Mekong Bike & Boat Adventure

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Mekong Bike & Boat Adventure

Bike & Boat Tour

Price from

4990 USD

Duration

9 Days | 8 Nights

Level

Tour Code

GHKI20

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Mekong River Cruise and Bike Tour - Saigon to Siem Reap
5.0
5.0

Cruise the Mekong River from the vibrant southern capital of Saigon, Vietnam, to the ancient kingdom of Angkor, Cambodia. Enjoy it the best way possible, the slow way, by bike and boat on a tour specially made to accommodate both cyclists and non-riding partners. Spend your mornings exploring your surroundings by bike or by foot, then in the afternoons, cruise the iconic Mekong River in comfort and style.

Featured at #1 in National Geographic's 17 Ultimate Adventures to Inspire

Quality Bikes
Cannondale CX3 or E-bike

Your Guide
Friendly Cambodian and Vietnamese teams

Group Size
8 to 20

Accommodation
Tom Tiou Luxury Riverboat & Hotels

Activities
Ride/walk

Minimum Age
14

Overview

A truly enjoyable way to journey between Saigon and Siem Reap is on river cruise combining the best of both bike and boat touring. Your trip starts out with a walking tour of the lively city of Saigon before boarding the ship. Then pedal along the Vietnamese end of the Mekong Delta, through friendly villages and colonial towns. Or if you are a non-cycling participant, enjoy a guided tour by foot before catching up with the riders. At the end of each day of cycling and activities, board the ship without the need to unpack, and relax on deck with a refreshing drink as the world of the Mekong Delta glides by.

Once you’ve cruised into Cambodia, enjoy the change of scenery with a day of cycling and sights around Phnom Penh’s Silk Island. Explore Cambodia’s capital city and learn about its history before flying to Siem Reap: the home of Angkor Wat. One of the highlights of this journey will be watching the first colors of the day illuminate the sky over the spires of Angkor and cycling around the grounds of the historical national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Biking or hiking through the backroads and paths of Southeast Asia each morning, you'll have the opportunity to meet local people and learn about their lives and traditions. You'll witness firsthand the agricultural miracle that is the Mekong Delta, while enjoying delicious local cuisine, and staying in comfort throughout the journey.

We warmly welcome non-cycling partners or friends on our Bike & Boat trips and have planned off-boat activities for them each morning while the riders are out cycling. So everyone gets to enjoy the magic of the Mekong region in their preferred way.

170 - 250 Km riding. The riding is mostly flat. You’ll cycle on a great variety of surfaces, ranging from concrete to hard-packed dirt and even a few forest trails around Angkor. Traffic will almost always be a rarity, allowing you to engage with the locals as you go, stopping for a chat or a photo as you wish.

Pedal-assist E-bikes are an available option on this tour for $175.

Standard Cabin Single room: $1,500 USD
Upper Cabin Single room: $2,000 USD

Highlights

Take a walking food tour of the lively city of Saigon and sample favorites including local coffee, beer and chocolate.

Cycle or wander the maze of canal paths and bridges of the fertile Mekong Delta

Pedal the Silk Islands near Phnom Penh and visit traditional village industries.

Wander your way through Phnom Penh with your expert guide in tow to learn more about Cambodian history.

Gaze at a magnificent sunrise over the spires of Angkor Wat before exploring the park by bike and foot.

SAIGON explorer

optional 2-day/2-night guided trip extension

Ha Long Bay explorer

optional 3-day/2-night guided trip extension

What our Guests Say

Day to Day

Day 1: Saigon - All Aboard!

Meal:
LD

Welcome to Saigon!

We'll meet at our pre-designated hotel where you can get acquainted with your fellow adventurers on a walking tour. Exploring the city on two feet you'll learn about Saigon’s history and architecture, all the while discovering more about local life. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity to taste some local specialties, such as Vietnamese coffee and chocolate.

In the early afternoon, it’s all aboard our ship for the maiden voyage to the top of the canal. We’ll enjoy our first dinner together on board.

Day 2: Village & Forest Ride, Ship to My Tho

Riding:
30km
19mi

Meal:
BLD

This morning let’s hop on our bikes for our first ride around the top of the canal. The Mekong Delta is the longest river in Southeast Asia and runs through many of its countries, including Vietnam and Cambodia. We’ll have our first look at this lush delta with an explorative pedal through the riverside villages and Dragon fruit farms. Once we’ve cycled up an appetite, we’ll board the barge again for lunch to join the non-cyclists and then sail up the river to My Tho.

