Breast Cancer Care Events

Vietnam to Cambodia Cycle Ride

Day 1   - Sunday 1 March

Overnight flight from London to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Day 2 – Monday 2 March
Arrive Saigon

Morning arrival in Saigon.  40 minute coach transfer through the swathes of scooters and hustle and bustle to a centrally located hotel.  After lunch at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to explore this fascinating city. 

Saigon is the heart and soul of Vietnam.  The streets, where much of the city’s life takes place, are a myriad of shops, stalls, stands on wheels and vendors selling their wares on the pavements.  However, within this teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture.  Tonight after dinner we hear more about the challenge ahead.

Day 3 – Tuesday 3 March
Saigon – Tay Ninh         
71km approx

We start with an early departure from the hotel for a 1 ½ hour transfer to the Cu Chi Tunnels.  The Cu Chi Tunnels is an incredible underground network which was excavated by the Vietnamese and used by the Viet Cong during both the French-Indochina War (1946-1954) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975).  There are said to be 250 km of tunnels in the Cu Chi village area alone.

Bike fitting is followed by a guided tour of the village with the option to crawl through a tunnel. After an early lunch in an outdoor shaded terrace, the bike ride begins. Set off slowly in the heat of the day on gently undulating roads to Dau Tieng (20km) with plenty of water stops en route.

The next 19km we turn inland onto quiet rural roads and the scenery transforms into a patchwork of paddy fields, water buffalo and local farmers cycling by with huge bales of straw bursting from their panniers. The last 15km is back on a busier road winding through villages of simple wooden houses all the way to the bustling market town of Tay Ninh.  Today’s route is on tarmaced roads with some undulations. 

Overnight in Tay Ninh.

Day 4 – Wednesday 4 March
Tay Ninh – Cambodian border - Svay Rieng     
100 km approx.

Tay Ninh is the headquarters of one of Vietnam's most interesting religions - Caodaism which is a combination of Hindu, Roman Catholicism and Islam.  The Caodai Great Temple is one of the most striking structures in the whole of South East Asia. 

This morning we cycle to the temple for a visit before setting off towards the Vietnam / Cambodia border at Moc Bai. Border formalities could take some time. Once across the border we cycle on poor quality roads for the first few kilometres but the conditions gradually improve and we are soon enjoying our first glimpse of rural life in Cambodia.

We pass the first of many wooden houses on stilts, all the time greeted by smiling children shouting hello & the sight of water buffalo wallowing in the vast rice fields.  Stop for snacks at a local school. We arrive in the one-horse town of Svay Rieng, a quiet provincial town. The hotel this evening is very basic with no hot water. We dine out in a local restaurant 200 metres from the hotel.

Day 5  - Thursday 5 March
Transfer Svay Rieng – Neak Lung 63km approx
Cycle Neak Lung - Kompong Cham     
approx 108km 

Early morning transfer (1 hour) to the town of Neak Lung, the start of today’s cycle. A rewarding day as we encounter the great warmth and friendship offered by the Cambodian people, despite the years of hardship they have endured.

We experience more rural sights and sounds as we cycle in between endless paddy fields dotted with coconut palms, as far as the eye can see.  Traffic will be light and the terrain flat.  We cross the Mekong River and reach today’s destination, Kompong Cham, a former French trading post and third largest city in Cambodia.

Day 6  - Friday 6 March
Kompong Cham – Kompong Thom   
112km approx. (10km off-road)

The longest day of the challenge but by now we should be acclimatised and familiar with our bikes.  Shortly after leaving Kampong Cham we turn off the main road and follow a quiet rural road through tropical countryside. It’s a beautiful ride, at times with the jungle right to the edge of the road. We cycle past a string of villages interspersed with rice fields and very little traffic.

Today, weather permitting, there will be a 10km off-road section. We are bound to cause quite a stir amongst the locals as we cycle through sleepy backwaters where lycra-clad foreigners are a rare sight! Towards the end of the day we ride through the colourful market towns of Kampong Thor and Santuk and, after the last fruit stop at one of the many beautiful pagodas we see on this challenge, we reach Kompong Thom for our overnight stay.

Day 7 – Saturday 7 March
Transfer 1 ½ hours from Kompong Thom – Ancient Bridge
Cycle Ancient Bridge – Angkor Wat
85km approx

Early morning transfer (1 ½ hours) to the Ancient Bridge at Kampong Kdei.  This is possibly the best example of the remaining 800 year old ancient bridges in Cambodia. Cycle from this wonderful landmark along an historic highway which connects the provinces of Kampong Thom and Angkor Wat.

After 40km we turn off the main road and onto a dirt road that takes us through small hamlets towards Bantey Samrey, one of the many outlying temples belonging to Angkor Wat.  We have lunch near the temple and after a further 15 km cycling along roads lined with lakes, moats and temples we reach Angkor Wat, a fitting finish of this incredible journey. We celebrate the end of this memorable ride then cycle to our hotel in the bustling town of Siem Reap.

Day 8   - Sunday 8 March
Angkor Wat

Free day to explore the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat which along with its surrounding temples are justifiably regarded as one of the wonders of the world. They rank alongside such treasures as the Pyramids in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India. 

Built between the 10th and 13th centuries, they were left abandoned in the jungle until a French explorer stumbled across them in the late 19th century.  The temples retain an incredible sense of power and mystery.  Lunch not included today. This evening we come together to enjoy a celebratory meal.  Overnight Siem Reap.

Day 9  - Monday 9 March
Siem Reap – London

Midday flight from Siem Reap to London via Kuala Lumpur.

Day 10 – Tuesday 10 March

Early morning arrival in London.

Please note: Itinerary, dates and flight times are subject to change

All air and ground travel arrangements for the Vietnam to Cambodia Cycle Ride are organised by Classic Tours, ATOL bonded 3379.