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Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia 2023

Challenge level: 3 out of 5

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When can I go?

4 November - 15 November 2023 Sold Out
15 November - 26 November 2023 Sold Out
27 November - 8 December 2023 On Sale
Duration 12 days

What does it cost?

Registration fee (payable today) Info $523

Stay longer in Cambodia

You deserve a celebration after you conquer our two-country challenge, so why not jump on our exclusive optional extension package and stay longer in Siem Reap? You can spend more time exploring the Angkor Wat temples and see the spectacular Phnom Kulen National Park, the River of 1,000 Lingas and the Kulen Waterfall.

Get the full details of this stunning Siem Reap extension package in the downloadable info sheets below:

- Group 2 (4-15 November) optional extension package

- Group 3 (15-26 November) optional extension package

If you would like to take part in this optional extension, please let us know by the 14th July 2023. Call us on 01590 646410 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or email bookings@dream-challenges.com

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Total commitment Info

Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia 2023

Discover two incredible countries while raising funds for your favourite charity on this awesome 450km cycling challenge from Ho Chi Minh City to the world-famous Angkor Wat.

Our unbeatable Vietnam to Cambodia cycle is one of our most popular adventures of all time and it's no wonder why!

We’ll ride a stunning route through the beautiful Mekong Delta, alongside rivers lined with banana plants and palms, past tranquil orchards and villages, to an epic finish exploring the ancient temples of Angkor on our bikes.

Along the way, we'll even get to visit the Floating Market on the Mekong River and pay our respects to the victims of the Khmer Rouge at the Killing Fields near Phnom Penh.

This charity bike ride is a special opportunity to immerse yourself in the fascinating cultures of both Vietnam and Cambodia, two countries which have gone through dramatic changes over the past fifty years, shaken by war, genocide and tourism.

Giving back to the planet
We've designed this overseas challenge to give back to the places we visit.

Not only have we picked fantastic local suppliers; but we're also off-setting the carbon of the ground operations; so rest assured that we are minimising the impact of your cycle!

Your itinerary

Days 1 & 2
London - Ho Chi Minh City

We first meet at the airport in London for our overnight flight to Ho Chi Minh City and say Good Morning to Vietnam when we arrive on Day 2.

From the airport, we transfer to a hotel in the city for our bike fitting and a challenge briefing from our local challenge leader.

The rest of the day is then free for you to chill at the hotel or explore Vietnam’s bustling capital city as you wish.

Why not take this opportunity to visit the War Remnants Museum? It’s a truly sobering but eye-opening experience and a perfect way to get some insight into the country we’ll be riding through.

This evening, we meet back up for our Welcome Dinner and get our first taste of the delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City -Ben Tre - Tra Vinh | approx. 62km

After breakfast at the hotel, we we transfer to My Tho and enter the amazing Mekong Delta, with a ferry journey across the Tien Giang River.

We’re now far from the city traffic and set off on a smooth cycle along tracks bright with banana plants and palms. Passing through a number of local towns and villages, we stop for lunch at a restaurant in Ben Tre.

In the afternoon, we cross pretty canals and tributaries and end with a boat ride across the Co Chien River to Tra Vinh. Here, we have our dinner and settle down at our hotel.

Day 4
Tra Vinh – Can Tho | approx. 90km

Cycling further today, we treat our legs to a fairly flat route and our eyes to some gorgeous views along the way.

Pedalling through rural communities and small towns, we pass colourful pagodas and cross the river over small, wooden bridges. Gaining some insight into the countryside communities we’re riding through, we have the chance to visit local Khmer temples.

The excitement doesn’t end there – we also make a stop at the beautiful Ba Om Pond, bedecked by water lilies and lotuses and surrounded by ancient trees with extraordinarily shaped roots.

We rest tonight at a hotel in the town of Can Tho, where we have dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5
Can Tho - Chau Doc | approx. 75km

Rise and shine to visit the fabulous floating markets in Cai Rang and Phong Dien.

Mounting our bikes, we’ll cycle along the river bank and watch merchants pass their goods from boat to colourful boat. We’ll see endless cottage industries, including timber merchants, coconut shredders, and small docks, where tradesmen load massive amounts of rice to and from boats – not your usual supermarket!

Pedalling on, we follow a narrow lane to the main road and stop for lunch. Suitably rested and refreshed, we’re back on our bikes this afternoon, cycling along a tiny road upstream to Long Xuyen. This marks the end of our ride today, and we can now rest our legs on a transfer to our hotel in Chau Doc.

