Half Day Biking Tour 5: Eastern Baray/Palm Sugar

The Eastern Baray is an enormous water reservoir built during the Angkor period. Its dikes alone constitute more than 8 million cubic meters of earthen material. Today, the Baray no longer holds water but consists primarily of dry scrubland and some rice paddies. At the start of this tour, you’ll transfer from Siem Reap city centre to the starting point. From here you’ll begin cycling along trails, past villages and through rice fields. There’ll be chances to see the local way of life, including saying “hello” and waving to the young children who’ll greet us along the way, stopping to see local people produce sugar from sugar palm juice, and watching villagers make baskets and bags to be sold along the roadside or in the local markets. This is an easy cycle, mostly along unpaved roads.