PEPY's Bike & Boat Extension is an exciting addition to the Bike & Boat tour for all those adventurous souls looking for a real challenge and an opportunity to get further off the tourist trail into the depths of rural Cambodia. The extension will pick up from the Bird Sanctuary and take you on a 7-day adventure through the backroads of Cambodia all the way to the capital of Phnom Penh by a mixture of bike and boat.
Description
This extension will start on day 6 of Bike & Boat Tour at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary. As some participants depart back to Siem Reap, the group on this extension will continue on across the Tonle SapLake and narrow marshland passageways to Battambang town, widely referred to as the most scenic water voyage in all of Cambodia.
Famous for its French colonial architecture, as well as the beautiful surrounding landscape of lime-green rice paddy fields, under explored caves, and mountainous backdrops Battambang will be our base for the next two days while we explore the area by bicycle visiting the town’s core sights, exploring historical caves and admiring the serene countryside.There will also be a chance to ride the famous “bamboo train”.
Next we will begin our challenging but highly rewarding 3-day ride South to the capital of Cambodia - Phnom Penh - passing rural street markets, and visiting a rice paper making factory, as well as a rock carving workshop along the way.
The trip concludes with a tour of the country's capital, Phnom Penh, with visits to the ToulSlengMuseum and the Killing Fields where participants will learn about the dark side of Cambodian history. You will get a better understanding of the atrocities of the Cambodian past, which help put the realities of modern-day Cambodia in context.
Itinerary
Day 6: Boat trip to Battambang, tour of the city and a rice-paper making village
Day 7: Bike ride through the countryside to a historical cave
Day 8: Bamboo Train to Moung followed by a bike ride to Pursat (60km)
Day 9: Pursat stone-carving village and a bike ride to Kampong Chnang (70km)
Day 10: Kampong Chnang to Phnom Penh by bicycle (100km)
Day 11: Tour of Phnom Penh
Day 12: Departures
Trip Facts
Group Size: 5-12 people
Grade: Moderate – basic level of fitness required.
Accommodation: “The best fit each place has to offer.” In smaller towns, that might mean a basic hotel with hot water and a fan, although almost all hotels have A/C options (however, PEPY supports the use of fans!). In bigger towns and cities we put our guests up at a mix of mid-range hotels supporting responsible travel.
Transport: mountain bike, boat, bamboo train
Length: 7 days for the extension, 12 days for the entire Bike & Boat + Extension trip (since the extension starts in the morning of Day 6 of the Bike & Boat tour) Start/End Location: The extension starts in Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary and ends in Phnom Penh.
Dates: April 4, 2010 - April 8, 2010
*The above dates are flexible, if neither option is convinient for you, drop us a line specifying your desired date and we'll be happy to try and accommodate your request.
Pricing
Tour Price: $450 (including bike rental) for the extension (total of $1,250 for the entire 12-day Bike & Boat + Extension tour)
Fundraising Fee: $250 for the extension (total of $750 for the entire 12-day Bike & Boat + Extension tour)
Inclusions: The extension includes all transportation while in Cambodia, accommodation, tour and entrance fees for listed attractions, and all meals.
Exclusions: The trip does not include international flights to/from the start and end points. Visas are available upon arrival and cost $20 for most foreign nationals. Also excluded is an international airport departure tax of $25. Additionally, participants are responsible for purchasing their own international travel insurance.
Cancellation Policy: If six people have not signed up for the trip four weeks before the start date, PEPY staff may cancel the tour and any deposits will be refunded in full. If a participant cancels for any reason, their $200 deposit is non-refundable. Refunds will be made for the remainder of the tour fees (excluding deposit and fundraised money) on this schedule:
