Tourists and locals urged to ride horseback
(2 Jan 2016) LEAD-IN:
Motorbikes are everywhere in Cambodia, but one Frenchman hopes more tourists will swap the two wheeler for horseback.
Even locals are taking up horseriding and are discovering it's a great way to see the countryside.
STORY-LINE:
The Cambodian countryside, on the opposite side of the Mekong River from Phnom Penh, is lush and peaceful.
It feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Cambodian capital.
Tourists are increasingly venturing out into it on horseback, taking guided tours with Frenchman Guillaume Larivain.
Born into a long line of horse breeders, the 40-year-old has spent his life working with some of the finest thoroughbreds across Asia and Europe.
He moved to Cambodia six years ago to train the country's national horse-riding team, before setting up Arey Ksat Equestrian Trail Riders, which opened for business in April.
I think it's a good way for tourists who visit Cambodia to discover the Cambodian countryside and the way of life of the Cambodian people. And I would also like the Cambodians themselves to discover horses and to learn how to ride because they are just used to using them to pull carriages and never for riding, he says as he holds the reigns.
Many Cambodians have ridden water buffaloes, the sturdy beasts with long horns.
But there's no tradition of horse riding here, a situation Larivain hopes to change by encouraging Cambodians to take it up.
Larivain's business is based out of his family home, where he has constructed basic stables out of bamboo poles.
He says he scoured the country to find the 14 horses that make up his stable.
Most were working horses that pulled carts and carriages, which meant they needed months of training before they could be ridden.
I bought the horses in the Cambodian countryside, he says. Most of them were pulling carriages for transporting materials. None of them had ever had a rider on their backs before, but they were quite easy to train because they are very good in the head, very calm, and so they quickly became good at their new job.
The treks offer a great insight into Cambodian countryside living, with the horses meandering through open fields, grassy woodlands, pagodas and banana plantations.
Locals chop vegetables and farm alongside the trails.
Larivain and his team are on hand at all times to guide riders through the countryside.
Given their farming backgrounds, most Cambodians take to horse riding very quickly
I came here today to ride a horse for the first time, says Put Sarith. I was a little nervous before I started but I relaxed after listening to the instructor and the staff who had planned everything very well. When I was on the horse it was no problem for me, everything was very relaxed.
Treks cost $25 US an hour and last from one to five hours.
Longer three-day and one-week tours also available for more experienced and adventurous riders.
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Phnom Penh Ferry Terminal (Kampong Chamlong)
In this video, I catch a ride across the Mekong.
Silk Island Village Day Trip, Cambodia (Phnom Penh)
Silk Island Village Day Trip to see some silk worms do their thing!
Hi guys! If you're in Phnom Penh and would like to see a traditional village without hoards of tourists be sure to make a day-trip to Prey BongKong Village. It's only 30 minutes from Phnom Penh by ferry, but you will feel like you're so far away from the city!
It's always a great visit at Chan Nara's silk house! You can get here with a bicycle tour, tuk-tuk or you can rent your own moto/bicycle and drive across yourself. The Diamond Island/ Arey K'sat ferry ride is 10 minutes and costs only 500 riel pp (12 cents USD)
You will find many Silk House options to tour from Phnom Penh. I have known Nara for many years and I like visiting Chan Nara as there are fewer tourists than Koh Dach and you get a private tour and a more traditional experience.
Entry to Chan Nara Silk House is always FREE and you can book a homemade local, organic lunch (vegetarian options available) with her for $7USD pp (minimum 2 pax). She will give you all the information about the making of silk from the hatching of eggs all the way to the weaving of the product. You can even try the spindle and the loom yourself!
We recommend you support local Cambodian artisans and purchase something from her shop (but she will never pressure you to do so), she can also create custom made designs for you!
If you would like to spend a whole day on Arey Ksat island you can book a traditional horse cart for $6 USD (for the whole cart) and be sure to visit the beautiful Prek Bongkong Pagoda and have a chat with the monks!
You can reach Chan Nara on facebook: Nara Silk
By phone +855 17-73-03 or +855 10 35 08 78
To reach the Silk House:
Take the Kampong Chamlong Phnom Penh Areiy Ksatr Ferry from Phnom Penh (close to Koh Pich)
After exiting the ferry, go straight 850m and turn left at the Tela Petrol Station (st.380)
Continue on that road for 3.0 km.
Weaving Commune and Chan Nara's silk house will be on your right side.
Stay tuned for my vlog about other things to do in Arey K'sat!
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Phnom Penh Ferry Departure1
GoPro: Alain Mountain Biking in Upper and Lower Cambodia Trails, Aug 23 2015
Alain in the black Diamond Upper and Lower Cambodia trails Aug 23, 2015, rocks, roots logs, log off, berms, jumps on this trail, steep slopes on these gnarly trail.
Cycling The World - Day 391 - Cambodia - Too Close For Comfort
See more from my attempt at cycling the world including photos and blog posts over at
Welcome to my daily video diary documenting my attempt to cycle solo and unsupported around the world through more than 35 countries, five continents and 50,000km over the next three years.
So far I’ve cycled a little more than 15,000km through 21 countries over the past 13 months to be were I am now, Cambodia, in south east Asia.
In this daily diary episode I’m back on the rural dirt roads of central Cambodia where there’s only cows and the odd moped riding farmer for company.
It’s not long however before I’m lost in the maze of tracks that criss-cross the countryside but as always, getting lost when cycling out here can have its rewards.
Once again I’m spoiled for choice when it comes to my wild camp spot. So much so it took me far too long to decided which part of this beautiful but harsh landscape I wanted to stay on. Preferably out of the longer grass so as to better spot the snakes!
Within an hour of setting up though the daily storm rolled in but this time, things got to close for comfort as dozens of lightning strikes hit the ground around the tent, some no more than 100m away.
Tonight was by far the scariest night I’ve had camping in my life!
TRIP STATS
Time on the road: 13 months
Countries visited: 21
United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia.
Total Distance: 15902km
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Copy of Mountain Bike Cambodia
I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (
MTB Asia, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Back trails of Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2015.