Cambodia - Children riding to school on bikes.

Cycling for K.I.D.S. in Cambodia

An adventure of a life-time – to change the lives of children.

Overview

Join this fund-raising adventure to bike across Cambodia, a stunningly beautiful country that is still marred by poverty and lack of opportunities for its young people.

You will make a difference to the lives of children and their families in a simple way that has proven to be highly effective – providing them with bicycles!

In Cambodia a bike is literally a ride to education:

Many students have to travel a long distance to school, which is a big deterrent to attendance. A bicycle allows them to get to school and they can take one and sometimes two of their siblings with them.
The students’ families can also use the bikes to get to clinics and to local markets.
This initiative supports local families that sell and fix bicycles.

This 10-day adventure is spectacular (with comfortable hotels and delicious food). From your starting point in Phnom Penh, you ride across rural islands in the Mekong Delta, through tapestries of iridescent green paddy fields and along palm shaded country lanes.

Reaching Siem Reap, you explore the amazing temples by bike: incomparable Angkor Wat, mysterious Ta Prohm overgrown by massive tree roots, and many more.

At the end of the trip after a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake you go to see your donated new bikes being delivered to a school. In a moving finale you have a special celebration with the children and the families you are helping.

You don’t have to be super fit to join this trip! The pace is easy, on flat terrain, pedaling between 35 km and 60 km a day, with a support vehicle along. Both Cannondale Trail bikes and e-bikes are available.

How the fundraising works. Each participant raises funds from friends and family – a minimum of US $ 500 per team member. The funds will go directly to our partners K.I.D.S International to buy bicycles for needy children who live in in the brick factory area near Siem Reap.

K.I.D.S International was founded in 2004 by our dear friends Adrianne Dartnall and Rick Lennert. They work across S.E Asia, with Cambodia as their main focus. In Siem Reap we have seen first hand their incredible work to improve the lives of Cambodian families living in extreme poverty. Through very practical and direct ways, K.I.D.S provides housing, clean water, medicine, schools, educational supplies, transportation and small business grants. It has made a huge difference to very many families. You can read updates on K.I.D.S International projects here: www.adrianneandrickatkids.blogspot.com

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival

Meet your trusty guides, get fitted for your bike and have a trip orientation before a delicious welcome dinner.

Day 2: Exploring Mekong River Delta islands

Plunge into rural Cambodia! Hop across the Mekong River by small ferries and a bridge for a bike exploration of three lovely islands. Pedal through villages and farmland with stops to learn about local weaving and to visit a Buddhist pagoda.

Day 3: Phnom Penh – Kompong Cham

Take another ferry across the Mekong to today’s starting point on its eastern bank. Cycle along the river, through colorful local villages and past beautiful pagodas. After a picnic lunch take another ferry across the Mekong and continue cycling to the riverside town of Kampong Cham.

Day 4: Kompong Cham – Kompong Thom

Transfer to the small town of Santuk, the starting point for today’s cycling. Follow small paths through villages, rice fields and farmlands to the famous Sambor Prei Kuk Archeological area, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore its walled city and cycle through the forest to discover hidden temples dating from the 6^th to 9^th centuries.

Day 5: Kompong Thom – Siem Reap

After a transfer, cycle to Beng Mealea, one of the most mysterious Angkor temples set in (and grown over with!) beautiful forest. Pedal on to Troav Kot Lake for lunch on its shore. Then cycle into Siem Reap and jump into the hotel pool!

Day 6: Siem Reap, and the Angkor Complex

Explore Angkor by bike! Wheel through Angkor Thom South Gate – a fantastic introduction to this amazing area. Visit the Elephant Terrace, Royal Palace, Baphuon and the unique Bayon temple. In the afternoon, cycle to the famous Angkor Wat, for a tour of this iconic site.

Day 7: Siem Reap and outlying temples

Discover some smaller but equally beautiful Angkorian temples, riding on small trails through the forest and villages. A highlight is the mysterious Ta Prohm, famous for huge tree roots that have blended into the ruins. On the way back to Siem Reap stop to watch the sunset from Srah Srang.

Day 8: Siem Reap: Phnom Krom

Follow beautiful red soil trails between rice paddies, lotus fields and sugar palm plantations to reach Phnom Krom, an Angkorian temple set on a 140-meter hill with panoramic views of the plains and Tonle Sap Lake. Reach the top by foot – or if you’re feeling sporty, by bike!

Day 9: Siem Reap: K.I.D.S International Visit

Enjoy a boat ride to some of the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake and have lunch with a local family. Then continue to a school for a joyful ceremony, donating the bikes and celebrating with children who are receiving them and their families. This is an afternoon you will never forget!

Day 10: Siem Reap departure

Say farewell to newfound friends and transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your outbound flight.

Please note: this itinerary serves as an example of trip highlights and can be changed to your preferences.

FAQ

Where will the money raised go to?

The funds you raised will be sent directly to K.I.D.S International to buy bikes for children in the brick factory area of Siem Reap. Any extra funds will go to their Smart Kids project, sponsoring students through secondary education.

Can donors get tax receipts?

Donors in Canada can get tax receipts from K.I.D.S International. This will happen automatically when they make an online donation through our crowd-funding campaign.

Where does the trip start and end?

It starts in Phnom Penh and ends in Siem Reap.

How do I get to and from Cambodia?

Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have international airports. To reach them from North America or Europe you fly though a SE Asian hub such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Taipei, Seoul or Singapore, or through Guangzhou, China. Airlines servicing both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap include: Air Asia, Asiana, Bangkok Airways, China Airways, China Southern, Jetstar, Korean Air, Lao Airlines, Silk Air, Thai, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines.

How fit do I have to be?

The cycling is mostly on flat, easy terrain. There will be some sections on dirt roads. The distances are not great – between 30 km) and 65 km a day, and you will have a support vehicle. E-bikes are available for those who prefer them.

Are E-assist bikes available?

We will have some e-bikes available for a supplemental charge.

I have food allergies. Is that a problem?

Southeast Asian food often includes many condiments that can include traces of nuts or seafood and in the case of soy sauce, gluten. As this trip takes you off the tourist track it will be difficult to source allergen-free food sources. This trip is not recommended for anyone with life-threatening food allergies.

I’m a vegetarian, is that a problem?

Not at all, but please let the tour operator know in advance.

Do I need a visa?

Yes. You can get a visa online before you travel. The tour will send you details and can also offer a fast-track visa service.

Do I need any special insurance?

We strongly advise you to purchase travel insurance, including emergency evacuation and trip cancellation.

Do I need vaccinations?

Your routine vaccinations (tetanus/diphtheria, polio, etc.) must be up to date. Another general precaution is a hepatitis A and a typhoid vaccination. Please consult your local travel clinic or physician.
NOTE: If you are arriving in Cambodia from a country where yellow fever is present, you will need to show that you have been vaccinated for it.

What about malaria?

While it is present throughout the country except for Phnom Penh and the temple complex at Angkor Wat, the risk of contracting malaria is considered to be low. However you may wish to be prudent by taking anti malarial medication. Please consult your local travel clinic or physician.

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