Cycling in Siem Reap

Cycling guide to Siem Reap

Siem Reap sits on ground that barely rises above 21 m, and the riding from town reflects that: three recorded loops, from 40.7 km to 78 km, with total climbing of 201 m at most. The shortest options head north through Krous, either on the 45.8 km Angkor Wat heritage park loop, which records no measurable elevation gain at all, or on the 40.7 km lake circuit that also takes in Phum Pralay. The longest ride, at 78 km, works south-east from Siem Reap through Svay Thom, Lolei and Prasat Bakong to Kampong Phluk before returning to town. All three are loops finishing where they start, so the town works as a single base for short and half-day distances alike. With no climb of note on any of them, the difference between routes is length rather than difficulty, which makes Siem Reap a place for steady, uninterrupted riding.

Best time to ride

The recorded rides fall in March and April.

Terrain

The terrain is flat to barely rolling: high points of 19 m and 21 m on the longer loops, and no recorded elevation gain on the Angkor Wat heritage park loop. Nothing on these routes qualifies as a named climb.