As the title says is only 8 days before I leave to head to Vietnam and Cambodia as part of a fund raiser for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The itinerary is below and its still not too late to donate to this cause. Donations over $2 are tax deductable and you can use paypal if you like.
Donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/peter_hutchings
DAY 1 Depart Sydney Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City you will be met and transferred to the hotel. A group briefing
will be held in the hotel late this afternoon and enjoy a welcome dinner.
DAY 2 Ho Chi Minh City (no cycling)
In the morning, we visit the President's Palace (also known as the Reunification
Palace), Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office both built between 1877 and
1883, and great examples of classic French colonial architecture. After lunch at a
local restaurant, we will visit the History Museum and one of the most beautiful
pagoda the Thien Hau Pagoda.
DAY 3 Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho
After breakfast, we drive out of the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the safety of My
Tho (2 hours) where we get acquainted with our bikes. We then enjoy a 40 km cycle ride
along a combination of well paved, sand and dirt paths. Lunch is at a local restaurant, before
taking a 2 hour traditional boat trip from Cai Be to Vinh Long to experience river life. We then
meet up with the van and drive to Can Tho to check into the hotel. Distance cycled: Approx 40 km
DAY 4 Can Tho – Ha Tien
In the morning we visit Cai Rang floating markets. Then we transfer to Tri Ton where we start
cycling along Vinh Te canal to Ha Tien.
Distance cycled: Approx 50 km
DAY 5 Ha Thien – Kampong Trach - Kep
After breakfast, we cross the border and enter into Cambodia. We then start our ride on
Cambodian soil, up North to Kampong Trach, and further to Kep. Upon arrival in Kep, we
have free time to discover this quiet colonial city at leisure.
Distance cycled: Approx 40 km
DAY 6 Kep – Sihanoukville
We rise early and enjoy the ride along the coast, through the lush sceneries of Bokor
Mountain, rice paddies and fishing villages. We are then transferred to Ream National Park.
Ream offers secluded beaches, mangrove forests, tropical jungles and fishing villages. We
enjoy a boat trip through the mangrove and discover the incredible natural heritage of this
protected area. We reach Sihanoukville in the late afternoon.
Distance cycled: Approx 83km
DAY 7 Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh
Another early morning start as we journey to the capital: Phnom Penh. On the way, we stop
for lunch and to ride about 50 km through the countryside. The evening is free at your leisure.
Distance cycled: Approx 50 km
DAY 8 Phnom Penh (no cycling)
Today we are guided through this bustling city to explore the main sights including the Royal
Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum as well as the Wat Phnom. In the afternoon,
we visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Central Market.
DAY 9 Phnom Penh - Battambang
This morning, we continue cycling towards Udong. We visit the various temples and the three
large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. We also visit the most
impressive structure of the site, the "Vihara of the 18-Cubit Buddha". Udong was the former
capital of the Khmer Empire founded by King Soryopor in 1601. It was built on a hill 40
kilometers north of Phnom Penh. Udong offers spectacular views of the surrounding country
and the innumerable sugar palm trees in the countryside. After lunch, we ride further on the
National Road to Kampong Chhnang. We are then transferred to the ancient colonial city of
Battambang.
Distance cycled: Approx 92 km
DAY 10 Battambang – Siem Reap
Battambang is famous for its fertile soil as well as for rubies and garnets, which are mined in
this province. After breakfast, we head to Vat Banan, an 11th century temple completed by
King Jarvarman VII. It was built on the top of a 400 m high hill, allowing a beautiful view on
the surrounding country side. We then bike back to Battambang for lunch.
This afternoon, we are transferred to Siem Reap by car (approx. 4 hour transfer).
Distance cycled: Approx 56km
DAY 11 Siem Reap – Roulos Temples
You guessed it after an early morning start we cycle to Angkor Wat, easily the most famous
and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. We visit this majestic temple,
ride through the Ancient City of Angkor Thom before taking small paths through the
countryside to Roluos Temple Complex. We stop there for lunch before riding back to Siem
Reap.
Distance cycled: Approx 65km
DAY 12 Siem Reap – Banteay Srei – Beng Mealea
After breakfast, we head to Banteay Srei – “Citadel of the women”. The temple displays some
of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. After a short break for lunch, we ride to the foot
of the Phnom Kulen Mountain and continue east to Beng Mealea jungle temple. We will be
driven back to Siem Reap after the visit of to this impressive monument.
Distance cycled: Approx 86 km
DAY 13 Siem Reap
Today is free for those who wish to revisit Angkor, or exploring the area around Siem Reap. A
farewell gala dinner is included.
DAY 14 Siem Reap
After breakfast the rest of the day is free at leisure until transfer to airport for departure flight.
