Motorcycle Riding in Cambodia – 7 Reasons to Go!
Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, so as you can imagine, for us, riding motorcycles in Cambodia is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Even after years of experiencing all it has to offer, this country still gets us all hot under the collar every time we touch down at the airport (being a Brit abroad in the tropics also doesn’t help). Riding through Cambodia on a motorcycle takes things to the next level, allowing you to visit places that other tourists simply don’t see! If you need some convincing, have a look for yourself at our list of 7 Reasons to Go Motorcycle Riding in Cambodia!
#1 Riding THE TRAILS in CAMBODIA
Let’s get this going with the number one reason why we ride motorcycles in Cambodia over and over again – the trails. Yes, if you want to stick to the tarmac your options might be a bit more limited, but on an off-road machine, the possibilities are endless. From blasting along wide dirt roads and drifting the back-end to trickling through narrow trails in dense jungle, this is an off-road playground that you need in your life. Then there’s also the small fact that we’ve added a wad of new light and nimble Yamaha WR 250F’s along with the WR 450F’s that we had available already – offering all of our riders a premium fleet of two-wheeled beasts included as standard from the 2020/2021 season onward! As a place to ride a motorcycle, Cambodia’s wonderful trails are simply beyond compare.
#2 THE JUNGLES
Unless you already live in South East Asia, jungles are not something you’ll have much experience of. OK, you might have ridden in some cool pine forests or messed about in some woods, but all this is nothing compared to riding a motorcycle deep into Cambodia’s wild and beautiful jungles. Massive trees, dense vegetation, slippery trails, stream and river crossings, fallen logs – and all this in sunny weather. This is trail riding like you’ve never experienced before. But just to bring you back to reality, every time you stop for a breather on your full-on enduro machine, a little guy in flip-flops will appear from nowhere on a Honda Step-thru and cruise through the muddy trail you just bailed on… all this with a smile on his face and his wife on the back of the bike, naturally…
#3 THE RIVER CROSSINGS
OK so every county has rivers to cross – hell you might have crossed one on the way to work, just driven over a nice smooth tarmac bridge and in the blink of an eye you are on the other side. And when it comes to riding motorcycles in Cambodia it’s no different – apart from when you get to the rivers without bridges. The ones that require you to ride your bike onto a collection of planks strapped to a pair of canoes and stand as still as possible until you get to the other side! The ones where every part of your brain is warning you it’s a bad idea, the ones that you will be telling your mates about when you get home. Go on give it a go – what’s the worst that could happen?
Looking for your slice of dirt-biking paradise?
Fantastic trails, incredible riding & beautifully unique accommodation along the way. What's not to like?
#4 CAMBODIA'S SCENERY
It might seem odd to leave the scenery until the fourth reason and it’s a fair point! But rest assured, the scenery is every bit as good in Cambodia as the motorcycle riding. It is simply beautiful from the coast to the mountains, the rivers to the valleys, the highlands to the lowlands. Ride Expeditions runs three different tours in this wonderful country, from the Jungle and Mountain Explorer and the Cambo Quest to the most challenging tour in the Ride Expeditions repertoire, the epic Tumble in the Jungle. All of these rides will take in the stunning scenery and incredible landscapes filled with unrivalled views. All you have to do is choose the itinerary you like the most and we’ll do the rest!
#5 THE TEMPLES
Cambodia is quite literally blessed with hundreds of beautifully ornate and awe-inspiring ancient temples. From glittering monoliths in the bustling cities to deserted, moss covered shrines deep in the jungle and especially the UNESCO listed World Heritage site, Angkor Wat, the Temples in Cambodia will have you regularly reaching for the camera – they are simply stunning. And if you feel like getting you and your bike blessed before you head out – we can organise that too. Out on the trails it’s always good to keep karma on your side – you never know when you might need it!
#6 THE FOOD
For anyone with a taste for Asian food, a trip to Cambodia will definitely make you a very happy bunny. From tasty street food – including crunchy tarantulas and crickets – to sumptuous banquets in riverside resorts and jungle lodges, as long as you are prepared to be a little adventurous, you’ll eat well throughout Cambodia. If you come on one of our tours we’ll sample all of these and even throw in the odd beach barbecue, is there anything better at the end of the day than sitting on a beach with a cold beer and a delicious woodfired barbie? We don’t think so …
#7 THe CRAIC
The final reason on our list (it might even be the most important) is the craic that you have on a riding trip to Cambodia. You are in a stunningly beautiful country, riding incredible trails through amazing scenery with a group of like minded dirt bikers and mates – it doesn’t get much better than this. This will be a truly special trip like no other – guaranteed!
It might not be cheap to travel all the way to Cambodia to ride dirt bikes, but with riding this good and service as professional as that offered by the Ride Expeditions team, it’s so worth it. After all, if you can’t spend your money on the things you love doing, what are you earning it for in the first place? Decide when you want to go, get your mates on board and get in touch!
Is it possible to get an International Driver’s Permit to ride in Cambodia?
Hi Andrew
Please find the information below from the FAQs on our Cambodian page
Q: Do I need a motorcycle license for riding in Cambodia?
A: Yes. Please do not believe any tour company that tells you “the riding is off-road, so a license is not required”… this is not true – to reach any of the off-road trails we will have to ride on public roads where licenses are required. It’s not the legal aspect that concerns us most though – it’s your travel insurance! Without a motorcycle license, you will not be able to obtain travel insurance that covers you for riding 250+cc motorcycles in Cambodia, period.
Q: Does it have to be an international license?
A: Yes – you need the correct licence in your home country and an international driving permit to go with it. These are cheap, quick and easy to obtain in your home country, and contrary to information spread across the web, these ARE accepted in Cambodia. Again, most travel insurance companies will not cover you without this as you’ll technically be riding illegally in Cambodia.
We look forward to you riding with us!
Julian