This morning we transfer south out of Phnom Penh to the town of Takeo. Here the road becomes quieter and we mount our bikes for the 31mi (50km) ride to the Phnom Den-Tinh Bien border. Once border formalities have been completed, we cycle approximately 18.6mi (30km) to Chau Doc.

This morning, we ride from our hotel along a lovely quiet backroad lined with villages and dwellings before stopping for lunch and transferring the rest of the way to Vinh Long by bus. Leaving the bikes on the mainland, we take another boat (20 minutes) to reach our homestay guesthouse on an island in the Mekong Delta, known as the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. After settling in we can explore the area on foot. The rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta form an amazing network of waterways. The area is best known for its abundant rice production, but in many areas farmers are now moving to more profitable fish farming and fruit and vegetable growing. The evening is tranquil with dinner at the homestay and true Delta hospitality. We spend the night sleeping at a simple guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided.

An early start as you cycle through the sleepy streets of Battambang to board the boat to Siem Reap. This is arguably the most fascinating river trip in Cambodia and takes around 6 - 7 hours. Yet the timeless scenes you pass makes the time disappear: fishermen returning from the lake with their night’s silvery catch; the blue smoke of fires shifting like mist in the pale pink light of dawn; the scent of breakfasts being prepared. As the river winds its way into the Tonle Sap lake (South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake) you pass an amazing variety of landscapes and lives, seemingly unchanged for hundreds of As the river joins the Tonle Sap Lake you pass the protected wetland of Prek Toal, regarded as the single most important breeding ground for globally threatened large water birds in South East Asia. After crossing the vast expanse of this inland sea and heading towards Siem Reap port you pass through the floating village of Chong Khneas where we witness an entire bamboo village complete with homes, gas stations, schools, hair dressers, and even karaoke bars floating on water! Meals included: B, L Distance cycled: 20km

Today we may choose to have an early start to avoid the inevitable crowds drawn to the wonders of Angkor. The various temples are spread over a wide area and are linked by shady avenues; meandering our way between them by bike gives us a unique perspective. Our cycle tour will include the jungle-covered Ta Prohm, with the amazing roots of the fromager trees clinging to the ancient stones; Angkor Thom, with the Bayon temple of 37 towers (originally there were 49) topped with the four faces of the king; and, of course, the incredible Angkor Wat, which has a huge moat, long causeway and massive towers.

Discover Siem Reap's secrets by remork (Cambodian tuk tuk) on a half-day, small-group tour. Take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap lake through floating and stilted villages. See seasonal agricultural activities of rice planting and harvesting, making fish paste, duck farming and cricket catching! Explore a local village, where you will sample Cambodian snacks and visit a Buddist monastery

Attend the most exciting history lesson ever on a Củ Chi Tunnels Tour! Learn about Vietnam's guerilla war by climbing into the underground tunnels that used to be rigged with booby traps, which played a crucial part in the fight. Built by local fighters during the Indochina conflict, the Cu Chi tunnels served as a base for the Viet Cong, the National Liberation Front. It included almost everything needed for the life of the Viet Cong, where the local soldiers and residents used to eat, sleep, work, cook and even go to school. Started in 1948 as a hiding place from French air attacks, by 1965, the tunnel was estimated to consist of an astounding 200km of tunnels within a larger tunnel system. Have an unforgettable experience as you explore the underground tunnels and get to know what life was like for the Viet Cong soldiers!

This morning you head east on less travelled roads, cycling towards the quiet Thai / Cambodian border crossing, nestled in the foothills of the scenic Cardamom mountains. Immediately on crossing the border you will notice the difference in the fortunes of these neighboring countries as you leave the tarmac of Thailand and cycle on the bumpy red dirt roads of Cambodia! It is also very obvious how the concrete homes of Thailand give way to the wood and thatch shacks of Cambodia. After 20km of Cambodian cycling you arrive at the small, dusty town of Pailin, which was once home to both a thriving semi-precious stone mining industry and some former high ranking officials of the expired brutal Khmer Rouge regime.

Get up early as you acclimatize to the weather. The bike ride hugs the coastline as you pass from beach to beach on small local roads that are very quiet to traffic, the seascapes are marvelous. This is an interesting bike route that lets you see the local Thai way of life, as you cycle through local fishing villages, sea food markets and plenty of temples where you can stop for a well earned rest and refreshments. The mangrove swamps and fruit plantations add a diversity to the scenery on this very picturesque of rides. You also take some short ferry crossings which help to save some distance by taking you directly across the estuaries. You finish the bike ride right on the quiet beach of Chaolao. From here it is so easy to take a refreshing dip in the sea before dinner.