Day 3: Explore the Mekong to Cai Be

Riding:
40-65km
25-40mi

Meal:
BLD

Today you’ll have the option to choose between a morning ride and afternoon on the ship, or morning on the ship and afternoon ride… unless you want to try both! Our morning ride takes us through the busy floating villages and river commerce of My Tho, and ends at a local home for a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

If you choose to pursue the afternoon ride, we’ll cycle along towards Cai Be: another town built on a mix of land and water. This village is full of friendly children, so be prepared to stop and smile or wave at kids biking to school in their blue and whites. Our ship anchors near Cai Be so we can enjoy a flavorful Vietnamese meal in town.

Day 4: Cruise & Cycle to Cao Lanh

Riding:
40-65km
25-40mi

Meal:
BLD

Again today you have the option to choose whether or not to ride in the morning, afternoon, or both. The morning cycling route takes us along the riverbanks from Cai Be to the pleasant colonial town of Sa Dec, where we’ll devour lunch before boarding the ship again.

Should you choose the afternoon ride, you’ll saddle up on your bike and pedal through narrow, shaded paths past locals hard at work growing flowers, clay brick, and transporting a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies to the market. Our ride ends near the busy city of Cao Lanh, then we board the boat again to stop near the Chau Doc canal for the night.

Day 5: Bike & Boat into Cambodia

Riding:
25km
16mi

Meal:
BLD

This morning’s ride weaves us around the top of the canal for our last glimpse of the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta. Then it’s all aboard at 11, and we’ll cross into Cambodia just a few hours later. Once typical border formalities have been carried out, we can enjoy a sail around Phnom Penh for sunset, where we’ll anchor near the city’s Silk Island.

Day 6: Silk Island Ride

Riding:
20-40km
12-25mi

Meal:
BLD

Koh Dac, also known as Silk Island, is a small island close to Phnom Penh that is well-known as the home of silk weaving. Local women practice this traditional activity on looms under their raised houses, and we’ll have a chance to learn about the process of how silk is made as we cycle around this piece of land. We’ll head back to the boat for lunch and have the opportunity to discover more of the Mekong riverside with a ride along its banks in the afternoon.

Day 7: Phnom Penh Exploration

Meal:
BLD

As the sun rises to its post in the sky, our ship will arrive at Phnom Penh. The capital of Cambodia is an interesting place. Little more than a collection of shacks along the river when the French arrived, it was quickly designed with a grid-style layout and lined with beautiful colonial buildings such as the Central Market which has recently been restored.

The city was forcibly evacuated when it fell to the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s and thus ensued a period of decay that continued through the early years of re-population. In the late nineties and early 2000s as the country started to get back on its feet, the city had a shattered charm to it with many still-vacant buildings and creaking infrastructure.

We’ll have the chance to discover more of this dynamic city with a walking tour in the late morning alongside the non-riders, followed by lunch in the city. Once we’ve had our fill, it’s off to the airport for our flight to Siem Reap.

Day 8: Angkor Sunrise Experience

Riding:
25km
16mi

Meal:
BLD

Prepare for an early rising this morning, as we get moving before the sun has peeked out from behind the horizon and the first roosters have started to crow. We’ll transfer to the otherworldly Angkor National Park, where all tour participants will gather in front of the many imposing towers of the main temple itself. If we get lucky with the weather, we’ll catch a spectacular color show as the sun rises behind the great temple’s spires.

Once the sun is up and the crowds of tourists have dispersed, we will begin our in-depth exploration of this and other ancient temples in the Angkor complex and enjoy breakfast in these peaceful surroundings. Discover the mysteries this jungle has to offer as we cycle down narrow tracks and hidden dirt paths to iconic temples such as Bayon or Ta Prohm, and some of the lesser-known ancient structures. Non-riders will explore the temples by tuk-tuk.

We’ll enjoy lunch by the Sra Srang Reservoir that surrounds the Angkor Wat temple before we head back to the hotel. The afternoon is free to pursue your own wanderings in town or relax back at the accommodation.

After an early dinner, we’ll head to an enthralling show put on by Phare Circus: the acrobatic troupe comprised of talented Khmer who have attended a professional arts training center run by an NGO.

Day 9: Tour Concludes

Meal:
B

Our tour concludes this morning in Siem Reap with a few last activities to immerse you fully in Cambodian culture. We’ll start with a visit to the Angkor National Museum, dedicated to the preservation of ancient Angkorian architecture and artifacts, then make our way to the APOPO NGO that uses rats to detect landmines, then finish our morning with some of the best coffee in town at Footprint cafe. You will be transferred to the airport in time for departing flights, or feel free to stay and explore this charming little city on your own.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Grasshopper Adventures’ NEW choice of vessel is the intimate yet spacious Toum Tiou 2, beautifully crafted with only 14 cabins. The Toum Tiou 2 (and her older sister ship the Toum Tiou 1) are the only cruise vessels on the Mekong which can reach the center of Saigon city rather than the ports two hours out of town. This is due to their size and shallow draft. The shallow draft also allows us to access remote villages and river arms, out of reach of the larger cruise boats.

