort you directly to hotel for relaxing.
Note: Official check-in time at 2:00pm, early check-in subjects to room available.
Today begins your exploration by a Remork Motor-is one of the easiest ways to look around you on board (Cambodian tuk tuk).
This afternoon, you take a shady walk through a walkway flanked by lofty trees to explore the beautiful temple of Ta Prohm. It is overgrown by the massive roots of huge trees and vines making the temple unique and famous. It was a Buddhist temple, built in 1186, dedicated to the king’s mother. The temple was also where Angelina Jolie's movie Lara Croft the Tomb Raider was filmed because of its peaceful place and nature is taking it back. You will fall in love with its amazing natural surroundings—a photographer's paradise!
Your authentic flavor of dinner will be served at Spoons Café which is a part of EGBOK (Everything’s Gonna Be OK), an NGO that aims to give disadvantaged Cambodian students skills that will allow them to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
After breakfast at hotel starts your day with a 15 km cycle easy ride to the pre-Angkorian capital of the Roluos Group. The complex features three temples of different locations in close proximity, erected in the late 8th century. Bakong was the first temple built largely of sandstone and notable for its mandala layout which evokes mythical Mount Meru, the others were totally built with bricks or partially with laterite and sandstone. The surrounding countryside with its rice paddy fields and sugar palm trees are very typically Cambodian.
Walk inside a Buddhist pagoda where you will experience a blessing ceremony. The monk will pray, wishing you happiness, good luck, and prosperity—a truly memorable moment!
Start from here, you will be on vehicle and drive passing along the local village where you can see how rural life is. Upon arrival at the lake inlet, get on a private wooden boat from Kampong Phluk’s pier to visit the floating village on Tonle Sap lake.
The lake is one of world’s most varied and productive ecosystems and was designated as a protected area under UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve in 1997. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia, connects to the Mekong river which is confluence in Phnom Penh capital. Tonlé Sap Lake plays as of central importance role for Cambodia's food provision. The lake is a unique ecological water wonders in the world due to when the monsoon starts filling up by water of the Mekong’s precipitation culminate in Sep-early Oct that makes the lake swelling floodplain around 10,000 km² and then the water flows reversal of the Tonle Sap river into lower Mekong river.
On board a cruise slowly through the canal of Kampong Phluk, you will be thrilled at the scenic beauty of a unique and authentic Cambodian village on the lake. On the way, you will see administrative offices, schools, houses on stilts rise up 7 meters lining the way, pagoda.
Disembark at a local stile house for a picnic lunch that will be ready to serve and you will also view the reality doing of the people go about their daily life on the lake.
Continue and stop riding on a rowboat through an impressive flooded forest where you can enjoy paddling beneath shady trees makes you feel breathtaking with its romantic atmosphere. Then the boat drives downstream onto the great lake of Tonle Sap where it offers you a close look at the submerged forest, and a breathtaking view of the seemingly endless water surface. Your excursion to the village is certainly a unique experience and exposes you to the hardships and tribulations facing the locals on a daily basis. It is a window into the realities of Cambodian life that helps you get just a little bit closer to understanding the complexities of life on the lake.
Note: Kampong Phluk may fully flood between Sep-Nov otherwise all boats cannot access it but by car/minivan instead. However, your visit during dry season offers you a fascinating way to wander along the rough road of the village where you can be closer to meet friendly local people and see how the stilted houses are exposed from the lake. And if you intend on taking a boat, an alternative floating village at Chong Kneas can be arranged instead.
Head back to the hotel, and if the time permits, stop to visit Preah Ko and Lolei temples that you missed in the morning.
Your dinner will be served at Marum restaurant, it has indoor and outdoor seating with a beautiful garden in which to enjoy your meal. Your meal help builds a new life for the students in training while enjoying a memorable dining experience! (Note: Marum will be closed for public holiday. Alternative local restaurant subjects to replace.)
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Ride approx. 15km -
Siem Reap – Banteay Srei, Cambodia
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Adventure today, we take off on our bikes for a fun ride around the Angkorian ruins and journey to our homestay overnight.
Get up early for an eye-catching sunrise at Angkor Wat, you might be lucky to see the sunlight rays clear for a dawn display of color over the towers, making the view towards the temple stunning.
Enjoy breakfast at the site before jumping into the temple to escape the crowd.
Continue to visit Angkor Wat built in 1113-1150 during the reign of King Suryavarman II. The structure occupies and enormous site of nearly 2 km2, said to be the one of the world’s largest religious monuments. It appears to have been both as the state temple and mausoleum, dedicating to the God Vishnu then has become an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. The temple is famous for bas-reliefs encircling the temple wall depicting scene from Hindu mythology and the historical wars of the King. The central tower reaches a height of 65 meters, is crowned with five towers in a quincunx also known as Bakan where you may also climb up and enjoy breathtaking view. Angkor Wat is symbolizing as the soul of Khmer people and graces on every Cambodia's flag.
