Amazing Cambodia Motorbike Tour To Explore The Lost Temples – 5 Days

On the first day, we will make our way to Kampong Thom, the second largest province of Cambodia. Kampong Thom is known as an important economic hub of the kingdom since it is the biggest producer of fish and cashew of the whole country. Not only being favored with its diverse natural resources, but the province also has rich tourism potential with stunning views of mountains, forests, rivers, and hundreds of ancient temples.

We begin our tour with a ride on a village road along the Mekong River towards Kampong Cham Province. We will go through a beautiful small fishing village with friendly locals along the Mekong River. Lunch is served at Kampong Cham with local specialties.

Then, we will have some time to rest before the chaotic main road begins. The remaining road to Kampong Thom is about 130 km long, and we will mainly follow National Road 6. Because this road connects Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, it is quite busy. However, you will be amazed at the breathtaking views of endless rice fields and palm trees popping up on the canvas. Our crew arrives at Kampong Thom at around 5 pm. Enjoy dinner and spend the first night at a hotel in Kampong Thom.

Wake up early, enjoy breakfast, and we will take a trip to the temples of Sambour Preah Kuk. Located in Sambo village, Sambo commune, Prasat Sambo district, about 25 km northeast of Kampong Thom town, this site was once known as Isanapura – the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th century and early 7th century AD. So far, more than 100 temples have been discovered in this area. Most of them are built of solid bricks, sandstone, laterite, and are decorated with bas-reliefs. The art and architecture developed here laid the foundation for the unique Khmer style of the Angkor period.

In the afternoon, a long gravel road will lead our motorbike team to Tbeang Meanchey, the capital city of Preah Vihear Province situated in the north of Cambodia. Make some stops along the way to rest, admire the beautiful natural scenery, and take awesome photos if we have enough time. We reach Tbeang Meanchey in the late afternoon and then enjoy dinner at a traditional BBQ restaurant here. Return to the guesthouse to rest and get ready for the next challenge ride.

The highlight of today’s ride is Prasat Preah Vihear, one of the most famous temples in Cambodia. Built during the Khmer Empire, Prasath Preah Vihear is located on the top of a 500-meter plateau on the borderline to Thailand. With its unique architecture and impressive location, the temple has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many parts of the temple were built over different centuries, reflecting various architectural styles and cultural beliefs of each period. This site, until now, is particularly well preserved, mainly due to its remote location. Seeing the fantastic scenery of the plains from the top of the plateau is also a great experience of visiting Prasath Preah Vihear.

We will spend about an hour exploring this temple before heading to Chaom Khsan, a peaceful village situated on the edge of the Dangrek mountain range in northern Cambodia. Spend a relaxing night at a guest house here.

Today’s destination is Siem Reap, and on the way, our crew has the chance to visit the temples of Koker. Abandoned to the forests of the north, Koker was once the capital of the Angkor empire, built by King Jayavarman IV (928-942 AD). So far, nearly 100 temples have been found in this area, but unfortunately, many of them are no longer standing, even buried in the ground.

About 300 meters to the west is the Koker Temple. From a distance, the temple looks like a small hill, since it is covered with forests. However, up close, it is actually a 35-meter high stupa made of sandstone. It has seven levels, each about 5 meters above the other. Standing on the top, you will admire the 360-degree view of the dense forest stretching towards the remote green mountains.

Lunch at Koker before we head to Siem Reap. Once you come to this city, do not forget to get a traditional massage at “Seeing Hands” – a massage place in Siem Reap that solely employee the blind people. After a long day of riding, enjoy a good night’s sleep at a hotel in Siem Reap.

Enjoy breakfast, and we will make the first 45-km ride on the highway to reach the ancient 1,000-year-old bridge in Kampung Kdey. Then, continue driving on the sandy trail through the small villages and cross Tonle Sap lake by ferry.

Today, Tonle Sap is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Cambodia due to its unique floating villages. More than three million people inhabit in the bank of the lake, and most of them make a living by fishing and farming. With the constant change of the water level, people living on the lake have to move their houses when the water level goes down. The entire villages have to move to another place where the water is still high enough to float.

We will arrive in Phnom Penh at around 5 pm. After a long trip, you will definitely have a lot of exciting stories for sharing, so meet up in the evening to enjoy local specialties and drink cold beer on the riverside. Finally, return to the hotel to rest, and our 5-day Cambodia lost temples motorbike tour ends.