General info

All riders are advised to consult with a travel doctor at least six weeks prior to travel.  Some countries will require specific vaccinations and it is best to speak to a professional in regards to this matter, to choose what is right for you.

Malaria is not prevalent in the travel areas of our Cambodia and Vietnam rides, although some riders do choose to take them.  We are happy to provide route maps for your doctors reference.

It is important to be healthy, more than fit for our rides. We always have a support van on hand for you to take a break, should you feel you need it. It is very much about the journey, more than the destination and as a result, the pace is casual and relaxed on our rides.

A first aid kit is available for use on all Social Cycles tours, however, it is advisable that you ALSO bring your own. All Social Cycles guides are trained in the use of first aid.

Your first aid kit should consist of:

• plasters/band aids (for blisters)
• triangular bandages
• alcohol wipes
• gauze pads
• bandages for sprains
• sun screen
• pain kilers (asprin etc)
• anti-diarrohea tablets
• hydralite

A hospital or medical centre is never far away, however, the standards may not be the same as what you may be used to, depending on where we are.

All guides and drivers are familiar with the nearest hospital, for whatever emergency may occur. However, as we get quite off the beaten track, it could be 2-3 hours away (at most).

If you have any conditions that may put you at greater risk of medical attention, it is imperative that you are transparent in your communication with Social Cycles so that we can account for it in our risk assessments.

All rides are required to submit their travel insurance details to Social Cycles prior to the start of the adventure.

We’ll conduct in depth cycling briefings on all tours, before all rides. Different countries have different road rules (written and unwritten), so it’s imperative that all riders are focused and pay attention during these times. We’ll go through the terrain, traffic conditions and distance for every ride, but we’ll also cover road rules, hand signals, group cycling etiquette & best practice, cycling pace and timing.

All riders MUST wear a helmet and closed toe shoes at all times during the trip. We also recommend cycling gloves and padded shorts.

All Social Cycles routes are undertaken on quiet back roads. We do not cycle on highways. Unless specified, we take the support van out of and into major cities. All bikes are serviced in between tours. A mechanic is present at all times during all tours and on all rides should there be any issues with the bikes.

Dehydration is potentially one of the biggest risks in cycling adventures as it is often the least considered. The countries we ride through are often humid and dehydration can creep up on you.

All bikes are fitted with at least one water cage. You are advised to bring your own water bottle. You should be drinking somewhere between two and four litres of water each day of riding. It’s advisable to carry hydralite to assist in hydration,  but if you drink enough water, early enough, you should not need it.

The van carries a drum of water at all times, available for refilling your water bottle.

We sometimes travel by boat when the road is either flooded, or just simply ends. All boats will have life jackets for riders who are not comfortable in the water. 

At times, we may need to catch smaller boats for short rides (less than 1km) due to unplanned flooding. There is no guarantee that these boats will have life jackets. If you feel uncomfortable in the water, it is imperative that you inform your guide.

There is to be no swimming in rivers and lakes. Opportunity restricted due to the schedule and program of the itinerary, however, these are the main areas for insect borne illnesses.

Food poisoning is the most common cause of illness during travel. Sometimes it is due to local hygiene of the food, but can also be from cross contamination (from your hand) or simply due to a change in diet.

We recommend bringing hand sanitizer for use before meals to reduce risk. You should only eat in restaurants that are busy and have a high turnover of customers, and therefore food. If possible, try and inspect the kitchen.

Foods that are cooked to order generally carry less risk (fried rice is better than rice from a ‘buffet’). Ice is generally safe to consume in all countries we visit, although do not drink water from the tap.

To obtain an independent assessment of poitical turmoil in the countries we visit, we refer to the Australian Government website, Smart Traveller, over media sources.

Iran currently has the highest risk of political turmoil, however, this is still considered to be quite low. The sentiment towards Westerners from the local people is highly positive. The majority of angst is domestic and against local leadership. This has nothing to do with travellers and easily avoided, should anything arise whilst we are there.

Cambodia is facing elections in 2018 and could potentially see demonstrations over what is essentially a dictatorship government. As with Iran, these demonstrations are domestic and easily avoided as travellers.

No country in the world is completely safe. And as a result, you will need to take precautions.

The biggest risk in countries with a high motorbike population (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Iran) is snatch and grab crime. Tourists are targeted for their cameras and mobile phones from passing motorists.  Theft from assault is rare. 

Some hotels will have a safe in the room. Even those without, valuables can either be left in the room or with reception.

It is not advisable to consume too much alcohol whilst on tour (or ever, for that matter!)