Cycling Cambodia

Cambodia, is a fascinating country located in South East Asia, between Thailand in the west, Laos in the north and on the edge of western Vietnam. Cambodia, over the last decades, has endured genocide; the loss of over a million innocent civilians, inflicted by the Khmer Rouge regime.

Today, Cambodia has slowly recovered from its horrific past, with the next generation of optimistic and educated youth. Among its neighbours, it is the poorest. The people here welcome business and tourism. One of the most critical and well-visited archaeological sites in South East Asia is Angkor Wat. Many other parts of the country offer jungles, colonial cities and beaches. The land is mostly flat with both proper roads and dirt tracks. Cambodia is a developing country, so there is a mixture of modes of transport, from farmers pushing a wooden cart, to motorbikes and heavy loaded trucks. Be careful of expensive Lexus four-wheeled cars, as they are usually driven by corrupt government officials, and they won’t care about anyone on the roads.

When to Cycle

The ideal time of the year to cycle is from October to April, this is usually the dry season with less rain. But, also keep in mind, it can be scorching during the day. The busiest times on the roads are in November when Khmer celebrate Bon Om Touk, the Water Festival. May until September is the wet season, which can flood streets and create muddy roads.

Where to Cycle

Siem Reap is a great place to cycle, the traffic is less chaotic. It is also possible to stay in the centre of Siem Reap as a base and to spend a day riding to Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples.