Cambodia: Hike, Bike & Kayak — Self-Launched
8 days · Cambodia
Intrepid Travel charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£389 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Intrepid's 8-day Phnom Penh-to-Siem Reap active trip: pedal the Mekong islands, cross to the quiet northern stretch of the river at Kratie and Stung Treng for kayaking, dolphin spotting and a waterfall hike, then finish with a self-guided bike loop around the Angkor temples. Everything is bookable yourself — bike hire from local shops, boats arranged on the riverbank, and long-distance buses that follow the same route. Costs are approximate and assume dorm/private budget rooms, street and market food, and local transport.
Day-by-day
Arrive Phnom Penh — riverside orientation
Phnom Penh
Land at Phnom Penh (Tuk-Tuk from the airport ~£6-8). Check into a hostel or guesthouse near Street 240 or the riverside, then walk the Sisowath Quay promenade where the Mekong and Tonle Sap meet. Grab dinner from a street hawker or the Night Market (Nom Banh Chok noodles or grilled skewers, ~£2-3), then a sundowner on a rooftop bar before an early night.
🚌Airport tuk-tuk ~£7; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near the riverside (£8-14)
- →Sisowath Quay riverside walk
- →Night Market street food
- →Rooftop bar sundowner
Cycling the Mekong islands + history afternoon
Phnom Penh
Hire a mountain bike in town (~£5-7/day) and take the local ferry across to Koh Dach / Silk Island (~£1 each way, or join a small-group island cycle tour via GetYourGuide for ~£20-25 which includes bike, ferry and village stops). Ride flat dirt tracks past silk-weaving workshops and rice fields, with a lunch stop at a local stall. In the afternoon, visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) entry ~£4 and the audio guide ~£3 — do Choeung Ek (Killing Fields, ~£4, tuk-tuk ~£10 return) if you have the energy.
🚌Bike hire + local ferry; tuk-tuk to S21/Killing Fields ~£6-10
🛏Same hostel/guesthouse in Phnom Penh (£8-14)
- →Mekong island cycling
- →Silk weaving village visit
- →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- →Optional: Choeung Ek Killing Fields
Bus north to Kratie and cycle Koh Trong island
Kratie / Koh Trong
Take a morning bus or shared minivan from Phnom Penh to Kratie (~6 hours, £7-10 on Sorya/Giant Ibis-style services; book the day before at your hostel). Optional stop at Skuon for the famous fried spiders. From Kratie's riverfront, a small local boat crosses to Koh Trong island (~£1, 10 min). Hire a bike on the island (~£2-3) and loop the flat 9 km circuit through orchards and rice fields, then settle into a homestay for a home-cooked Khmer dinner (~£4).
🚌Phnom Penh–Kratie bus ~£8; local ferry to Koh Trong ~£1; island bike hire ~£3
🛏Island homestay on Koh Trong (£8-12, dinner often included)
- →Skuon spider market stop
- →Local boat to Koh Trong
- →Koh Trong island cycling loop
- →Homestay Khmer dinner
Koh Trong walk, tree planting and on to Stung Treng
Koh Trong / Stung Treng
Early walk around the island and up to Wat Ty Pram Kbal Koh Trong pagoda — arrange a small tree-planting donation with the pagoda or island community project (~£3-5) if you'd like to contribute. Boat back to Kratie, browse the riverside market, then continue north by bus to Stung Treng (~2.5-3 hours, ~£4-5). Evening orientation walk with a map through Stung Treng's local market and riverfront — this is a genuinely untouristed Mekong town.
🚌Ferry back ~£1; local bus Kratie–Stung Treng ~£5
🛏Simple guesthouse in Stung Treng (£7-12)
- →Sunrise island walk to the pagoda
- →Tree-planting contribution
- →Kratie riverside market
- →Stung Treng market and riverfront walk
Mekong kayaking, Sopheakmit waterfall and dolphins
Stung Treng
The big activity day. Book a local boat/kayak trip the evening before through your guesthouse or a Stung Treng operator (~£25-35 per person, cheaper if you find others to share). Typically: minivan or songthaew north to Voeun Kham (~£10 shared), long-tail boat down the Mekong past the Anlong Cheuteal dolphin pool (Irrawaddy dolphins — go early morning), jungle hike and lunch overlooking Sopheakmit Waterfall, then kayak through flooded forests back towards Vuen Sien village before returning to Stung Treng.
🚌Shared minivan to Voeun Kham ~£10; boat and kayak included in the day trip
🛏Same guesthouse in Stung Treng (£7-12)
- →Mekong long-tail boat cruise
- →Irrawaddy dolphin spotting
- →Sopheakmit Waterfall jungle hike
- →Kayaking through flooded forests
Long travel day to Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Bumpy but scenic day: shared minivan or bus from Stung Treng to Siem Reap (~7-8 hours via Preah Vihear road or back through Kratie, £12-15 — book through your guesthouse, departures are usually early morning). Arrive late afternoon, check into a hostel or budget hotel in the Old Market / Wat Bo area (£9-16), then do your own orientation walk through the Old Market and Pub Street area for dinner.
🚌Shared minivan Stung Treng–Siem Reap ~£14
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Siem Reap Old Market (£9-16)
- →Old Market wander
- →Pub Street dinner and people-watching
- →Book Angkor bike hire and temple pass for tomorrow
Self-guided cycling day at Angkor
Siem Reap
Buy your Angkor pass the afternoon before or at the ticket office (1-day pass ~£30), hire a mountain bike in town (~£3-5/day) and leave at sunrise to beat the crowds and heat. Cycle the classic petit circuit: Angkor Wat at dawn, then Bayon's face towers, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the tree-swallowed Ta Prohm. Hire a licensed temple guide at the gate for 1-2 temples (~£25-35, shareable) if you want the history. Back by mid-afternoon for a pool or hammock break; optional Phare Cambodian Circus evening show (~£15-20, book on GetYourGuide).
🚌Bike hire ~£4; Angkor pass ~£30
🛏Same Siem Reap hostel/budget hotel (£9-16)
- →Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- →Bayon temple
- →Ta Prohm
- →Phare Cambodian Circus (optional)
Cook, zip-line or relax — depart Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Pick your finale: a Khmer cooking class (~£18-25, book via Klook/GetYourGuide), the Angkor zip-line and canopy walk (~£35-45), or a slow morning over coffee by the river. Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap airport (~£5) or onward bus to Bangkok/Phnom Penh if you're continuing.
🚌Tuk-tuk to airport ~£5
🛏None (departure day) unless you extend
- →Khmer cooking class (optional)
- →Angkor zip-line and canopy walk (optional)
- →Café morning by the river
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£389 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £761 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£389
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Cambodia: Hike, Bike & Kayak — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £389 per person for 8 days in Cambodia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £389 — a saving of roughly £761 (66%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Cambodia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Cambodia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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