Itinerary

 Dec 24th 2012 – Welcome to Siem Reap! PEPY staff will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Tonight we have a Welcome Dinner where all trip participants will meet, have a chance to get to know each other, and enjoy your first taste of delicious Cambodian cuisine.

Dec 25th – Merry Christmas! Today we will have a bike-fittings, take part in an orientation, and then cycle to the countryside temple of Wat Atwea. Here will have a traditional blessing from the monks, before heading off to Phnom Krom, where we can watch the sun set over the mighty Tonlé Sap Lake. This evening we will celebrate together with a Christmas Dinner!

Dec 26th – This morning there will be the opportunity to take part in a traditional Cambodian cooking class, for those who would like to try their hand at creating Khmer cuisine! After feasting on our culinary efforts, we will cycle around the 16 sq kilometer Baray Tuk Tlay, the 700 year old water supply for the Angkor Empire. The ride will take us through the rarely visited western entrance of Angkor Thom and allow guests to ride around the perimeter of the ancient city.

Dec 27th – Today we will take a cycling trip to the world-famous Angkorian temple city, widely referred to as the 8th wonder of the world. We will begin our explorations at Ta Prohm, the jungle-clad temple made famous by its starring role in the Tomb Raider film, before heading to many smiling Buddha faces of Bayon. After lunch at a local restaurant we’ll dedicate the afternoon to exploring the magnificent Angkor Wat – Cambodia’s grandest piece of architecture and a national treasure.

Dec 28th – This morning we will have an early start, as we begin our journey and wave Siem Reap goodbye. We will start with a 13km ride to the Silk Farm where we can see how silk is farmed and then woven using traditional methods to create beautiful fabric. From here we will continue riding to a rural town of Kralanh.

Dec 29th – We will spend the day exploring the local community of Chanleas Dai by bike. We will cycle through the commune and visiting some of the schools PEPY works with, meet with the teachers, and meet with staff at the NGO office, where we can learn more about PEPY’s work.

Dec 30th – Today we will surely feel “off the beaten track” as we cycle the dusty road to Samrong, where we will be staying in a local guest house and eating at the only restaurant in town.

Dec 31st – We will head further into the countryside to a local community of Bantey Chammar where we will sleep at family homestays and explore the nearby secluded temple ruins. This evening we will celebrate the New Year in traditional Cambodian style!

Jan 1st 2013 – Today we will be heading back into the land of electricity and major roads.  We will a 70km ride to Sisaphon. Tonight we will be dinning with the students from Bantey Meanchey University.

Jan 2nd – This morning we will be heading to Battambang, the NGO capital of Cambodia and home to one of the best bakeries in the country!

Jan 3rd – We are sure that you will appreciate a chance to sleep in a bit today and it will be nice to know that we don’t have to pack up and leave. This morning we will be meeting with Digital Divide Data and learning about their programs. In the afternoon there are many options available, including a visit to a fruit farm and a ride on the famous Bamboo train.

Jan 4th – Be ready for your biggest challenge yet, as today we will cover the furthest distance so far. We will start early on our 110km journey to Pursat, taking breaks for sugarcane juice and coconuts. Tonight we will be having dinner with the staff from Sustainable Cambodia.

Jan 5th – Today we will have another big day, with a 95km ride to Kampong Channang. This means “place along the river” and “clay pots”, so you can guess what product this town is famous for. We will be staying in a local hotel and exploring more rural culinary delights.

Jan 6th – Today we cycle dirt roads to Oudong Mountain, the spiritual center and capital of Cambodia from 1618 to 1866. At the top of the mountain (or hill!) there is a modern temple with wonderful views of the flat surrounding countryside. As our dirt roads transform into a bustling highway, we’ll arrive in Cambodia’s vibrant capital, Phnom Penh. Simply walking the streets of this energetic city is exciting, as you watch cyclos and motos weave through the traffic, stroll past street sellers on the pavement, and take in the beauty of the Royal Palace and the sunset over the Tonle Sap River. Tonight we will be eating at Friends, one of our FAVORITE restaurants! Friends is part of the NGO called “Mith Samlan” and the restaurant is run entirely by the young people who have been helped through their programs. Those of you joining for a two-week trip, this is unfortunately, where we say our good-byes and wish you a safe trip home (or elsewhere).

Jan 7th – We all might need a rest from riding or a chance to explore on our town, so today’s activities are up to you. We will organize a visit to Resource Development International Cambodia (RDIC) in the morning for those who are interested to see the work they do with agricultural technologies, affordable home water treatment, and many other projects. Others might choose to explore the local markets, the Royal Palace, the National Museum, or head to Olympic Stadium for sunset to join in the many outdoor aerobics or tai chi classes!

Jan 8th – Today we take a sobering look at the history of the Khmer Rouge, starting with the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S.21. This group of buildings – located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb – was once a school, but was turned into a prison and torture centre by the Khmer Rouge. This disturbing site is now a museum to explain the crimes committed there. Once we have gained an initial understanding of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, we will visit the ‘Killing Fields’ or Cheoung Ek. A 15-kilometer cycle from Phnom Penh, this site is where Tuol Sleng prisoners were forcibly marched and then executed; it is now a memorial site located in a tranquil setting.

Jan 9th – Today’s ride is one of the most adventurous rides of our journey. We will head out of Phnom Penh along a river embankment and then criss-cross between highways and red dirt roads on our 100km journey to Chuuk. Chuuk is a small town where the only noise pollution is the serenade of crickets; a stark contrast from hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh. Here we will stay in homestays.

Jan 10th – Enjoy a beautiful 90km cycle through come of Cambodia’s most picturesque countryside, passing by the caves of Kampong Trach and finishing in a small community nestled between pepper plantations. In the evening will enjoy a meal at our eco-lodge, which supports social development projects in the local area.

Jan 11th – In the morning we will cycle down to the beach and celebrate our arrival on Cambodia’s southern coast with a boat trip out to Rabbit Island. Here we enjoy fresh sea food, cool breezes, and an opportunity to soak our hardworking muscles in the crystal clear waters.

Jan 12th – This is the last day of our epic adventure, so time to say our goodbyes and continue on our own journey, either in Cambodia or elsewhere in the world.

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