The Journeys Within team explores more of Siem Reap’s surrounding area with a bike trip through the Kulen Mountain range… 
I was recently reminded of how much of the beautiful Cambodian landscape I have yet to discover when I embarked on an ambitious bike tour earlier this week with Indochine Exploration.
Phnom Kulen is a stunning mountain range located about 30 km (or an hour and a half of country drive) north of Angkor Wat. Nick, Indochine’s Chief Exploration Officer, took five member of the Journeys Within team – Narla, Vanith, Santu, Sina and I – into Kulen National Park to test out one of their newly developed trips.
Not an experienced mountain biker, I was a little nervous about how my legs and I would hold up on the unknown terrain. I was slightly comforted the enthusiasm of our guides — they were raring to get under way and into the forest.
The road was definitely rugged, I would say this trip is for those already comfortable on a mountain bike, but the scenery we enjoyed along the way was well worth the effort. The Kulen range is inhabited by small villages, but there is still dense forest scattered with pathways to make your way through. In addition to these stunning forest views, we were able to take in some relics deep in the forest — a larger than life elephant, a pair of lions and weathered rock formation Nick believed to be a frog. A hike off the beaten path (I gladly left my bike behind) these giant stone animal figures remain relatively off the radar and untouched.
The hill at Kulen is thought to be sacred making it a popular destination with Cambodians on weekends and Khmer holidays. At the top of the mountain there is a temple with a stunning view of its surroundings. After a break to enjoy the animal carvings and a short hike back to our bikes the group continued on, up a rock-bed to this nearby pagoda. With the rocks reflecting the heat and the steepness of the trek, this was the most challenging portion of the ride, though thoroughly satisfying when the others and I made it to the top.
If bike riding isn’t your top choice, Indochine Exploration also offers hikes and kayak trips that showcase Cambodia’s beautiful natural environments. Beyond providing access to some of Cambodia’s most beautiful natural landscapes, the company is also focused on preserving them. Looking to create sustainable tourism that keeps conservation in mind, Indochine Explorations reinvests in the communities they visit and actively support local conservation efforts, an idea we here at Journeys Within can support.
Check out more pictures of out trip on out Facebook Page.