A substantial full-length open upper deck, complete with sundeck bar, gives you ample room to spread out and soak in the 360-degree views. The ship is elegant and comfortable, without being stiff or formal, her style and decoration blend with Cambodian and Vietnamese culture. The Toum Tiou is under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures with our own Grasshopper tour director.

Length: 38m - Width: 8m
Speed: 11 knots
Wifi: in public areas

Amenities:

8 main deck cabins (convertible to twin or double)
6 upper deck cabins (convertible to twin or double)
Large panoramic windows for a clear view of the river
In room Air-conditioning
Ensuite shower/toilet with brass fittings and boutique toiletries
Air-conditioned lounge with large screen television, movie selection, and popular board games
Complimentary tea, coffee and drinking water
All-day snacks at the bar
Premium mattresses and quality linens
Mini-safe
Multi-configuration plugs
24hr Laundry service
Turndown service

Top quality, well maintained Cannondale CX3 mountain bikes in a full range of sizes are included in your tour, fitted with hybrid tires for touring. Handlebar bags for your personal possessions and a comfortable saddle are also provided, with a women's specific version available.

Cambodian woman grilling meat and fish over fire

On this tour, we are welcoming non-cycling partners as there will be plenty of exciting tours for you to do. Visit local village and produce markets, meet with Artisans and stop to explore a few historically important locations. These activities will be available to you each morning while the riders are out on the road. Groups will reunite aboard the Toum Tiou for lunch and will spend the hot afternoons relaxing and cruising up the river together.

The accommodation we use in Siem Reap is a top-rated property, which offers incredible service, first-class amenities and a unique personal charm that sets it apart from the many characterless hotels that abound in Siem Reap.
Aboard the ship, you can recharge for another adventurous day in your wood-finished twin or double bed cabin, each fitted with private ensuite, air conditioning and large windows that allow for good views and plenty of natural light. The large vessel contains just 14 cabins, specifically designed to give guests the feeling of being on a personalized riverboat, not a bland hotel room or mass cruise ship.

Simple to use and a pleasure to ride, the Trek Conduit+ pedal-assist bike expands touring possibilities for all riders, and anything that enables people to explore more of the world by bike is a great thing in our books! Find out more about our E-Bikes here.

Always striving to deliver a premium tour experience, Grasshopper Adventures are the first (and currently only) to offer pedal-assist e-bikes as a tour option in our select Southeast Asian destinations. An upgrade can be purchased for this trip, availability is limited and on a first-in basis. Please select the e-bike option when making your online booking our support team will follow-up regarding availability.

Cambodian guide showing the murals of Angkor Wat

Experienced English speaking, local leaders will host you on this trip who are well spoken, very knowledgeable, and charming. For tours of 7+ people, an assistant guide will accompany the group to allow for flexibility and ensure attention to service & detail.

Our leaders are often cited as being the main highlight of the tour. We use local guides who have a passion for their countries and are always well informed on topics ranging from history, politics, cuisine and importantly local customs and cultures. Our leaders will take pride in introducing you to every aspect of their country and will help you to connect with the villagers you meet along the way. They will also keep your safety and comfort top priorities at all times.

An air-conditioned backup support vehicle is always available for tired riders and to carry your luggage. In the Mekong Delta, we are on narrow bike and pedestrian style paths and trails where the support vehicle cannot follow. It will, however, meet us at intervals of 10km or so and can meet us at closer intervals if there is an urgent need.

This is as much a food adventure as it is a bike one. While Cambodian cuisine may not be as famous as Vietnamese, it offers some subtle, understated flavors. There is a strong emphasis on fish and fresh vegetables in the traditional diet, but contemporary Cambodian cuisine offers a wide range of options and surely has something for everyone. Vietnamese food is now known around the world, but what may not be so well known is that there is a great deal of variety within the national menu. In the southern area where we will be, a lot of seafood is available and also freshwater fish. In reality, though, the Delta produces such a mind-boggling amount of food that the range of choice may endanger any hopes you had of losing weight on this bike tour. Our guides are experts at introducing you to the finest food on both sides of the border. Included meals are listed in the day by day itinerary, and drinking water is always included with meals. Any soft or alcoholic drinks are not included and will be at your own expense.

