Day 1: Luang Prabang Cycling To Nong Khuay ( lunch, dinner)

UXO education, family life and homestay

8:30 AM Pick up from your hotel in Luang Prabang - We’ll cycle via the UXO Education Centre to get an incredible insight into the horrific bombings endured by the Lao people and the effect it still has today. The UXO centre is an amazing NGO that does fantastic work, yet just scratches the surface of this little known issue. Some 35km out of Luang Prabang is Nong Khuay Village. A very remote community, home to 80 families of both Hmong and Khummu origin. Fairtrek initiative is working extensively within the village to create new streams of revenue to boost the village economy through tourism. We’ll have the opportunity to spend time with the local families and engage in some traditional handicraft masterclasses. We will stay the night with the community and experience real village life and eat with our new host families.

Inc. Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Cycling: Optional 30km | easy | +402 m / -291 m

Transit: 30km

Hotel: My Lao Home Boutique Hotel

Day 2:  Nong Khuay – Nong Khiaw (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Cycling through remote villages

We cycle out of the village on dirt roads for 37km and when we reach the city transfer north for 3 hours towards the Nam Ou Dam and then on to Pak Mong, from here it is a further 30km through little villages nestled in between spectacular Karst peaks.

The small town of  Nong Khiaw is a favourite and the rustic charm of this quiet enclave is intoxicating.. relax poolside in the shadow of elephant head mountain.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Cycling: 67km (30km + 37km) | moderate | 

Transit: 2 hours

Hotel: Local guest house

Day 3: Nong Khiaw – Muang Khua. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

River cruising in a long tail boat

Today we transfer to the river to board a traditional long boat for the cruise up the Nam Ou river to the entrance to Phongsaly district. We call in at the sleepy town of Muang Ngoi on the way to stretch our legs, visit the temple and the cave complex used as shelter during the 2nd Indochina war.

We’ll enjoy a pre-packed picnic lunch along the way, arriving into Muang Khua around 5pm.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Cycling: None

Transit: All day boat

Hotel: New Chaleunsouk Guesthouse

Day 4: Muang Khua – Cross Border to Dien Bien Phu. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Crossing into Vietnam

Leaving Laos today, but not before an epic 65km ride to the border from Muang Khua. This tarmac road will take you on 2 climbs, one just over 600m (10km) and the last over 800m (15km).

Once you cross over to Vietnam, you’ll be transferred to the historical city of Dien Bien Phu to relax and explore. If possible, we may be able to meet the program coordinators of SOS to learn about their community development programs.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Cycling: 65km | hard | +2219m / -1404m

Transit: 1 hour

Hotel: Him Lam Resort (pool)

Day 5 : Around DienBienPhu (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Sightseeing day around DienBienPhu former battlefields: Eliane – A 1 hill, Military museum, Gabriel – DocLap hill and bunker of Decartes etc….Riding up to the hill for panorama view of DienBienPhu with memory of General Giap !

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Cycling: 25km | easy

Transit: None

Hotel: Him Lam Resort (pool)

Day 6 : Dien Bien Phu – Muong Lay (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Valleys, rivers and a lost city

Today we cycle along windy valleys on a paved road that snakes through the beautiful countryside. We are surrounded by rice fields and jungles. We climb to an elevation of over 1000m and are rewarded once again with stunning views before descending (20km) to Muong Lay town.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling: 110km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m

Transit: None

Hotel: Hoa Binh Hotel

Day 7 : Muong Lay. – Lai Chau  (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The mountain challenge

Get up early to capture pristine nature and picturesque scenery over the Black river. After breakfast at the hotel, we will cycle the first 25km on a tarmac road to Chan Nura. A vast landscape opens up beneath you: endless mountains stretching into the distance and craterous valleys dotted with stilt-home villages clustered around clear streams. Today is a hard day’s cycling, but definitely worth it. The reward at the end of it is some of the best views in the whole region. 

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Cycling: 90km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m

Transit: None

Hotel: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (pool)

Day 8: Lai Chau - Sapa (Breakfast, lunch)

Epic mountains, incredible valleys

Today is another great day as we conquer the O Quy Ho Pass. These 38km make for the longest pass of Northwest Vietnam. It is located in the system of four mountain passes of the North West. This climb takes you to an elevation of over 2000m, with the lowest point of the day at 700m. The views and stunning scenery will provide lifelong memories and will forever be ingrained as some of the most majestic and spectacular natural imagery on the planet.Expore dinner by your own .

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycling: 85km | hard | +2291m / -1700m

Transit: None

Hotel: Sapa Green Hotel

Day 9: Sapa – Su Pan – Thanh Phu – Sin Chai (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

8:30 AM pick up from Sapa hotel and cycling along the newly built dirt road, which will bring you to the Black Hmong village of Su Pan. After a short break here, you will pass through the Black Hmong village to the Tay ethnic minority village of Thanh Phu. While your cook is preparing a delicious lunch, you will have time to explore the village and soon you will find out that things are not done in the way you are used to know. In the afternoon, your adventure continues into the Red Dao village of Sin Chai, where you will your tasteful dinner in a local house and stay overnight in homestay.

Distance: 40 Km,Up / straight / down: 6 km / 20 km / 14 km

Day 10: Sin Chai – Ban Ho – Sapa  (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

You will start the easy morning with a bike ride to the Tay village of Ban Ho. Upon arrival, you will take a short walk to the nearby river, where you will be able to have a swim. You will then enjoy your lunch on the river bank, listening to the wonderful sound of the nearby waterfall. Following lunch you will return to Sapa .

Distance: 43 Km Up/ straight/ down: 14km / 19km / 10km,Note: This trip is on dirt road. Therefore, good weather conditions are essential, Hotel: Sapa Green Hotel

Day 11: Sapa – Luc Yen. 180Km ( B ,L , D )

8:00 Pick up from your hotel in Sapa and ride from Sapa to Luc Yen is quite easy and enjoyable. We can start the day at 8Am, hit the 30 km road down to Lao Cai where we can see China from Vietnam, and then keep riding on the beautiful and quiet big road No 70. And then make a turn to small country road to Luc Yen – a nice village of the Tay people who live in stilted-houses between green palm trees.

Dinner and stay with the Tay- Home stay.

Biking Distance : 80 -100 km

Day 12 : Luc Yen – Vu Linh. 80Km ( B , L , D )

The road from Luc Yen to Vu Linh is quite flat. The beautiful ride today should be the most enjoyable, after saying good bye to the family, we will ride slowly on the small country road with the green mountain and rice paddy fields on two sides. We can stop somewhere to visit several nice villages of the Dzao and Tay on the way. Vu Linh – the village located on the bank of Thac Ba lake .
Dinner and stay with the Dzao people – Home stay.

Biking Distance : 80 km

Day 13 : Vu Linh – Hanoi ( B , L )

We will do the best to avoid the main busy road for as long as possible . we will ride longer to get to road No2B which there is less traffics on. Then hit the road down to Red River Delta. A mixture of both challenging track and glorious sealed road all the way back to Hanoi.
Be at Hanoi before rush hours and end the best cycling tour in north Vietnam safely!

Biking Distance : 80 km

Tour included :

• All entrance fee for sightseeing.
• Transport: A/c bus or minivan support with snack, drinking water, towels.
• Accommodation twin/ double with daily breakfast – 12 nights
• Meals full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Good mountain bike and helmet
• Guide: Experienced cycling tour guide.

Not included:

• Personal Pocket Money
• Soft drink (beer, coca cola…)
• Travel Insurance
• Tips for guides and drivers
• All other services not indicated above
• Accommodation in Hanoi and Luang Prabang