Cycling in Laos

17 days Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Vientiane

 

Challenging adventure bike ride, mountain sceneries of Laos,
hill tribes of Laos culture and unbeaten tracks on your bike...

 

 

This bicycle tour offers lots of challenging adventure rides in combination with the cultural highlights of Laos. Although the most challenging mountain rides are on tar roads, the tour consists mainly of dirt roads and paths where tourists are rarely seen. Enjoy cycling along rice fields, majestic limestone mountains and meeting amazing friendly people. The ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang is the absolute cultural highlight of this tour. Back to Vientiane over mainly dirt roads through the remote province of Sayabouly, where small ethnic jungle tribes and wild elephants live in their natural habitat. A relaxing boat ride with scenic views on the Mekong River completes this tour.

    

Day 1: Vientiane

After arrival, meeting with your guide for a short introduction to Laos. Overnight in a hotel. - D -

 

Day 2: Vientiane City bike tour 15 km
Discover the highlights of Vientiane on a bike. You will see the Wat Si Saket, the famous Ho Prakeo, Wat Si Muang and the symbol of Laos, the That Luang as well as the Patuxai and the Morning Market. On this short city cycle tour through Vientiane you get your first insight into Laos. Overnight in a hotel. - B -

 

Day 3: Vientiane  Ban Pako 68 km
Through the suburbs, you are leaving Vientiane in Northern direction. After a few kilometers on the Road Nr. 10, you cycle on dirt roads through many villages and discover the real countryside. The Lao Pako Eco Resort is located on a magnificent location along the bank of the Nam Ngum River. Overnight in an Eco-Resort. - B -

 

Day 4: Eco Lodge Ban Pako and cycling to the  Nam Ngum Lake 88 km

The first stage of this day will bring you and your bike on dirt roads through undiscovered countryside. At Ban Nampheng we continue on a smooth tar road to Nam Ngum Lake. The last stage of this day is getting hilly, with some short climbs. You stay overnight at the Long Ngum View Resort, which has stunning views over the Nam Ngum Lake.Overnight in a resort. - B -

Day 5: Nam Ngum Lake - Vang Vieng 25/40 km
By boat in 1.5 hour from Thalat over the Nam Ngum Lake to Tha Heua. See the artificial lake and the life in and around it. From Tha Heua start cycling to Vang Vieng. Depending on the season, you can choose between 25 or 40 km cycling to Vang Vieng. You stay in a comfortable resort along the banks of the Nam Song River with stunning views over the limestone mountains. Overnight in a resort. - B -

Day 6: Vang Vieng (put your feet up and relax)
You can discover the area around Vang Vieng by bike or you can choose for an easy kayak trip on the Nam Song River which shows you the bizarre countryside from another point of view. Also some great hikes are easy to arrange in this area. (Kayaks not included). Overnight in a resort. - B -

 

Day 7: Vang Vieng - Kasi 58 km Today, it goes through amazing scenery from valley to valley. Have a stop at the nearby rivers and take a bath, or discover one of the close caves, which are advertised along the road. Overnight in a guest house. - B -

Day 8: Kasi - Kiu Kacham 95 km After a first flat 10 km, the road is climbing up the mountains for more than 20 km. The scenery is amazing and half way, you will have a break in Phou Khoun Village.

After Phou Khoun, the road is going up and down between 1100 and 1400 meters. Still, along great panorama it goes with less effort. Take your time to stop by in the close villages and meet the hill tribe people. You stay overnight on a altitude of 1350 meters in Kiu Kacham. Overnight in a basic guest house. - B -

 

Day 9: Kiu Kacham -  Luang Prabang 74 Km
After a great descend to Nam Ming, a long but smooth climb will bring you for the last time over 1000 meters altitude. Another descend will bring you to the scenic valley of Ban Xiang Ngeun. From here, it's an easy ride to the former capital of Laos and UNESCO World Heritage town Luang Prabang, located on a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. Luang Prabang is on this particular bike tour the perfect place for a few days of relaxing and discovering the scenic area around town. Overnight in a comfortable guest house in Luang Prabang. - B,D -

 

Day 10: Luang Prabang around the valley 30 km
Today, enjoy a relaxed biking trip along the most interesting places in the city and around the valley of Luang Prabang. Discover some non-touristic places nearby the town. Overnight in a comfortable guest house. - B -

 

Day 11: Luang Prabang roundtrip to Kuang Si Waterfall 40/60 km
The scenic Kuang Si Waterfall is the main destination for today. On the way, we pass by some villages from different ethnic groups. After swimming and relaxing at the waterfall, you can cycle back on the same road or take a boat over the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang (boat trip on Mekong River is optional). Overnight in a comfortable guest house. - B -

 

Day 12: Luang Prabang  - Kacham Waterfall 60 km
Leaving Luang Prabang on a dirt road, you will firstl visit the tomb of Henri Mohout, the Frenchman who discovered and showed Angkor Wat to the western world. Continuing on a dirt track, you can visit the Elephant Camp from Tiger Trail, located along the bank of the Nam Khan River. From here, you are heading in southern direction to Xieng Ngeun Village, where you are leaving the beaten tracks and take a dirt road into the undiscovered Sayabouly Province. You stay overnight in a comfortable resort nearby the Kacham Waterfall. Overnight in a small resort. - B -

 

Day 13: Kacham Waterfall - Sayabouli   65 km
Continuing on dirt roads, you pass several hill tribe villages and have to climb several minor passes before crossing the Mekong River by ferry at Tha Deua. After Tha Deua, it's another 30 km to the capital of the province, Sayabouly town. The town is located in a wide valley with some great views over the surrounding mountains. Overnight in a comfortable guest house. - B -

Day 14: Sayabouli  Nam Pouy 54 km

An easy ride to the little town Nam Pouy, which is located on the border of the Nam Phoun Protected Natural Area. This protected area has the biggest population of wild elephants in Laos. Also, some small tribal groups hiding in those jungles. They are called the yellow banana leaf people because they are building their houses from banana leaves. As soon as the leaf's are getting yellow, this people move to another place. Overnight in a basic guest house. - B -

 

Day 15: Nam Pouy  Pak Lay 100 km
A long day cycling with a lot of short climbs and ascents from valley to valley, with great view of the dense forests of the National Protected Area, Nam Phoun and the chance to see wild Elephants. Half way, you can visit a local Hmong market.
Pak Lay is a small laid back town with some nice French colonial buildings, located along the banks of the Mekong River. Overnight in a comfortable guest house. - B -

Day 16: Pak Lay  Vientiane, boat ride on the Mekong River to Vientiane.
A relaxing boat ride on the Mekong River with scenic views of Thailand and Laos brings you back to Vientiane. This part of the Mekong River is the natural border between the two countries. Overnight in a hotel in Vientiane. - B,D -

 

Day 17: Vientiane and departure.
The last chance for some shopping at the Morning Market or hang around along the banks of the Mekong. - B -

 

Including:
- English speaking guide or driver
- Bike rent: (Trek 4400 Mountain bike)
- Back up car with drinks and support
- Luggage Transport or non riding guest transfer
- 16 nights in hotel, resort or guest house
- Meals as described in itinerary
- Boat transfers as mentioned in itinerary
- Entrance fees in Vientiane

 

Not including:
- Private expenses on beer and soft drinks
- Other meals not mentioned
- Insurance and tips

 

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