actionchallenge Vietnam and This remarkable ride takes us from the colourful city of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) in Southern Vietnam to historic Angkor Wat in. Together we ll experience an unforgettable week off work, in another world. We begin our adventure exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, an elaborate warren of underground tunnels constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters, before hopping on our saddles. As a group, we cycle through rural Vietnam and over the border into where we soon find ourselves surrounded by paddy fields and rubber plantations, peddling past traditional wooden houses on stilts and taking shade under coconut palms. We glimpse water buffalo wallowing in the Mekong river and, if we re lucky, the rare Mekong river dolphin. We immerse ourselves in the hustle and bustle of Kampong Cham city, return the waves of welcoming Khmer villagers and peddle into the sleepy jungle backwaters, far away from the tourist trail. Our cycle culminates in a majestic route lined with ancient temples as we make our way to one of the finest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Angkor Wat. After exploring the ancient temples and absorbing their wonder we celebrate the end of our ride and the beginning of lasting friendships with a special dinner in the market town of Siem Reap. at a glance Activity: Cycling - Touring Location: Duration: 9 days / 5 days cycling Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 420 km When: Oct 2014 / Feb & Oct 2015 Group size: 15-25 trip highlights Stay in the vibrant city of Angkor Wat Experience the wonder of historic temples Cycle through paddy fields and traditional villages Visit Kampong Cham, s third largest city See water buffalo in the Mekong river Peddle deep into the jungle backwaters Explore the historic Cu Chi Tunnels Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world s most exhilarating locations, often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life. www.actionchallenge.com
introduction This fully-inclusive adventure to Vietnam and will begin as soon as you register! You will receive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all the essentials you may need. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out all the formalities so you can concentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offer pre-challenge briefings to prepare you for this tough and demanding trip. On the day of departure you will meet your group and Action Challenge leader at the airport in London. Whether you re joining the challenge on your own or with others, you will instantly be made to feel welcome. As a team we will board our flight to Ho Chi Minh City, ready to take on Vietnam, and the cycling adventure of a lifetime! Oct 2014 / Feb & Oct 2015 Please visit our website for more details All inclusive trip cost from 1,699 Initial 299 deposit to sign up Three payment options available Please visit our website for more details brief itinerary Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Depart London Arrive Vietnam Tay Ninh Svay Rieng Kompong Cham Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Kompong Thom Angkor Wat Depart Arrive London what s included International flights Action Challenge cycle guide Full support team, including local guides UK medic High quality bike hire All accommodation All meals, except in free time Airline taxes Treated drinking water All transfers in local vehicles National Park entrance fees Celebration dinner Invitation to a challenge briefing in London Fitness and training guide Discounts from UK retailers Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health We will be cycling distances of approximately 80 km per day. Although much of the terrain is flat, remember you will be cycling in temperatures of up to 30 C. You will need a good level of stamina and endurance to ensure that you make the most out of the challenge and enjoy the ride! Why not stay on after the challenge and explore some more of s highlights? Extensions include: A boat journey across Tonlé Sap Lake The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda Toul Sleng museum and Cheung Ek Killing Fields Vietnam and are very warm all year round but the ideal months to visit are during the cool season which runs from October to February. Temperatures may range from 32 C to 35 C, so it is advisable to ensure you are always keep hydrated during the day and to avoid excessive exposure to the sun during the afternoons.
itinerary DAY 1 - Depart London Today we meet our group and Action Challenge staff at the airport in London, before checking in together and boarding our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Meals: Dinner DAY 2 - Arrive Vietnam We land in Ho Chi Minh (formally known as Saigon) and are transferred by private bus to our hotel in the heart of the city. We will get a chance to settle in before tucking into a welcome dinner with our local guides, who will give us a full briefing on our adventure ahead. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel DAY 3 - Tay Ninh After an early breakfast, we transfer north of Ho Chi Minh (approximately 1.5 hours) to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels. Here we have a bike fitting before visiting the elaborate warren of underground tunnels constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. After lunch we set off on our bikes - our challenge has begun! The route to Tay Ninh unwinds along quiet rural roads through local villages surrounded by a patchwork of paddy fields. We arrive in the bustling market town of Tay Ninh to spend the night. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 77 km Breakfast each morning will be in our hotel whilst lunches will be en-route. Evening meals will be at the hotel or a local restaurant, except in free time. All meals are full of carbohydrates, protein and nutrients to keep us well fuelled throughout the trip. We can cater for all dietary requirements if informed in advance. Six nights in comfortable 2/3* hotels along the ride. All accommodation is on a twin/tripleshare, single-sex basis and we will pair you with someone of a similar age, where possible. If you wish to share a room with someone you are travelling with, please specify this on your registration form. If you decide that you would like to have your own room on the challenge, we can accommodate this in the majority of places. DAY 4 - Svay Rieng After an early breakfast we set off for the Moc Bai border crossing, via the striking Caodai Great Temple. Once formalities have been completed we enter and catch our first glimpses of rural life here. We pass traditional wooden houses on stilts, framed by a backdrop of vast rice fields before stopping at a school for an afternoon snack. The day comes to a close in the quiet provincial town of Svay Reing. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 80 km Insurance - approximately 60 Tourist Visa - 72 Vaccinations - up to date on boosters. Malaria tablets should also be taken. Tips for local staff - recommended amount $50 Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines. Please note that this is capped at a maximum of 150.
