Cambodia Motorcycle Tour to Northeast regions - 9 days

Upon your arrival in the country, our guide and driver will pick you up at the airport and then a transfer to the hotel for check-in. Alternatively, make a visit to the gorgeous Royal Palace – a complex of buildings serving as the royal residence of Cambodia’s King; the Silver Pagoda with a beautiful garden on the south side of the Palace – an ideal getaway covered with 5 tons of gleaming silver from the busy streets of the country’s capital; and lastly the National Museum that displays the finest collection of Khmer sculpture in the world. 

Clear the distance of 16km to the outskirt of Phnom Penh in the afternoon. Drop by the famous Killing Fields of Choeung Ek which is called the saddest sight of all – the mass grave containing nearly 9000 bodies after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Experience the Russian Market before turning back to the city if the time left is abundant. Spend the night in the capital city. 

Take some time for an introduction of the tour and safety briefing then we will cycle along the Mekong River toward Kampong Cham – the largest province in Cambodia with much a slower pace of life in some of the most picturesque villages. Then mount a motorcycle and travel along a scenic, deserted back road out of Phnom Penh. Go for sightseeing en route and stop by the silk weaving village. Here, you will see the villagers sitting underneath their stilt houses to manually create shiny silk scarves named kroma. 

We will also pass by many family-size businesses along the way. One of which trading kantel – the handmade mats of plaited reed, as known as reed mat. Embark a ferry crossing the river to hit Kampong Cham. Stay overnight at a hotel in this nice town. 

Take another ride along the Mekong today. Stop by the 1500-year-old Wat Hanchey atop a remote hillside in Kampong Cham. It is a fascinating holy site of the pre-Angkorian Khmer and an important center of worship during the Chenla period. Once reaching the hilltop, you can get the whole stunning views of the Mekong and its surroundings. 

Continue going onwards to a supremely mellow riverside town – Kratie that has an expansive riverfront and some best Mekong sunsets in the country. To get there, we will have to cross plantations of cassava, rubber, and other seasonal ones. 

In the afternoon, arrive at the hotel for some rest. The town is known as a dolphin-spotting in the Mekong so we can’t miss the chance to watch these adorable creatures. And don’t let yourself be stunned by the moment at dusk. Stopover in Kratie. 

As scheduled, we will leave Kratie and make it to the eastern highland of Cambodia. But first, you must go cross several sections of small trails and off-road ride. Consider it as a challenge for your riding skills. Climb all the way uphill to Sen Monorom where you can enjoy the majestic scenery. It’s a little-visited capital of Mondulkiri, an immense area famous for its thick forests, powerful waterfalls, and hills. Waving up and down towards misty, it’s such a real opportunity to soak yourself up in nature and slow pace of life.  

For the rest of the day, zip around the town to behold the waterfalls and discover the hill tribe villages nearby. Get back your energy for the next day by a tight sleep in Sen Monorom. 

Say goodbye to Sen Monorom, we will head north to Koh Nhek, crossing through the quiet road in the forest. As a quiet riverside town on the Sre Pok River, Koh Nhek doesn’t have much to entice the international traveler. Despite that, it’s still fun enough for a little wander around. Break the way to Ratanakiri at a town and maybe a waterfall. 

Then make our way to Ban Lung for hotel check-in. This red-soil town offers a great base for the noisy Ratanakiri, an off-the-beaten-track province worth to visit. The next destination before it’s dark is the magical Yeak Laom volcanic lake fringed by lush jungle and walking trails. Bear in your mind that the lake is considered as a sacred place of worship so if you are about to dive into it, wear clothes rather than a bathing suit. Back to the hotel in Ban Lung and go to bed later on. 

Depart northwest from Ban Lung to the village of Veun Sai on the Se San River’s left bank. But before then we have to pass bamboo forests. This is a Chinese village in the eastern countryside of Cambodia. Though being less popular with visitors, the riverside pretty view is one of the reasons you should check it out. 

After that, go upstream to hit Tampoun villages, where still remains a traditional way of life that the modern world cannot touch yet. The special thing is the making of funeral statuary. Pop into Ka Choan Village that has the most striking and superb totems. 

Eventually, we keep rolling west into Strung Treng for an overnight, a quiet town with the limited appeal but loaded with substantially unexploited tourism potential. It is promising for those with an adventurous spirit as several riverine journeys can be undertaken.

It’s been a week traveling by motorbike to Northeast Phnom Penh and you must be very tired then. So, there will be no more rides today. Just enjoy a whole free day at a pretty lodge by the Mekong. Or making use of time to refresh and recharge your battery. But if you can’t stay still for a day, come around and join interesting activities in the town before hitting the sack at the same hotel.

Before touching the North of the country where lies the Cambodia – Laos frontier, we go west across the Mekong. Take time to contemplate the world’s largest waterfall – Sopheak Mit, 60km from the center of Stung Treng. Breathing fresh air, being all eyes to the lake’s charm and all ears to its magical water sound is such a good way to unwind. During the rainy period from May to September, the waterfall spreads up to a width of over 10km and half of which is the 2^nd largest fall of earth. Take the last ride of the day to Ta Seng village, find a local homestay to spend the night. 

On the last day of the journey, we will have to ride for 296 km on flat gravel and tarmac roads. As a day outing, learn more about Ta Seng, a thousand-year-old village where one of the last kings of Angkor constructed the biggest religious complex of the era in Preah Khan Kampong Svay. Followed by is a discovery to the giant temple complex whose enclosure expands 5 million m2 out. Return to Phnom Penh in the afternoon then let your hair down after long days of riding. And don’t forget to enjoy the city’s nightlife in advance of a farewell to the country.