Description

Our original educational cycling adventure is now entering its 8th year, and will once again be held in parallel with Global Agents for Change. As usual, the PEPY Ride will introduce participants to inspiring social programs, fascinating historical sites and scenic backroads dissecting Cambodian landscape. From the Angkor temples in the north to the country’s capital in the south, you will cross this country by your own pedal power, exploring off-the-beaten-track Cambodia while supporting the community development projects that you visit along the way, ensuring your impact will last much longer than your tour. 

Overview

As part of the usual PEPY Ride program, this tour offers participants the opportunity to traverse Cambodia on two wheels, all the while learning about and supporting community development projects and locally run non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as making a voyage of self-discovery along the way. This year the PEPY Ride VIII will traverse Cambodia all the way to the coast in just under three weeks. If you absolutely cannot commit to the entire 19-day option, consider joining us for the first 14 days of the trip that will allow you to finish in the capital of Phnom Penh.

Below is our approximate itinerary for the PEPY Ride VIII, which is subject to change:

Day 1 – Welcome to Siem Reap! PEPY staff will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Tonight we have a Welcome Dinner where all trip participants will meet, have a chance to get to know each other, take part in an orientation, a bike fitting, and enjoy your first taste of delicious Cambodian cuisine.

Day 2 – We will cycle around the 16 sq kilometer Baray Tuk Tlay, the 700 year old water supply for the Angkor Empire. The ride will take us through the rarely visited western entrance of Angkor Thom and allow guests to ride around the perimeter of the ancient city.

Day 3 – This morning will start with cycling trip to the world-famous temples of Angkor, widely referred to as the 8th wonder of the world. Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s grandest piece of architecture and a national treasure. We will spend the morning visiting different parts of the enormous structure and learning about its construction and history. We will eat a buffet lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to Bayon, the smiling-faces temple, and Ta Promh, also known as the Tomb Raider temple, for the many scenes of the movie which were shot among its overgrown ruins.

Day 4 – This morning we will have an early start as we begin our journey and leave Siem Reap behind. We will start with a 13km ride to the silk farm where we can see how silk is made, farmed and used to make fabric. After visiting the silk farm, we will continue riding to a rural town of Kralanh.

Day 5 – We will spend the day exploring Chanleas Dai by bike. We will spend the morning cycling through the commune and visiting some of the schools PEPY works in and have lunch with the teachers. In the afternoon, we will visit some classes at the junior high school.

Day 6 – Today we will surely feel “off the beaten track” as we cycle the dusty road to Samrong where we will be staying in a local guest house and eating at the only restaurant in town.

Day 7 – We will head further into the countryside to a local community of Bantey Chammar where we will stay a family homestay and explore the nearby secluded temple ruins.

Day 8 - Today we will be heading back into the land of electricity and major roads.  We will a 70km ride to Sisaphon. Tonight we will be dinning with the students from Bantey Meanchey University.

Day 9 – This morning we will be heading to Battambang the NGO capital of Cambodia (also home to one of the best bakeries in Cambodia).

Day 10 – We are sure that you will appreciate a chance to sleep in a bit today and it will be nice to know that we don’t have to pack up and leave. This morning we will be meeting with Digital Divide Data and learning about their programs. In the afternoon there are many options available, including a visit to a fruit farm and a ride on the famous Bamboo train.

Day 11 – Today we will cover on of the furthest distances in one day. We will start early on our 110KM journey to Pursat. Tonight we will be have dinner chat with the staff from Sustainable Cambodia.

Day 12 – Today we will have another big day- a 95km ride to Kampong Channang. This means “place along the river” and “clay pots”, so you can guess what product this town is famous for. We will be staying in a local hotel and exploring more rural culinary delights.

Day 13 – Today we cycle dirt roads to Oudong Mountain, the spiritual center and capital of Cambodia from 1618 to 1866. At the top of the mountain (or hill!) there is a modern temple with wonderful views of the flat surrounding countryside. As our dirt roads transform into a bustling highway, we’ll arrive in Cambodia’s vibrant capital, Phnom Penh. Simply walking the streets of this energetic city is exciting, as you watch cyclos and motos weave through the traffic, stroll past street sellers on the pavement, and take in the beauty of the Royal Palace and the sunset over the Tonle Sap River.Tonight we will be eating at Friends, one of our FAVORITE restaurants! Friends is part of the NGO called “Mith Samlan” the restaurant is run entirely by the young people who have been helped through their programs. 

Day 14 – We all might need a rest from riding or a chance to explore on our town, so today’s activities are up to you. We will organize a visit to Resource Development International Cambodia (RDIC) in the morning for those who are interested to see the work they do with agricultural technologies, affordable home water treatment, and many other projects. Others might choose to explore the markets, Royal Palace, the National Museum, or head to Olympic Stadium for sunset to join in the many outdoor aerobics or tai chi classes! Those of you joining for a two-week trip, this is unfortunately, where we say our good-byes and wish you a safe trip home (or elsewhere).

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Day 15 – Today we take a sobering look at the history of the Khmer Rouge. The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S21, is located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb. This group of buildings was once a school, but was turned into a prison and torture centre by the Khmer Rouge. This disturbing site is now a museum to explain the crimes committed there. Once we have gained an initial understanding of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, we will visit the ‘Killing Fields’ or Cheoung Ek. A 15-kilometer cycle from Phnom Penh, this site is where Tuol Sleng prisoners were forcibly marched and then executed; it is now a memorial site located in a tranquil setting.

Day 16 – Today’s ride is one of the most adventurous rides of our journey. We will head out of Phnom Penh along a river embankment and then criss-cross between highways and red dirt roads on our way to Chuuk. Chuuk is a small town where the only noise pollution is the serenade of crickets; a stark change from hectic Phnom Penh. Here we will stay in homestays. (100 Kilometers)

Day 17 – Enjoy a beautiful cycle, passing by the caves of Kampong Trach and finishing in a small community nestled between pepper plantations. In the evening will enjoy a beautiful meal at our eco-lodge that supports social development projects. (90km)

Day 18 – In the morning we will cycle down to the beach and celebrate our arrival on Cambodia’s southern coast with a boat trip out to Rabbit island where we will soak our hardworking muscles, enjoy fresh seafood, warm water, and a great sunset.

Day 19 – Say our goodbyes and continue on our own adventures in Cambodia or elsewhere in the world.

* We strive to offer local and/or socially responsible restaurants and accommodation throughout the tour.

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.

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 Cambodia, 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: 5-18 people 

Grade: Strenuous. The tour includes medium to high level physical activity such as 100+ km cycling days, long treks, or the like. Good level of fitness is recommended. 

Accommodation: The best fit each place has to offer. In smaller towns, that might mean a basic hotel with hot water and a fan (PEPY Tours supports the use of fans rather than AC!). 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: 19 days (with the option of joining for the first 14 days)

Dates: These are yet to be confirmed, although the annual PEPY Ride typically starts about 3 days after Christmas, and last for around 19 days. For those with less time to spare, there is also the option of a 14 day ride, saying goodbye in Phnom Penh rather than the coast.

Start/End Location: The tour starts in Siem Reap and ends in Kampot or Kep  (or Phnom Penh for those that join the 14-day itinerary).

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 on our Custom Tour Page.

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