9 Day Off-Road Discover Cambodia Highlights Guided Motorcycle Tour

Overview

Dirt, rivers, temples, paddy fields, mountains; this is a short motorcycle trip which consists primarily of the most adventurous routes of the ‘classic’ Cambodia Adventures motorcycle trip. During this trip, you ride largely on unsurfaced paths, through the jungle, between paddy fields and along the Mekong River. You journey to the miraculous Angkor Wat via inland roads, you take a boat trip along floating villages and find your way south along narrow pathways. The nature highlight is probably the route through the Cardamon Mountains. Part of it is unsurfaced and this can be a real challenge, especially if it has rained a bit.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Phnom Penh
• Take a ferry to cross over the Mekong River to avoid the traffic in Phnom Penh
• Visit the beautiful Han Chey Temple, with its scenic views over the Mekong
• See the impressive temple complexes of Angkor Wat
• In Battambang, see of UNESCO-protected French colonial houses along the river
• Cross through the Cardamom Mountains
• Take the new Chinese road, a concrete block path that will lead you to Koh Kong
• 8 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival - Phnom Penh

   You will arrive at the airport of Phnom Penh. The hotel is around a forty-five minute drive from the airport to the city centre. The journey to the hotel gives a first impression of the crowds, the hustle and bustle of the city and the buildings. The tour leader will outline the rules governing travelling by motorcycle and will go over the details of the full journey again. If you have time, you can explore the city. They will meet you again in one of the many cafes along the Mekong River in Phnom Penh.

2. Day 2: Phnom Penh - Kratie

   An early start for a beautiful and varied day. After just a kilometre of motorcycle riding, you take a ferry to cross over the Mekong River. By doing this, you avoid the busy traffic of Phnom Penh and find yourselves immediately on narrow paths and roads. You ride along the Mekong River, passing through villages and many temples. You will enjoy a local lunch somewhere in the vicinity of Kampong Cham. You continue on your way, literally passing through the backyards of the local population. After visiting the beautiful Han Chey Temple, with its scenic views over the Mekong, you continue your wa

3. Day 3: Kratie - Kompong Thom

   You will backtrack along the Mekong to cross the river with a ferry. Now you start a challenging journey of 190 kilometres unpaved and off-road. The track leads you straight through rubber and fruit plantations and goes through a landscape where you can imagine yourself in the African Savannah. You should bring along sufficient water for the journey as there are not many places to have a drink. Halfway in the middle of nowhere, the road is suddenly blocked with a chain, and you have to pay toll for the bridge that can hardly carry you. You look for a simple lunch along the route as soon as you

4. Day 4: Kompong Thom - Siem Reap

   There is a main road to Siem Reap, but you will soon leave this road in search of gravel and little dirt roads to visit small villages and local markets. As you arrive in Siem Reap from the south, you will soon spot the first impressive temple complexes of Angkor Wat. Siem Reap is one of the liveliest cities in Cambodia. In the centre you will find countless good restaurants and many charming cafés. Moreover, this is the perfect place to shop for souvenirs, send an email or spoil yourself with a massage. This afternoon you have the time to visit the large temple complex of Angkor Wat. The temp

5. Day 5: Siem Reap - Battambang

   After breakfast you ride through the Angkor Wat area towards Battambang. You will try to avoid the busy chaotic highway as much as possible. In the direction of Sisophon, 100 km from Siem Reap, this part of highway no. 6 is still easy to ride on, but from Sisophon onwards major road constructions are carried out on Highway no. 5 to Battambang. Partly because of this, it is an incredible chaos and a real challenge. You try to avoid the highway by taking minor (dirt) roads towards Battambang. In Battambang, the second biggest city of the country, there are many UNESCO-protected French colonial h

6. Day 6: Battambang - Veal Veng

   If it has been raining recently, today can be a strenuous and challenging day. Riding to and crossing through the Cardamom Mountains can be a muddy event. Even though Cambodia has received lots of tourists for many years, the Cardamom Mountains is discovered by very few foreigners. The mountains form the border between Cambodia and Thailand and has long been a Khmer Rouge stronghold. Initially, the gravel roads are wide and flat, but they will get more bumpy and smaller when you get into the mountains. Agricultural plains turn into tropical rainforests. You spend the night in a simple guest ho

7. Day 7: Veal Veng - Koh Kong

   Today the route can get pretty challenging as well, especially when a rain shower has changed the surface into slippery smooth red clay. You take your time for this adventurous route through the green forest. The civilized world will be very far away for a while. You will also have a provisional lunch along the way. After lunch, you will look for the new Chinese road, a concrete block path that will take you to Koh Kong. If you have time you will see if you can take a refreshing dive in the sea somewhere along the way. Koh Kong is a small town on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, a few kilome

8. Day 8: Koh Kong - Phnom Penh

   You leave the mountains on a freshly surfaced road in the direction of Sre Ambel. It is still reasonably quiet on this section. After lunch, you continue your way to Phnom Penh. You take a look at life in the country and exchange it again for the hustle and bustle of the city. In the evening you take a moment on the boulevard to review all the adventures of the preceding week. The “Night Market”, located at the beginning of the promenade, offers the opportunity for some last souvenirs.

9. Day 9: Phnom Penh - Departure

   You will have to get used to taking a bus again as you head back to the airport. Enjoy one last opportunity to soak in the city’s vibrancy before entering the airport and setting off on the journey home.

Ride Details

Terrain

30% off-road

Bike

rental bike (Honda XR or Baja 250cc motorcycle)

Mileage

1,400 kilometers / 870 miles

Daily rides

136 - 311 kilometers / 85 - 193 miles

Riding gear - mandatory

helmet, motorcycle jacket with protection, gloves, good hardwearing (motorcycle) trousers with protection or separate knee protection and solid high (mountain) boots

Meals

breakfasts

Accommodation

During this trip, you will stay in hotels and basic accommodations. Some accommodations are basic, family-run, but are the nicest options in town.

Getting There

This motorcycle trip will lead you through Phnom Penh, Krati, Kompong Thom, Siem Reap, Battambang, Veal Veng, and Koh Kong. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-trails/9-day-off-road-discover-cambodia-highlights-guided-motorcycle-tour# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-trails/9-day-off-road-discover-cambodia-highlights-guided-motorcycle-tour# "Zoom out") [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/m