Cambodia Tuk Tuk Adventures

Ah, the humble Tuk-Tuk. The ride so nice they named it twice. These are standard issue, Indian-made, Sri Lankan-modified Tuk-Tuks.

They’ve got three wheels (don’t ask us why), an open frame, a canvas roof with drop down sides, a cabin for the driver and two seats in the back. Oh, and an engine: a 4-stroke beast that is probably slightly more powerful than a horse.

Tuk-Tuks have a few advantages: they’re durable, easy to use and very forgiving. They’ll happily handle almost any surface, climate or level of abuse. Their cruising speed is a tasty 35kph (22mph). Their cruising altitude is about one foot.

Warning: Tuk-Tuks can easily roll and flip if not handled correctly. We take safety really seriously on these challenges, and you should know there are inherent risks involved, including potentially life-threatening situations.

Specifications

• Engine: 4 stroke engine – 200 cc
• Petrol tank: 6 litre normal capacity plus 1 litre of reserve
• Average petrol consumption: 1 litre approx 20 to 25 Km’s
• Top speed: 55 kmph

For a comprehensive answer, go and Google ‘internal combustion engine’. But here are the cliffnotes.

• The accelerator is found on the right.
• The clutch and gears are located on the left.
• The main break is actioned by your right foot.

On the first day of the event, everyone is required to attend a mandatory tuk tuk driving induction and safety training session (this means you). You’ll get enough lots of time to practice before hitting the road. A rickshaw is a cross between a car and a scooter, so clutch control is key. If you´ve driven a scooter or motorbike before, it’ll be a breeze.

It’s worth remembering that the Lanka Challenge is just that – a challenge. The Lanka Challenge is not a race. It’s not like Cake’s seminal 90s hit The Distance. Speed should not be your priority. If anything should be, it’s probably fun.

The Challenge is broken up into various driving legs. Each team gets a road map and a daily navigational sheet, which they’ll use to get from A to B each day. The winning team isn’t necessarily the team that finishes first, it’s the one that accumulates the most Challenge points. How do you get points? By nailing various challenges, we set you along the way.

That means that racing is not really encouraged. In fact it’s actively discouraged. There’s no need to set a new ground-speed record (very difficult to do on a 200cc tuk tuk, but still…) We’ll provide mechanical support when you need it, but essentially you’re hiring a tuk tuk and driving it independently each day. By yourself. Han solo.

You can join as a solo driver , team of 2 or team of 3. 

Yes, you’ve got to be at least 18 years old in order to compete. We don’t have a maximum age, but if you’re over 65 we definitely recommend checking with your insurer to make sure you qualify for the medical insurance you’ll need to take part. The Challenge is pretty physically tough – we won’t sugar-coat it. You should really only take part if you’re in good physical shape and your health is A-Okay. 

Probably not your ski jacket. Or that set of golf clubs. Cambodia is a tropical country, so pack accordingly. The nights can get a little cooler during the dry season (November–February), so a light layer or windbreaker wouldn't go amiss — and you'll also want something with sleeves for visiting temples, where covered shoulders and knees are required out of respect.

Other than that, bring all your travel essentials, good quality sunscreen, and anything you think will make the long tuk-tuk days more fun (we recommend honing your I-Spy skills beforehand).

Don’t worry, you don’t have to strap suitcases to the roof of your tuk tuk. We’ve got a luggage truck that will follow us around. Each morning you’ll load it up with your heavy bags, and each night we’ll hand it back at our hotel. For the camping nights, we recommend bringing a smaller bag to act as a day pack. 

Don’t stress, they’re very friendly. If you can ride a bicycle that has a clutch and an engine, you can ride a tuk tuk. Besides, on the first day everyone gets mandatory tuk tuk driving instruction and safety training. You’ll have plenty of practice before hitting the open road. 

Whoa there, speed racer. These bad boys can't really get over 50kph, with an average cruising speed of around 35kph. Fast enough to get the blood racing, but not so fast you'll hit a cow. That's the sweet spot.

To put it bluntly — yes, there is an element of danger. You're sitting behind the handlebars of a three-wheeled vehicle on 200cc of raw power, tackling unfamiliar roads in a foreign country. That in itself is a bit risky. But if you're sensible and cautious you should be fine, and we have a fully trained crew ready to swing in if anything goes wrong — including an ambulance and paramedics on standby throughout the event.

A word of warning: tuk-tuks can roll and flip if not handled correctly. We take safety seriously and want you to go in with eyes open — there are inherent risks involved in this kind of adventure, including potentially life-threatening situations.