Energy bars and local snacks are provided to keep your energy levels up for the riding, and clean water and electrolyte drinks are always available to keep you well hydrated.

Smiling female cyclist in Vietnam Grasshopper Adventures jersey

A beautiful souvenir cycling jersey is yours to wear and take home. We also provide a custom drink bottle as an extra memento.

This tour is guaranteed for a minimum of 8 travelers. And we limit the group size to only 20 travelers so that you get all the attention you want in an intimate group.

There is no surcharge for single travelers - we will match you with another same-sex single traveler. If you want a single room there is an optional upgrade that you can book.

Travel by any means results in some impact to the countries, communities and environments we travel. On this tour, we aim to make a positive impact through our Book Donation Program and we seek to minimize our environmental impact through running our Cambodian support vehicles on 100% Biodiesel from Naga Biofuels. This is not a crop-based product, the fuel is made entirely from recycled cooking oil.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Toum Tiou II

The ship is elegant and comfortable, without being stiff or formal. Style and decoration blend with Cambodian and Vietnamese culture.
The Toum Tiou is under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures with our own Grasshopper tour director.

Jaya House Riverpark

This luxurious hideaway on the Siem Reap River features stylish rooms, a serene swimming pool, and excellent service. Jaya House River Park is also a conscious member of the community, supporting several local NGOs doing good in Siem Reap.

Trip Extensions

Saigon Explorer

Get a fascinating look inside this vibrant and fast-evolving city that is the beating heart of South Vietnam on an optional 2-day/2-night guided tour extension of Saigon.
Includes: multiple guided city and food tours, accommodation, entry fees, snacks on tours, and most meals.

VIEW EXTENSION

Ha Long Bay Explorer

Explore the strikingly beautiful islands of Ha Long Bay in North Vietnam on an optional 3-day/2-night guided tour extension – 3 unforgettable days of cruising and active adventure in paradise!
Includes: Flights, accommodation, exclusive chartered boat, all meals, guide, transfers, equipment, and activities.

VIEW EXTENSION

GUEST REVIEWS

A great way to experience the people, sights and tastes of the area.

The group (a mix of those who knew each other before the tour and those who didn't) happened to work exceptionally well - a reflection both of the individual participants and tour leaders/support staff. Grasshopper's support for the Children of Cambodia Foundation and other local charitable organisations is another real reflection of it as a caring organisation and one with with integrity.

Excellent guides who knew their stuff and were able to adjust itineraries etc when required with little fuss. Meals both on the boat and on-land were excellent - dietary limitations were well handled. The support of locals by patronising local businesses (incl meals and the general itinerary) is a real bonus.

-Russ & Julie

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it possible to enter Cambodia with an E-Visa on an upstream cruise Saigon-Phnom Penh?

At this time the E-Visa does not support the water border crossing. You can exit Cambodia on an E-Visa but you cannot enter at this water border. Most nationalities can get the visa on arrival during the cruise at USD 35.- per person (plus bring one passport photo). Frequently Asked Questions about Cambodian Visas.

2. Do you organize the visas for Cambodia?

No, each participant is responsible for their own travel documents and arranging visas.

3. Is the pass to the Angkor Archaeological Park included in the tour fee?

Yes, it is.

4. What time is the sunrise at Angkor Wat?

The sunrise varies according to the season. To find the time of the next sunrise at Angkor Wat click this link.

5. What is the bedding configuration on the ship Toum Tiou 1?

All 10 outside cabins have twin beds which can be moved together to build a double. Please let us know your preferences at the time of booking.

6. Is there wifi on board?

There is free wifi in the public area of the ship. Please note that reception can be weak or non-existent depending on the area we are cruising.

7. Will I see my non-cycling partner only during the evening?

We crafted the itinerary in a way so we can all meet for breakfast, lunch and leisurely evening with dinner.

8. What is the luggage allowance on the domestic flight Phnom Penh - Siem Reap?

It is 20kg (44lbs) per person for check-in luggage.

9. What is travel in Vietnam like?

Click here to see our Vietnam Travel Guide.

Here is some general travel information for Vietnam.

10. What is traveling in Cambodia like?

Click here to see our Cambodia Travel Guide.

Here is some general travel information for Cambodia.

11. What is a bike and boat river cruise like?

Bike & Boat Tours - The Best Of Both Worlds

12. What is the cycling in the Mekong Delta like?

Read about a customer's experience of cycling in the Mekong Delta.

13. Follow link below for general questions about our multi-day bike tours

Multi-day Cycling Tours Frequently Asked Questions

Dates & Price

Dates Availability Price * Deposit payment: $800 USD
* Single room option: $1500 USD

04 - 12 Nov 2022 Seats available