Phnom Penh Silk Island Vespa tour: Ride the Mekong backroads

Ride quiet backroads to a working silk village across the Mekong

A half-day Vespa tour from Phnom Penh takes you by motorbike through farmland and orchards to the Mekong ferry, then across to Silk Island to visit a farming village, a tofu skin producer and a silk weaving workshop run by local weavers. The tour includes hotel pickup, ferry crossings, a village donation, water and snacks, with an English-speaking guide. You can choose a Vespa, SUV or tuk-tuk instead if you prefer. The route avoids the city center and runs roughly four and a half hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day Vespa tour to Silk Island

• Meet at hotel lobby in Phnom Penh
• Ride Vespa to Golden Temple Mongkol Serey
• Learn about Buddhism in Cambodia
• Board ferry to Silk Island
• Explore countryside and farming villages
• Visit local market and tofu skin production
• See Buddhist temple of Phnom Penh
• Visit silk weaving craft with local villagers
• Return to Phnom Penh city around 12:30 pm

The experience

You start at your hotel lobby in Phnom Penh, where your driver picks you up on a Vespa, or in a tuk-tuk or SUV if you book one of those options instead. The ride out of the city takes you through quieter roads lined with orchards and market gardens, heading toward the Mekong. On the way, you stop at Mongkol Serey, a golden temple where your guide explains Buddhism in Cambodia before you continue to the ferry dock.

The ferry crossing itself is part of the journey: you board with the Vespa (or ride as a passenger if you chose a vehicle option) and cross the Mekong to Silk Island. Once you arrive, the real countryside opens up. You ride through farming villages where you'll see how people actually live and work: rice paddies, small plots, the rhythms of rural life. A stop at a tofu skin workshop shows you how that staple is made by hand, and you get to watch the process and talk to the producers about their craft.

The centerpiece is the silk weaving center, where local villagers demonstrate the traditional craft that has passed down through generations in Cambodia. This is not a tourist theater: the weavers explain their work and the history behind it, and you see the looms and the silk in motion. Your guide translates and answers questions. A village donation is included, supporting the community you're moving through. You'll have water and snacks during the tour, and the plan is to get you back to Phnom Penh by around 12:30 pm.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Phnom Penh.
• Vespa, tuk-tuk or SUV transport depending on your choice.
• ferry trips across the Mekong.
• English-speaking guide.
• village donation.
• water and snacks during the tour.

Options for this experience

5 options

Tuk tuk option only, no guide includedGuide in English · 08:00 and 15:00Tuk tuk service: this option is made for travelers who only want a tuk tuk to visit the sites on the itinerary. Pickup is included

Tuk tuk option with English guide08:00 and 15:00Tuk tuk: this option is designed for groups who would rather not ride a Vespa. Pickup is included

Vespa option with English guide08:00 and 15:00Pickup is included

See 2 more options

Vespa option with guide and lunchGuide in English · 08:00Lunch: this option is designed for travelers who want a meal included after the tour, before returning to their accommodation. Pickup is included

SUV car option with English guide08:00 and 15:00SUV car: this option is designed for travelers who prefer an air-conditioned SUV and still want to join this incredible tour. Pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 15:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 to 60 years) · Child (7 to 14 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Vespa Backstreet

Is this one for you?Choose the Vespa option if you want to feel the backroads yourself and move at the pace of the countryside. Pick the tuk-tuk or SUV if you'd rather sit back and let someone else navigate while you take in the villages and farmland. The half-day length fits a morning departure, leaving your afternoon open for the city or rest.

Traveler reviews

4.96★★★★★★★★★★

119 verified traveler reviews

5 ★114

4 ★5

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 14 years). Under 7: they can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between the Vespa, tuk-tuk and SUV options on this tour?

You choose your transport at checkout. The Vespa option puts you on a motorbike riding the backroads yourself (or as a passenger if you prefer). The tuk-tuk and SUV are shared vehicles that carry multiple travelers. All three follow the same route, include the same guide and stops, and cost differently. One option includes lunch. Check the details for each before you book.

What happens on Silk Island besides the weaving workshop?

On Silk Island you ride through farming villages to see how rural life works: the fields, the homes, the daily routines. You stop at a tofu skin workshop to watch the production process, then visit the silk weaving center where weavers demonstrate the traditional craft and explain its history. A village donation supports the community.

How long does the tour take and when do I get back?

The tour runs about four and a half hours total. You're picked up from your hotel and the plan is to return by around 12:30 pm, leaving your afternoon free.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the Vespa or vehicle ride, ferry crossings to and from Silk Island, an English-speaking guide, a village donation, water and snacks are all included. One option also includes lunch. Check which one when you book.