Day 6
Chau Doc - Phnom Penh | approx. 8km

Today, we cycle Cambodia!

Staying off our bikes for the morning, we transfer to the harbour and take a scenic boat ride from Vietnam to Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh.

Once we’re grounded and across the border, we enjoy our lunch in a restaurant overlooking the busy harbour, before continuing out cycling challenge in the afternoon. Our short cycle takes us to the infamous Killing Fields of Cambodia.

Day 7
Phnom Penh – Kampong Thom | approx. 70 - 90km

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer away from the city traffic and across the Japanese bridge to the surrounding countryside.

We start our first full day cycling in Cambodia, following quiet, dirt and tarmac roads alongside the Mekong River. Passing through many friendly villages and orchards, we stop for lunch and pedal on until we reach Totoeng village. Here, our bus awaits, and we transfer to our hotel in Kampong Thom.

Day 8
Kampong Thom - Siem Reap | approx. 66km

Beginning with a transfer to Damdek, we continue cycling through the countryside today, and follow village back roads all the way to our lunch stop at a local restaurant.

This afternoon sees us back on our bikes and riding until we reach our hotel in Siem Reap, the gateway to the famous ruins of Angkor Wat and other incredible temples, featured in blockbuster films.

Once checked in, we have time to enjoy a shower and relax, before going out for dinner. Why not take the opportunity to browse the souvenirs and handicrafts at Siem Reap’s vibrant night market? Siem Reap is our last stop before we jet home, so if you’d like to buy some gifts or a memento of this magical charity challenge, this is a fab place to get haggling!

Day 9
Exploring Angkor Temple Complex by bike | approx. 28km

Welcome to the final and most exciting day of our overseas adventure, dedicated to exploring the extraordinary Angkor temple complex!

Cycling around the ruins together, we get a much more special and intimate experience of the iconic sites and the surrounding area than is possible by car or minivan.

We can marvel at Angkor Wat, with its sprawling grounds and ancient sandstone carvings, the Bayon with its multitude of serene stone faces, the 350m-long Terrace of the Elephants, and Ta Prohm, aka. the Tomb Raider temple, entwined with fig tree roots and gigantic creepers.

Our beautiful day ends with a very well deserved celebration dinner in Siem Reap, where we toast our fantastic achievement, having conquered a whopping 450km for our chosen charities.

Day 10
Siem Reap

Our last full day in South East Asia is free for you to spend as you wish in Siem Reap. You can kick back and relax at the hotel or explore the city.

Why not go back to the amazing temples of Angkor and explore them at your leisure? You may also want to browse Siem Reap for last-minute souvenirs.

To allow you maximum flexibility on this free day, only breakfast is provided, so you'll need to arrange your own lunch and dinner - a great chance to try out the local restaurants.

Days 11 & 12
Siem Reap - UK

Today, we may some free time this morning, before transferring to the Siem Reap airport for our overnight flights back to the UK.

Touching down in London on Day 12, we part ways for home, ready to tell everyone “wat” an incredible adventure we had!

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Funding options

Self Funded

Pay the registration fee (£349) and challenge costs (£1,900) + airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £475).

$2,850

Pay the balance

  • Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £349, which is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
  • Pay your challenge cost of £1,900 yourself 12 weeks before the challenge starts.
  • The challenge costs cover flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, capped at £475), your food, accommodation, transfers, entry fees, guides, bike hire, mechanics and medical support, including a UK doctor with expedition medicine training.
  • Please also remember to budget for your visa and your airport taxes and fuel surcharge (capped at £475).
  • Choose to fundraise as much as you can or make a personal donation to the charity of your choice.
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Sponsorship

Pay the registration fee (£349) and airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £475), and fundraise £3,800 or more for your chosen charity.

$5,700

Minimum sponsorship target

  • Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £349, which is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.
  • Fundraise the minimum sponsorship target of £3,800 for a charity of your choice at least 12 weeks before your challenge starts.
  • Providing you have raised the funds, the charity you are supporting will pay the challenge costs of £1,900 on your behalf.
  • The challenge costs cover flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, capped at £475), your food, accommodation, transfers, entry fees, guides, bike hire, mechanics and medical support, including a UK doctor with expedition medicine training.
  • Please also remember to budget for your visa and your airport taxes and fuel surcharge (capped at £475).
  • Please note that not all charities are happy to commit to the minimum sponsorship option. If you choose this option, we ask you to contact the charity you want to support. If they are not happy with the minimum sponsorship option, you can choose another charity or self fund your challenge.
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FAQs
Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia 2023

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up for Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia on their own. Once you've signed up for this best-selling overseas challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered. Please use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising for charity.

