Siem Reap Countryside Bike and Kayak Day Trip

Meet your guide and small-group in central Siem Reap early to start your tour in the cool of the morning.

Your guide provides a safety briefing and outlines the day’s itinerary, then gets you fitted with mountain bikes and helmets. When you’re ready, pedal north into the countryside, following the West Baray, one of two large irrigation reservoirs built in the Angkor period sometime around the 11th century. You might see people swimming or boating as you ride along the wall of the large lake. Swing south along the canals to see more of the region.

By late morning, arrive in a typical village where daily life revolves around the agricultural season. A local resident takes you through the village and shares details about NGO-supported community projects. Afterward, sit down for a tasty lunch and have time to relax in a hammock in the shade.

As the afternoon cools down, your guide takes you to a nearby river where a boat shuttle brings you to the launching point for your 1-hour kayak trip. Receive a paddle lesson and safety briefing, then follow your guide out on the waters of Tonle Sap, the great lake at the heart of Cambodia.

Kayak through a floating village on Tonle Sap and learn about the way of life there. Then glide through mangrove forest (as conditions allow) and set out for the open lake. Your guide explains how the water levels change during the year and why the lake is key to Cambodia's survival.

After kayaking, return to Siem Reap by car, arriving in the early evening.

Expect to bike about 19 miles (30 km) on flat tracks and small roads suitable for most bicyclists, but not beginners. You'll have plenty of stops for photo ops, water breaks and refreshments. An air-conditioned minivan is available should you need a break from bicycling. No prior experience is needed for kayaking.