Now, you are ready to get in the saddle again for a gentle cycling tour to shady avenues; riding your bikes between them provides us with a unique experience. The highlight of the day is an incredible Angkor Wat with its huge moat, long causeway and massive towers which is the largest temple complex in Asia. Then take a ride along the jungle-surrounded wall of Angkor Thom, the last Khmer empire capital, which is the famous Bayon temple with its 54 towers topped with the four faces of the king.
Lunch will be served at local restaurant.
We continue our riding on countryside roads along Banteay Srei village to homestay, where you will spend the night. The homestay is simple with mattress on the floor and mosquito net. It is a great opportunity to understand the lives of local people.
Overnight and dinner at homestay.
Ride approx. 30km -
Banteay Srei – Kulen Mountain, Cambodia
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Wake up early to get in the saddle again for some gentle cycling to Kulen Mountain (Lychee Mountain). Our route takes us past paddy fields, and through pretty villages. When we arrive at the base of the mountain get ready for a short trek. The first section of the trek is on defined if steep paths past a small waterfall and Monastery. We encounter a few steep sections as we climb further until the jungle path levels out into undulating trails which take us to the summit of the mountain.
Kulen is actually not just waterfalls and reclining Buddha that it is famous for but also many obscure ruin temples in the jungle, interacted by nature, art and architecture dating from the early 9th century. Phnom Kulen has been the holiest mountain in Cambodia since ancient times and remains so today.
At the top of the mountain, you will discover stone carvings in the riverbed and a large reclining Buddha from the 16th century. One of the main attractions is a waterfall where you can take a refreshing bath and enjoy lunch at cottage nearby the fall.
After enjoying with wonderful nature, we continue hacking 2km to our home for the evening settle at a tented camp near a small waterfall where you will overnight and have dinner at the site in the jungle.
Ride approx. 20km Trek approx. 7km Tented camp -
Kulen Mountain, Cambodia
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
After breakfast at our campsite, we take a trek to discover the mystery of the birth of Khmer empire capital and its beautiful nature remaining. First, we visit bat cave, walk into dark about 40 meters depth of the cave and shine the torch upwards to see a lot of small bats roost overhead, in the cave beside from the home of cave is the place of worship for several monks and hermits too.
Continue trekking onto the southern edge of the mountain about 1.5km from starting point and take a short walk through the jungle and slope to reach at Srah Damrei meaning elephant pond. The site is quiet and serene, shaded by luminous green forest. You can enjoy seeing impressive large boulders carving in the shapes of a selection of animals such as: the elephant’s build 3.5 meters high and 4.5 meters long. From here where you can take a particular bird eyes’ view look to the ground.
Now, you will have packed picnic lunch in the jungle including soft drink, a wonderful experience you will never forget.
Then we continue trekking to the village of Anlong Thom where we overnight and experience at homestay on the mountain.
Trek approx. 18km Community -
Kulen Mountain – Siem Reap, Cambodia
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
This morning we carry on westwards toward Beng Melea. Some of the terrain is challenging with a 3 km section of rock hopping to be undertaken. On the way we will be rewarded with dramatic views of Kulen Mountain and after a few ascents and descents, we’ll pass through, Thmar Chrougn and Ta Penh villages.
Then, we head onto village footpaths passing by a local market of Svay Leou, there your bus is waiting for and transfer for the last visit Beng Mealea temple, one of the most charming and a true jungle temple ruin. Discovery here feels like exploring an overgrown temple because nature has overrun the whole site with plants, vines and trees whose roots have stretched through the walls. The site gives you an opportunity to walk or climb over piles or stones, scramble up walls and swing around trees because most parts of the temple are collapsed by nature, yet the temple still creates a sense of romantic rustic ruins for your exploration.
After your adventure, enjoy a delicious lunch at a homestay close to the temple site. This allows you to witness local life and also provide support to the community.
Now, you are ready to return back to Siem Reap for your relaxing from the rest of balance day.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Trek approx. 15km Community -
Siem Reap – Departure
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
After breakfast at hotel, the day is free at leisure until appointment time transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight.
Experience
- Accommodation in a shared twin/double room in selected hotels
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner as mentioned on daily program
- English speaking local guides
- Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle unless stated otherwise
- Entrance fees for mentioned visits
- Daily drinking water on touring
- Visa for Cambodia (Visa issued on arrival for most nationalities, USD30/pax, bring 1 passport photo)
- Any surcharge/extra fees for visit of the Angkor Historical site imposed by the Apsara Authorities which are subject to change without prior notice
- Other meals that were not mentioned
- International and domestic flights (quoted separately)
- Camera/video entrance fees if applicable
- Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone, tips etc)
- Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions above