Siem Reap: Countryside Bike & E-Bike Tour with Local Crafts

Summary

Cycle Siem Reap’s villages taste snacks meet basket weavers see West Baray

You’ll pedal quiet paths outside Siem Reap with a local guide, visit a village rattan weaver (and maybe try weaving yourself), sample Cambodian snacks at a family home, then ride along West Baray lake as fishermen work nearby. Expect laughter, new tastes, and glimpses of daily life that linger after you return.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the countryside around Siem Reap to feel so alive at that hour — there was this faint smell of wet earth as we rolled out from Pte Kru Café, and the air had that lazy buzz of scooters mixed with birdsong. Our guide, Dara, handed out helmets and grinned when I fumbled with mine (apparently I wear it backwards). We set off down these narrow dirt tracks, just wide enough for our bikes, passing kids waving from wooden porches. There’s something about cycling here — you move slow enough to catch the way sunlight hits the rice paddies, but quick enough that the heat doesn’t stick too much.

After maybe half an hour (I lost track), we stopped at a rattan weaver’s place. The woman working there barely looked up at first — her hands were flying over these thin strips of cane like she’d done it forever. Dara explained how basket weaving is still part of daily life in these villages. He nudged me to try, and my attempt was so hopeless even the weaver laughed (she said something in Khmer; Dara just shook his head and smiled). There was this earthy smell inside her house — like dried grass and smoke — and I still think about how her fingers moved so fast while mine got stuck every time.

We kept riding through backroads lined with sugar palms, stopping at a family house for snacks. Someone handed us sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf — sweet and warm — and there was this moment where everyone just sat together without much talking. It felt good to rest in the shade and watch chickens pecking around our feet. The main keyword for me here is “day trip Siem Reap countryside” because it really felt like a day outside everything familiar.

The last stretch took us along West Baray lake. Fishermen were untangling nets by the water’s edge, kids splashing nearby, birds swooping low over the surface. Dara pointed out some old stonework from Angkorian times that I’d have missed otherwise. By then my legs were tired but I didn’t really want it to end; there’s something about moving through all those different spaces in one morning that sticks with you long after you’re back in town.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Siem Reap countryside bike tour

• Meet guide at Pte Kru Café
• Safety briefing and cycle to countryside
• Cycle 10 km to basket/rattan weaver
• Watch and try basket weaving
• Cycle to village house for snacks
• Explore village life and local snacks
• Ride along West Baray lake banks
• Cycle back to Pte Kru Café

Top questions

How long is the Siem Reap countryside bike tour?

The tour lasts about 4.5 hours and covers roughly 18 miles (30 km).

Are bikes and helmets provided on this tour?

Yes, bicycles and helmets are included for all participants.

Is this a private or group tour?

This is a private tour but can also run as a small group limited to 10 people.

Are snacks or drinks included during the ride?

Yes, local snacks, fruit, bottled water, and a welcome drink are included.

What should I bring for the countryside bike tour?

Bring comfortable cycling clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and your camera.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup; you meet at Pte Kru Café in Siem Reap before departure.

Is this suitable for children or families?

Yes; kid-sized bikes, tag-alongs and child seats are available on request.

Can I use an e-bike if I'm short?

E-bikes are not recommended for customers shorter than 160 cm for safety reasons.

What’s included

Your day includes use of bicycle or e-bike with helmet, bottled water throughout the ride, guidance from an English-speaking local expert, stops to sample Cambodian snacks and fruit at a village home plus one welcome drink before heading back into town.