Essential Information - Cambodia

Undiscovered Lands

Getting there and away

Our Cambodia cycling holiday starts on a Sunday in Phnom Penh and lasts 14 days ending on Saturday in Siem Reap.

We appreciate that people join redspokes tours from all over the world; no matter what time you arrive at the airport on the tour start date you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel. Please bear in mind that if you arrive before midday you may have to wait for your room to be made available. If you decide to arrive early or stay on after the tour, redspokes can assist you in booking your accommodation and airport transfers at additional cost. If you depart on the last day of the tour the airport transfer is included in the tour price.

Our tour price does not include your international flight.

Check out www.expedia.com or www.kayak.co.uk for an idea of times and prices.

Passport and Visa

One month single entry visas are required for Cambodia and can be obtained on arrival in the country. Visas at the airport cost US$20, please bring a recent passport photo with you. You can also obtain a visa in your own country prior to arrival through a Cambodian Embassy or Consulate  or apply online through E-Visa.

Before you travel check your passport to ensure that there is room for a visa and entry/exit stamps (at least 3 pages) and that it is valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the country.

If you would prefer to pay an agent to get your visa, we would suggest using Travcour (UK) Ltd. They have been in the visa business for 25 years & offer our customers a £5 discount on all visas purchased.

Insurance and vaccinations

It is a condition of joining our trips that you must be adequately insured. All persons are expected to arrange their own insurance. Polices should cover any potential risks involved in a mountain cycling holiday. We ask for copy of your policy to be sent in with your completed booking form.

Snowcard Insurance Services specialize in all mountain sports holidays including mountain biking. Their policies include emergency medical and repatriation expenses as well as mountain rescue. They are also able to insure personal belongings including equipment as well as travel cover for cancellation, delay and missed departure. Follow the link below to obtain full information and a quote: www.snowcard.co.uk.

Plan ahead for your vaccinations, some of them require more than one injection you should seek medical advice at least six weeks before travel. We recommend vaccinations against typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, and a tetanus injection is essential.

Cycling support and grading

All of the time you will have the security of a back-up vehicle(s); either a mini-bus or truck. The vehicle will carry our entire luggage (we transport your main baggage by support vehicle from each overnight stop to the next) and yourself if you want. The back-up van will be with us throughout the day stopping around every 15 miles. Our leaders carry a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems. All you normally need to carry is a daypack for your camera, etc. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so you must ensure that your bike is in good working order before the tour. If in doubt, have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.

Equipment and bike stuff

Cambodia is suitable for a tough hybrid or a mountain bike; please ensure that your bike is in good working order before you leave for the tour. If you are not the most mechanically minded we suggest that you get your bike looked at by a professional bike mechanic. In particular we would suggest looking and adjusting all wheel spokes, greasing all your bearings, checking your brakes/gears cable, tighten all nuts and bolts, check chain, quick release clamps, tires and put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn. In addition ride with as much care and attention as possible.

We would also advise the following tools to accompany you on your tour: multi-tool, tyre levers, pump, 2 spare inner tube, spare spokes of the correct length to fit your wheels - check with a bike shop, brake pads, a few spare links for your chain, if applicable, spares for any unique or high-tech items on your bike, e.g. fluid and bleed kit for hydraulic brakes. 

Baggage allowances and your bike

There is the option of hiring a bike from us. If you do decide to bring your own it will be carried as a part of your luggage allowance and to this end we do ask you to make every effort to keep your total check-in baggage to an absolute minimum. The baggage allowance for most airlines for an economy-class ticket is 20kg per person; although a degree of flexibility is usually extended to groups and the check in staff may accept up to 26kg per person without imposing excess baggage charges.

Your bike (in its cardboard box) will weigh 15 to 18kg. So, that means you will have a small allowance for clothing etc. You should carry small heavy items in your day pack / pannier which you can take onto the plane as hand luggage.

Your hand luggage is not included as a part of your overall allowance, as it is not weighed. Please inform your airline that you will be taking your bike on the flight, and attempt to make every effort to secure from the airline an additional baggage allowance - but this is not always granted. Although we cannot guarantee that there will not be excess baggage charges, this is something, which very rarely happens.

If you have any questions about this list please feel free to contact us.

What's included and what's not

All accommodation will be in hotels or guest houses (apart from 1 night in a basic homestay). We choose accommodation on the basis of comfort rather than luxury. Our prices are based on sharing a twin room; single rooms are sometimes available at extra cost.

Meals: 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 9 evening meals are included in the price. You can expect to pay around £4 - £8 for a 3 course meal in a simple but nice restaurant.

All transportation and local guides within Cambodia are included. International flights are not included in the tour costs. Entrance fees to Angkor Wat are included however other optional sights are not covered on the tour cost.

Tipping is entirely voluntary, but we recommend around $3 per day per person. There is a hierarchy when it comes to tips; in order not to cause offence, of the pooled tips, the guide should get 40%, the driver 35% and the helper 25%.

Spending money depends on your taste for souvenirs, drinks etc. We estimate that $170 will be more than enough to cover the 14 day tour. Locally payable airport tax is $20. Your visa will cost $20.

Further information

Currency

The official currency of Cambodia is the riel. The most commonly used currency is US$, we recommend bringing small denomination notes. You may be given change in the local currency. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Currency can be exchanged, and travellers cheques can be cashed. This may be more difficult in other towns. You will also find ATM machines in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Credit card acceptance is very limited.

Climate

In January Cambodia is well into its dry season. In August it is experiencing the rainy season, but this does not affect our cycling too much, as rain generally falls in the late afternoon or night. The advantage of visiting Cambodia during the wet season is the vibrant spectacle of lush green rice fields and countryside.

General Information

Area: 181,040 sq km
Population: 14 million
Languages spoken: Khmer 95%, French, English
Religion: Theravada Buddhist 95%, 5% other
Local Time: + 7 hrs GMT
Electricity: 230v AC 50 HZ