DAY 5 - Kompong Cham Our day begins with a short 30 minute transfer to Kampong Trach before continuing by bike. Our journey takes us north through paddy fields dotted with coconut palms as far as the eye can see. After lunch in Kong Chey, we cycle through the rubber plantations in Chub, stopping for a refreshing afternoon break before continuing on to Kampong Cham, s third largest city. Tonight s hotel has a swimming pool, a welcome treat after a hot day on the road! A kit list will be sent to you on receipt of registration. Many everyday items can be used on this challenge, and we offer a kit hire service to keep costs down. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 85 km DAY 6 - Kampong Thom After breakfast, we leave the city behind us and embark on the longest day of the challenge. Heading into the backwaters of, we cycle through tropical countryside until we find ourselves right in the heart of the sleepy waters! Our day draws to a close as we finish at a local school before transferring the final busy section into our accommodation in Kampong Thom. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 90 km DAY 7 - Angkor Wat We start our last day in the saddle from the Ancient Bridge at Kampong Kdei, one of the best remaining examples of s 800 year old bridges. From here we follow the historic route connecting the provinces of Kampong Thom and Angkor Wat. We stop for lunch near the Pre-Angkorian temples of the Rolous Group, one of the main outlying temple complexes belonging to Angkor Wat. The road into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is lined with temples and creates a fitting entrance to this unique and spiritual city. After celebrating our arrival in Angkor Wat, we cycle the last few kilometres to Siem Reap where we spend the night and enjoy a well-earned celebratory meal together. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 85 km DAY 8 - Depart If you are planning on travelling to Vietnam before the challenge or wish to organise your own flights, we do offer a land only option, with a significant discount off the trip price. You will be required to meet your group at the hotel on day two of the itinerary. Alcoholic drinks Drinks and food outside of meals, other than water Personal kit / equipment Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines. Please note that this is capped at a maximum of 150. We have free time to explore more of the outlying temples of Angkor by Tuk Tuk or souvenir hunting in the markets of Siem Reap. We depart for the airport early evening for an overnight flight back to the UK. Meals: B DAY 9 - Arrive UK
payment options A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of 299 (for 2014) is required to secure your place. We offer 2 deposit payment options: OPTION 1: Deposit paid in full, by card at the time of registration. OPTION 2: Deposit paid in two 50/50 split payments. The first 50% is paid when you register and the second is charged to your payment card at the end of the following month. For this option, a 10 supplement will be charged with the first instalment. ATOL is a scheme that protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad if your travel company collapses. Action Challenge is 100% ATOL bonded, which provides you with full financial protection. On receipt of your registration fee, you will receive an ATOL certificate explaining your protection. Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost. Full details are on our website. 1) SELF FUNDED For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It s then completely up to you whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice. The total all inclusive cost of this trip is 1,699 (for 2014), which, after you pay the 299 Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of 1,400. This final balance is due for payment 10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline. 2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising a significant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least 2,800 (for 2014) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues, and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total. Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least 2,800 (for 2014), your charity will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is 1,400 (the same as if you were you were Self Funded ) - the charity will retain at least 1,400 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. how to book To book on to this challenge, please visit our website; www.actionchallenge.com for a full list of prices and all available dates. private groups If you are a charity, business, school or private group with a minimum of 10 people and fancy your own bespoke trip, please call us on +44(0)20 7609 6695 or you can send us an email to events@actionchallenge.com for more information. 3) MIXED FUNDED A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and also fundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal for anyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT is happy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with your registration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights & accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship in respect to the challenge component of their trip. Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least 2,100 (for 2014), your charity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is 850. At the same time, you will be required to pay the remaining balance yourself, which will be a figure of 550 (These two amounts add up to the same as the Self Funded final balance) - the charity will retain at least 1,250 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. @actionchallenge www.facebook.com/actionchallenge Action Challenge UK Ltd United House North Road London N7 9DP United Kingdom