The itinerary is below and its still not too late to donate to this cause. Donations over $2 are tax deductable and you can use paypal if you like.
Donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/peter_hutchings
DAY 1 Depart Sydney Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City you will be met and transferred to the hotel. A group briefing
will be held in the hotel late this afternoon and enjoy a welcome dinner.
DAY 2 Ho Chi Minh City (no cycling)
In the morning, we visit the President's Palace (also known as the Reunification
Palace), Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office both built between 1877 and
1883, and great examples of classic French colonial architecture. After lunch at a
local restaurant, we will visit the History Museum and one of the most beautiful
pagoda the Thien Hau Pagoda.
DAY 3 Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho
After breakfast, we drive out of the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the safety of My
Tho (2 hours) where we get acquainted with our bikes. We then enjoy a 40 km cycle ride
along a combination of well paved, sand and dirt paths. Lunch is at a local restaurant, before
taking a 2 hour traditional boat trip from Cai Be to Vinh Long to experience river life. We then
meet up with the van and drive to Can Tho to check into the hotel. Distance cycled: Approx 40 km
DAY 4 Can Tho – Ha Tien
In the morning we visit Cai Rang floating markets. Then we transfer to Tri Ton where we start
cycling along Vinh Te canal to Ha Tien.
Distance cycled: Approx 50 km
DAY 5 Ha Thien – Kampong Trach - Kep
After breakfast, we cross the border and enter into Cambodia. We then start our ride on
Cambodian soil, up North to Kampong Trach, and further to Kep. Upon arrival in Kep, we
have free time to discover this quiet colonial city at leisure.
Distance cycled: Approx 40 km
DAY 6 Kep – Sihanoukville
We rise early and enjoy the ride along the coast, through the lush sceneries of Bokor
Mountain, rice paddies and fishing villages. We are then transferred to Ream National Park.
Ream offers secluded beaches, mangrove forests, tropical jungles and fishing villages. We
enjoy a boat trip through the mangrove and discover the incredible natural heritage of this
protected area. We reach Sihanoukville in the late afternoon.
Distance cycled: Approx 83km
DAY 7 Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh
Another early morning start as we journey to the capital: Phnom Penh. On the way, we stop
for lunch and to ride about 50 km through the countryside. The evening is free at your leisure.
Distance cycled: Approx 50 km
DAY 8 Phnom Penh (no cycling)
Today we are guided through this bustling city to explore the main sights including the Royal
Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum as well as the Wat Phnom. In the afternoon,
we visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Central Market.
DAY 9 Phnom Penh - Battambang
This morning, we continue cycling towards Udong. We visit the various temples and the three
large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. We also visit the most
impressive structure of the site, the "Vihara of the 18-Cubit Buddha". Udong was the former
capital of the Khmer Empire founded by King Soryopor in 1601. It was built on a hill 40
kilometers north of Phnom Penh. Udong offers spectacular views of the surrounding country
and the innumerable sugar palm trees in the countryside. After lunch, we ride further on the
National Road to Kampong Chhnang. We are then transferred to the ancient colonial city of
Battambang.
Distance cycled: Approx 92 km
DAY 10 Battambang – Siem Reap
Battambang is famous for its fertile soil as well as for rubies and garnets, which are mined in
this province. After breakfast, we head to Vat Banan, an 11th century temple completed by
King Jarvarman VII. It was built on the top of a 400 m high hill, allowing a beautiful view on
the surrounding country side. We then bike back to Battambang for lunch.
This afternoon, we are transferred to Siem Reap by car (approx. 4 hour transfer).
Distance cycled: Approx 56km
DAY 11 Siem Reap – Roulos Temples
You guessed it after an early morning start we cycle to Angkor Wat, easily the most famous
and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. We visit this majestic temple,
ride through the Ancient City of Angkor Thom before taking small paths through the
countryside to Roluos Temple Complex. We stop there for lunch before riding back to Siem
Reap.
Distance cycled: Approx 65km
DAY 12 Siem Reap – Banteay Srei – Beng Mealea
After breakfast, we head to Banteay Srei – “Citadel of the women”. The temple displays some
of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. After a short break for lunch, we ride to the foot
of the Phnom Kulen Mountain and continue east to Beng Mealea jungle temple. We will be
driven back to Siem Reap after the visit of to this impressive monument.
Distance cycled: Approx 86 km
DAY 13 Siem Reap
Today is free for those who wish to revisit Angkor, or exploring the area around Siem Reap. A
farewell gala dinner is included.
DAY 14 Siem Reap
After breakfast the rest of the day is free at leisure until transfer to airport for departure flight.