You may also want to reach out to your fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

One of the amazing things about our challenge in Vietnam and Cambodia is that people of all ages will come together to achieve something very special for charity. Everyone who is at least 18 years old by the challenge departure is more than welcome to join this awesome cycle.

If you would like someone under the age of 18 to join you on the challenge please contact us to discuss (01590 646410 or bookings@dream-challenges.com) at least 17 weeks before departure.

Your non-refundable registration fee of £349 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.

Your challenge costs of £1,900 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the Sponsorship option) cover:

  • Your flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, capped at £475).
  • Meals throughout the challenge (excluding free days, ie. Day 10).
  • Accommodation*.
  • All transfers and luggage transportation in Vietnam and Cambodia.
  • Entry fees where required.
  • A team of awesome, outdoor remote first-aid trained local guides and Dream Challenges staff.
  • Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead-up to and during your challenge.
  • Medical and mechanical support, including a team of outdoor remote first-aid trained challenge guides and a UK doctor with expedition medicine training.
  • Your Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia medal and t-shirt

*Accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis. If you would rather pay for a single supplement and have a room/tent to yourself, we can arrange this for you for an additional cost.

Please email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com if you would like to do this at least fourteen weeks before the challenge starts.

*Please note, your lunch on Day 2 and your lunch and dinner on Day 10 are not included in your challenge costs, to allow for maximum flexibility on your free days.

A cycling helmet is essential. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a CamelBak-type hydration system.

Apart from that, no specialist equipment is required. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go.

Cyclists will have the use of quality 18 or 21-gear bikes and we recommend you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on, so you feel at home on your bike.

 

In addition to paying your registration fee (£349) and either paying your challenge costs or raising the minimum sponsorship target, you'll need to budget for your:

  • Airport taxes and the fuel surcharge (capped at £475)
  • Tourist visa for Cambodia (currently £45)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Your lunch on Day 2 and your lunch and dinner on Day 10.
  • You may also choose to pay for a single supplement at our accommodation - please contact us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or on 01590 646410 at least 17 weeks before your challenge departs and we can arrange this for you.

We will stay in comfortable hotels on a twin-sharing basis throughout this fabulous challenge.

Our hotel accommodation is included in your challenge cost on a twin-sharing basis.

However if you would prefer to have a room to yourself and pay for a single supplement, we'll be happy to arrange this for you at an additional cost. 

If you would like a single supplement, please get in touch by emailing us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) at least 17 weeks before the challenge departs.

Certainly. Our hotel accommodation is included in your challenge cost on a twin-sharing basis.

However, if you would prefer to have a room to yourself and pay for a single supplement, we'll be happy to arrange this for you at an additional cost. 

If you would like a single supplement, please get in touch by emailing us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).

Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay in Vietnam or Cambodia, please get in touch with us at least 17 weeks before the challenge and we can arrange this for you at an additional price. Call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) or ping us an email at bookings@dream-challenges.com

The group size for this challenge is likely to be around 40-50 people.

Travel Insurance

You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance upon registering for this challenge, covering health, accident, loss, and repatriation. We advise that you arrange personal travel insurance as soon as you can after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the challenge itself.

Dream Challenges has an example of a policy that provides appropriate cover for this type of activity and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. We will send you the details once you have registered. 

You can also call us for details on 01590 646410 during our office hours (9am- 5pm, Monday - Friday).

You can, however, take out your own insurance, providing it covers you for a charity bike ride in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate cover for your challenge.

Visa
It is your responsibility to obtain a visa for Vietnam and Cambodia if you need one. Ensure that you apply and obtain your visa in plenty of time. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam and https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia

The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your cycling challenge for charity and we will support you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the challenge itself.

Once you have registered, we will send you regular email updates with everything you need to know about your challenge, including the itinerary, an example insurance policy, the structure of an average cycling day, a full kit list, and a realistic training plan to help you get fit for the challenge. The training programme builds up gradually as the event gets closer.

We'll also send you important details and seasonal fundraising ideas. During the cycle, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times, along with a team of outdoor remote first-aid trained challenge guides.

As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.

We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.

NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home

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Dream Challenges participant on a charity cycling challenge in Asia

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