Travel insurance is a must-have — in fact it's a condition of entry. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment for the duration of the trip and, crucially, that it includes cover for driving a tuk-tuk. It's also worth having cover for luggage loss and flight cancellation while you're at it. We'd suggest taking a look at Campbell Irvine or SafetyWing as starting points.

Third party insurance is included under the hire of the tuk-tuk. Scratch as many Ferraris as you want. (Please don't actually do this.)

As for vehicle damage — one of our registration requirements is a refundable deposit of $1,500 per team, either paid upfront or blocked on a credit card. This covers most touch-ups and accidents, although if the tuk-tuk is a complete write-off the bill might increase. At the end of the Challenge we'll inspect the vehicle, come to an agreement, and return any balance before you leave Cambodia. A pretty standard car-hire type system, really.

Everyone who competes has to provide us with a valid Driving Licence (DL) from your home country along with a International Driving Permit. We will also need digital copy of your passport so we can apply for a local licence on your behalf. This is included in the price.

Sorry to be old bossy boots, but if you show up and can’t produce a Driving Licence or an International Driving Permit, we can’t let you compete (we also reserve the right to without a refund). 

These wonderful machines are surprisingly fuel efficient — unless you drive like a madman, your tuk-tuk will do at least 30km to the litre, so you won't be spending more than a few dollars on fuel for the whole Challenge.

Your humble steed will be handed over in roadworthy condition and from that point it's your responsibility to take care of any repair costs. Don't panic though — our mechanics will be with you throughout the event and can help sort most things at a reasonable cost, and if needed the locals are remarkably resourceful too. Spare parts are generally cheap and easy to find.

The cost of repairs depends on how well each team looks after their vehicle. There's naturally a small amount of wear and tear on adventures like this, but you'll only ever be charged for parts that are actually damaged or need replacing. A full vehicle inspection is carried out before handover so everything is documented. On average, repair costs run to somewhere between $40–120 per team.

Easy peasy. Here’s how:

1. Sign up.
2. Pay your initial deposit.

Once you’ve done all that successfully, we’ll send you an email with lots of exclamation marks confirming your team’s availability.

As soon as your registration is locked and loaded, we’ll email you and ask you to provide us with:

1. A passport copy for each team member (we promise not to laugh at the photos).
2. International Driving Permit with a category A or B stamp.
3. Your arrival and departure details.

We’ll double check all these docs on the ground in Sri Lanka, so please bring copies with you.

No. If you have any concerns regarding this we do offer post payment options so please contact us directly for more information regarding this. 

Ah visas, our old nemesis. You can find out the full list, and how to apply, here.

We try to stick to the original route and accommodation as much as possible, but they can be subject to change from time to time. 

Not really. Some luxuries can be a little pricey (hence the 'luxury' bit), but for the most part it's super reasonable. Lunch might be a few dollars and beers are generally under a buck. It's like travelling back in time to a simpler era — just don't expect the roads to always agree with you.

Buddhism — and lots of it. Around 95% of Cambodians practice Theravada Buddhism, which shapes everything from daily life to the incredible temple architecture you'll be riding past (and into). You'll see monks in saffron robes, roadside shrines, and morning alms-giving ceremonies if you're up early enough.

If in doubt, just smile and be friendly.

Khmer is the official language and what you'll hear everywhere — from the markets to the villages. English is reasonably well spoken in tourist areas and among younger Cambodians, but in rural communities you'll likely draw a few blank stares. That's half the fun.

You've brushed up on your Khmer, right?

If you like your weather warm, you'll love Cambodia. Warmth is kind of its thing. Even when it's pouring with rain.

There are plenty of more in-depth weather guides online, but generally Cambodia has two seasons to know about: the dry season (November to April) which is the most popular time to visit, and the wet season (May to October) when the monsoon rolls in. The wet season isn't necessarily a dealbreaker — showers tend to be heavy but short, and the landscape turns an incredible green. Expect temperatures anywhere from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius year round, with humidity to match.

This is completely up to you (and your doc), but generally it’s a good idea to be up-to-date with standard vaccinations like Tetanus, Hap A and Polio. Other jabs to consider are Tuberculosis, Meningitis and Typhoid. Anti-malaria meds might also be a good idea. If in doubt, check with your GP.

For more info, click here.

Cambodia has improved its road network a lot in recent years, linking the major cities and towns. But don't go expecting pristine tarmac everywhere you ride. Some of the rural roads in particular can get pretty wild and bumpy — and that's half the adventure. Tuk-tuks were basically built for this.

• Only 20% deposit required to signup.
• Outstanding amount is required 60 days before the start of the Challenge.

• 60+ days before the challenge starts: Loss of deposit
• 59-45 days before the challenge starts: 50%
• 44 days or less before the challenge starts: 100% 

For more information please refer to our Booking Terms & Conditions.