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CVE
Mekong Delta & Angkor
15 days Hotels/Homestay Saigon to Siem Reap
CYCLE GRADE A
This classic journey through Indochina links the fascinating cities of Saigon and Phnom Penh with the breathtaking temples of the Angkorian kings, scattered in the Cambodian jungle near Siem Reap. Our cycle routes take us into rural landscapes; emerald green paddy fields and fruit orchards of the mighty Mekong River Delta, to remote villages and hidden temples.
Old Saigon & the Mekong Delta Arriving in the Vietnamese capital we discover the city on foot before taking to our bikes in the countryside near the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels an underground base that hid 10,000 Viet Cong troops during the war. Our meanderings take us south to the stunning Mekong Delta for the chance to discover more about village life at a homestay and explore the floating markets and stilt houses that line the waterways.
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). 2 Arrive Ho Chi Minh City; orientation walk. 3 Drive to Cu Chi Tunnels, visit tunnels, cycle in countryside. 4 Cycle to Mekong Delta, boat trip, cycle to homestay at Ben Tre. 5 Cycle and drive via Vinh Long to Can Tho. 6 Cruise on Mekong, visit floating market and explore villages by bike. 7 Drive and cycle to Chau Doc. 8 Speedboat to Phnom Penh, PM city tour. 9 AM cycle to Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields PM optional cycle to Cham Craft Village. 10 Cycle along Mekong River to Kompong Cham, visit Wat Nokor, drive Kompong Thom. 11 Cycle to Sambor Prei Kuk temple; drive to near Roluos, cycle ride and visit to temples, drive to Siem Reap. 12 Drive to Banteay Srei and visit temple, cycle to Siem Reap via temples. 13 Cycle from Siem Reap to Angkor temples. 14 Fly London. 15 Arrive London. Accommodation & Meals: 11nts hotel, 1nt homestay; 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 1 dinner included. See p45. Bicycle: 21 gear hybrid Taiwanese chopper bikes with rear pannier provided. Daily distances day 01 day 02 day 03 day 04 day 05 day 06 day 07 day 08 day 09 day 10 day 11 day 12 day 13 day 14 day 15 Rest days or optional rides Grade & Terrain: Grade A 292km/9 days (Average 32km/cycling day). Cycling will be mainly on level terrain, 1 day is left free. On several of the shorter cycling days, further optional rides are available. Conversely you can choose not to cycle and stay with the support vehicle. We avoid main roads and cycle on back roads. Cycle 70% on tarmac, 30% earth/gravel roads. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s) and local guides. A bus accompanies the tour in full (although we use different vehicles in the two countries), providing transfers between cycling points and carrying luggage. You are free to travel on the bus if you dont wish to cycle. Cycles are transported by separate truck. Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16. Waterways of the Mekong Delta/Laura Stone
25km 50km 38/61km 16km 30km 30/60km 40km 34km 25km 20km
Get close to local life/Sara Holt
Mekong Delta & Angkor Ref CVE
Angkor jungle temple complex Sambor Prei Kuk Temple SIEM KOMPONG THOM REAP Lake Tonle Sap Kompong Cham PHNOM PENH
City tour
Killing Fields
Khmer weaving village & pagoda Cu Chi Tunnels
CAMBODIA
HO CHI MINH CITY CHAU DOC
Sam Mountain sunset Old Saigon My Tho Vinh Long Tan An
Cambodia by Boat & Bike From Chau Doc we board speedboats to journey along the Mekong into Cambodia and on to the fascinating capital Phnom Penh. As well as sightseeing in the city we cycle out of town on a thought provoking visit to the horrific Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Following the river north we pass through the country of the Chams, a Muslim minority people with their own language and cultural identity. At Kompong Thom we ride along an old logging trail to the pre-Angkorian temple site at Sambor Prei Kuk. Lost Cities of Angkor Our journey ends in Siem Reap, the base for our discovery of the vast ruins of the fabled royal city of Angkor, which lay lost and forgotten for over 5000 years in the Cambodian jungle. Some 150 square kilometres are scattered with walled cities and magnificent stone temples,
sculptures, reservoirs and causeways and an exploration by bike is probably the best way to investigate both the main highlights and some of the lesser known and newly opened sites.
Gulf of Thailand
km 0
CAN THO
Floating market Mekong delta cruise
V I E T N A M SOUTH
200
Causeway to Angkor Wat/Chris Bradley
Essential information about our tours see pages 45-51
Me
kong
Mo Home Cay stay
BEN TRE
CHINA SEA
Dates & prices in £s per adult 15 days from London (Fri-Fri) 2008 deps 25 Jan-08 Feb 08 Feb-22 Feb 28 Nov-12 Dec 12 Dec-26 Dec 26 Dec-09 Jan 2009 deps 23 Jan-06 Feb 06 Feb-20 Feb Flight Incl 1499 1499 1499 1835 1655 Flight Incl 1549 1549 Land Only 829 829 829 849 849 Land Only 869 869
Land Only tour: 13 days - start Ho Chi Minh City day 2 (Sat), end Siem Reap day 14 (Thu) Single Room Option: £115* These are guide prices, see p46 for full details
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