Day 1.

Escaping Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh - Kratie

70% Tarmac / 30% Dirt Road ... 270km

Your journey begins at VMS HQ, with a morning briefing before setting out into Phnom Penh’s traffic madness. We drive past Royal Palace, cross the Tonle Sap/Mekong River by ferry, hit the road along the Mekong, and finally leave the Capital behind.

Following the highway, we reach the city of Kampong Cham, famous for Cambodia’s longest bamboo bridge. After taking in the sight of this amazing structure we continue our trip towards Kratie province, home of some of the few remaining individuals of a species of freshwater dolphins, endemic to Southeast Asia, called Irrawaddy dolphin.

After we arrive in the picturesque riverside town of Kratie, we head a little further north along the river to a small place called Kampi and embark on a little boat cruise to visit the dolphins.

Day 2.

Ascending to Sen Monorom

Kratie - Mondulkiri

70% Tarmac / 30% Dirt Road ... 210km

The mountains are calling: We are leaving the Mekong River valley behind us (for now) and turning east to enter Cambodia’s southeastern province of Mondulkiri, home to the Punoung people, one of Cambodia’s ethnic minorities.

Tiny ‘Sen Monorom’, the regional capital is today’s destination. A mere thirty minutes’ drive away is Cambodia’s highest waterfall called ‘Bousra’ where a very special adventure is waiting for the brave traveler: Zipline – Fun!!! Flying through the waterfall.

We will spend our evening in the beautiful natural landscape setting of Nature Lodge sitting under the stars and by the campfire.

Day 3.

Nature Lodge and Elephant Encounters

REST DAY

After two days of solid riding, we slow things down a little and spent a relaxing day in the beautiful natural landscape setting of Nature Lodge. There are still several elephants living in the forests of the Mondulkiri region.

If you feel adventurous, a visit to an elephant sanctuary can be arranged. Observe the grey jumbos in their natural habitat while walking with them through the jungle to a place where you can take a swim with these gentle giants and give them a good scrubbing.

Day 4.

Motorbike Dash to Crater Lake

Mondulkiri - Rattanakiri

60% Tarmac / 40% Dirt Road ... 195km

We are leaving Mondulkiri’s mountainous scenery behind and continuing our journey northbound to the province of Rattanakiri. The most direct connection between Sen Monorom and our next destination – the city of Banlung – the former ‘Death Highway’ is now fully sealed and therefore has lost its bite.

On the plus side: a refreshing splash in the crater lake ‘Yeak Laom’ near Banlung is only three hours’ drive away.

Day 5.

Borderlands Immersion:

Rattanakiri - Siem Pang - Preah Romkel - Kampung Sralav

50% Tarmac / 50% Dirt Road ... 200km

One of the most breathtaking sights the Land of the Khmer has to offer are the torrential waters thundering through the seemingly endless maze of rocks and ravines of the Mekong Falls in the north of Cambodia close to the border to Laos.

This is where we are going on day 6 of our adventure. We will spend the night in a small village nearby which is a great opportunity to whiteness everyday life in the countryside firsthand for a bit. Cook with the locals and experience a night in one of those long-legged stilt houses.

optional: Take the boat to get to a small Laotian river island with an amazing French-colonial history.

Day 6.

Where Borders Meet:

Kampung Sralav – Tbeng Meanchey – Sa Aem

50% Tarmac / 50% Dirt Road ... 265km

We are traveling through the remote North of Cambodia, first along the border to Laos, then along the border to Thailand to visit “Prasath Preah Vihear”. The temple has seen an armed confrontation between Thai and Cambodian border troops only a few years ago but the conflict has been settled by the UN so nowadays the area is saved to visit.

Most dramatically perched atop an escarpment in the Dangrek Mountains (elevation 625 m), the southern tip of the temple structure affords a great view over the plain below (good weather provided).

Day 7.

The Road to Angkor:

Sa aem – Preah Vihear Temple – Koh Ker – Siem Reap

70% Tarmac / 30% Dirt Road ... 225km

After breakfast, we get on our big bikes and continue our journey. The next stop is Koh Ker Temple, the first ancient Angkorian structure that we visit on our journey and a truly unique sight that rarely receives foreign visitors. Our final destination for today in Siem Reap, the gateway to the millennium-old ruins of the Khmer Empire of Angkor – a world-class UNESCO world heritage site.