Join us for our 5th annual PEPY Ride as we traverse Cambodia on two wheels and celebrate 5 years of PEPY riding! From the Angkor temples in the North to the southern coast, the PEPY team will visit and learn about off-the-beaten-track Cambodia and have the chance to cross a country by our own human power. We will learn about and support development programs during our ride, and the fundraising portion of the fee will maximize the impact you have on these programs even long after you leave.
Description
Come have your heart warmed by the endless friendly hello as children come out of their homes and magically yell out greetings long before they are even in your site. Be inspired during your visit to one of PEPY’s educational programs and whilst spending time with our energetic teaching staff. Throw yourself into exploring vibrant Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s hustling and bustling capital filled with old colonial charm. Enjoy a well deserved relaxing day on the beach after biking down to the southern coast. Be amazed at the grandeur of Angkor Wat as you explore the area by bike, and pay homage to the ancient Khmer civilization which created these temple cities.
We start the tour exploring the ancient wonders of Angkor in a very special temple tour with the PEPY Ride School’s Grade 4 students, most of whom have never seen this national heritage site though they live less than 70km away. Following the temple visit we will head out to Chanleas Dai to learn about and participate in PEPY’s ongoing educational programs in the area.
Our route will take you around the west side of the immense Tonle Sap Lake and all the way down to Phnom Penh. You will meet Cambodian families and friends of ours as you stop for delicious noodles, tasty sugar cane juice, and fresh coconuts by the side of the road where you will no doubt amuse everyone with your choice to travel by bicycle and of course your funny lycra cycling gear!
Once you reach the vibrant capital of Phnom Penh, you will park your bike at significant historical sites including S-21 prison and the ‘Killing Fields’ to learn about the Khmer Rouge atrocities that overshadow Cambodia's history. This difficult day will be followed by a glimpse into the optimistic future of Cambodia by visiting one of PEPY’s partner organizations.
There will also be time for you to delve into the city on our own before continuing your adventure down to the coast. Cycling past water buffalos, school children on bikes, and pigs on the back of motorcycles, you will make your way through riverside towns down to the beachside town of Kep where you will be able to run straight off your bike into the water in celebration of the phenomenal ride! A boat trip to a beautiful white-sand island to relax and enjoy an amazing sunset is the perfect way to end the trip.
Throughout the trip, you will also have the opportunity to visit some of Cambodia’s best non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to learn about the incredible aid work that they do. This educational aspect of PEPY Tours is highly valued amongst our past participants. Another highlight is the fascinating people PEPY tends to attract and the camaraderie that develops among the team members as the trip continues. This 5th year is going to be our best ride yet as each year we are able to offer more opportunities to meet with, and be a part of, the organizations we have gotten to know and work with throughout Cambodia!
Responsible Tourism
More importantly, you will be able to give back to the projects we visit, both through your funding, and your time. We will focus our tour on learning throughout the trip, from development issues to responsible tourism, often debating the pros and cons of the work that we see as we travel throughout Cambodia. In addition, this trip will offer support to the community of Kompong Sammaki as they explore the development of their community based tourism initiative: mangrove boat tours. Read this post on “Lessons I Learned” about how this project might look. (If you are a professional graphic designer and want to get involved in the management of this project, let us know via our contact us page!
While supporting this project and throughout our trip, we might discuss our feelings about tourism. What impact does tourism have on Cambodia? What factors make that impact more positive? Is promoting tourism a good thing? If tourism is coming to the area anyway, should it be supported, but in “the best way possible”? If so, what is that?! These questions and more are ones you might ask or lead us into a discussion about while we ride.
Throughout the trip, PEPY staff and tour leaders will provide insight into the work of development agencies in Cambodia, current issues, and lessons learned about responsible tourism. The required fundraising contribution will be channeled to programs visited on the tour, thus allowing participants to help to continue the work they visit far after they leave. The dollars spent within the tours themselves will also be bringing support to Cambodia since all PEPY Tours are built around locally owned restaurants and guest houses as well as groups working with and funding sustainable development programs. This translates into delicious dining and comfortable sleeping, and all for a good cause! Join us on this tour and experience Cambodia the PEPY way.
Highlights:
The fundraising component required for each of our tours provides support for education programs and assists select projects of several partner NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). * Tour profits help cover the operating expenses of PEPY Ride, our sister NGO.
Home visits and other initiatives offer direct benefits to the local populations and provide an opportunity for them to teach visitors about their culture and livelihood.
Each PEPY Tour offers a first-hand educational experience where participants learn about the work and role of local and international development agencies in Cambodia, while familiarizing themselves with issues involving contemporary Cambodia and the importance of responsible tourism.
PEPY Tours supports locally owned restaurants and guest houses as well as many other responsibly managed businesses in the tourism industry.
Trip Facts
Group Size: 5-12 people
Grade: Moderate – basic level of fitness required. The ride is challenging, but our pace is not that of a race. We will have meeting points for each day and you will be encouraged to go at your own pace to reach these destinations. Cyclists who are in shape will enjoy the ride much more, however. We will ride a few 100km days with an average day of about 70km. The heat of Cambodia can be strong during mid-day, so we encourage participants to not only get prepared for this trip by fundraising and learning about Cambodia, but also by getting in a bike saddle to prepare your body!
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, tuk-tuk, pick-up truck
Length: 22 days
Dates: December 20, 2009 - January 10, 2010
Start/End Location: The tour starts in Siem Reap and ends in Phnom Penh.
Additional Options: As with all of our tours, if the exact details of this trip (dates, accommodation level, adventure/learning mix, etc) do not fit your specific needs, we are happy to design a custom trip for you and your family or friends. Just drop us an email with the dates you are free and what you are looking to get up to! Learn more at our Custom Tour Page.
Pricing
Tour Price: $1500 (+ Bike Rental $200)
Fundraising Fee: $1500
Inclusions: The trip includes all transportation listed while in Cambodia, bike rental (for those not bringing their own bike), all overnight stays, all tour and entrance fees for listed attractions, and most meals. We leave a few meals free as there are many choices in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and past participants have enjoyed the chance to find their favorite food!
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 your $25 departure tax for those flying out of Cambodia.
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 (this trip already has 6 people signed up so it's going for sure). 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:
