As one of the world's largest rivers and Vietnam's agricultural heart, the Mekong River and its vast delta provide endless opportunities to experience sights, sounds and smells that will stay with you long after you have left the region. This lovely cycling tour takes you to a variety of Mekong Delta highlights. You can marvel at the variety of bird life in nature reserves, encounter Khmer monks in incense-filled pagodas, cruise through tangled mangrove swamps, and join one of the most lively floating markets in the region.

DESTINATIONS

• The Mekong Delta, the story of a river and the life it generates

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cycle with the locals through the watery world of the delta's rivers and canals
• Explore the vibrant culture of Khmer people
• Visit farms and workshops, chat with local people and taste their locally made products
• Spend time cruising gently through one of the river's huge floating markets

[Day 1] Saigon – Tra Vinh
Meals: lunch | Accommodation: hotel

Shake hands with your guide at your hotel and get in the car for a 1.5 hour drive to Ben Tre province. Grab a helmet and start biking from to Mo Cay on quiet dirt roads and rural roads passing beautiful coconut plantations and local gardens. Visit local workshops for processing coconut handicrafts and cooking coconut jelly before stopping for lunch at local café. After lunch, take a ferry across the river and continue riding through shady palm tree-covered lanes through farms to a small rural market. Quiet cycling on small paths brings us to the river where we relax for a 30 minute ferry crossing. A final few km of countryside cycling brings us to the city of Tra Vinh where we overnight in a comfy hotel.

[Day 2] Tra Vinh - Can Tho
Meals: breakfast and lunch | Accommodation: hotel

In the morning, we cycle the back roads to the homeland of Khmer (Cambodian) people in Vietnam where most are devout followers of Theravada Buddhism. Continue riding through huge rice fields, past colourful Khmer temples, and orange-clad monks walking along rural countryside roads. Pause for a tasty lunch at a local restaurant in Cau Ke before getting back on your bike for quiet roads and small boat crossings until we arrive at Can Tho to stay the night.

[Day 3] Can Tho – Sai Gon
Meals: breakfast and lunch | Accommodation: N/A

Have breakfast and check out of the hotel for an early boat cruise the biggest floating market in the delta. Our boat will make its way slowly through the colourful commercial mayhem for fantastic photo opportunities amidst the huge variety of agricultural bounty on sale here. Farmers boats big and small trade seasonal fruits and an array of other goods in a chorus of sights and smells. Disembark for a short bike ride into villages around Phong Dien where we'll visit the ancient house in Binh Thuy village and enjoy delicious lunch before the drive back to Saigon. Tour ends with great images saved in your memory and camera's memory card.

Note: N/A

PRICE PER PERSON (Valid from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2013)

Included

• Accommodation for two nights
• Meals as specified in the program
• Boat excursions
• Travel in an appropriate air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
• The services of an experienced English-speaking guide
• Bicycle and helmet
• All entrance fees
• VAT and other taxes

Not included

• Hotel in Saigon
• Beverages, guide gratuities and personal expenses.
• Camera fees (if any)
• Insurance
• Surcharge in peak season (Christmas & New Year)