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18 Days Cycling From Luang Prabang To Pakse

Cycling from Luang Prabang to Pakse is a challenging but rewarding adventure!The route involves a mix of paved roads, dirt roads, and mountainous terrain. You'll encounter hills and valleys, so be prepared for some serious climbs.There are several possible routes, but the most common one follows Route 13 South from Luang Prabang, passing through the Bolaven Plateau and eventually reaching Pakse. This is a demanding cycling trip, so make sure you're physically fit and prepared for long days in the saddle. Cycling from Luang Prabang to Pakse is an incredible experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of Laos.

Day 1: LuangPrabang – Nongkiaw

8:00 AM pick up from your hotel in Luang Prabang .We transfer out of town head north on road 13th north after 1 h driving we start riding through the villages and rice fields, riding today is easy, the road is up and down hill no big climb. Lunch pack will be brought from LuangPrabang or we stop for lunch at local restaurant on the way when we feel hungry, after 80 riding we reach the junction of Pakmong where the road turn to the border of China but we turn right to our destination of Nongkiaw

Distance: 140 km

Meal:  L, D

Accommodation: guesthouse

Day 2: Nongkiaw – Viengkham

After breakfast we cycle from hotel head east, the first 10 km the road is easy ride on short climbs before we start long climb for 17 km to the top of 2349 m above sea level, after relax or lunch at the top the road is descend most of the way to Viengkham where we stay overnight.

Distance: 50 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Day 3: Viengkham – Viengthong

Today is long day, our guide will prepare breakfast at your guesthouse and we'll begin biking after breakfast. Today we ride National route No 1c between Vieng Thong and Nam Neun passing through the beautiful jungle and forest scenery of two National Parks with lush green mountains over three passes. Optional transfer from your hotel through the first climb of 20 km,

We cycle downhill and the rest is over the undulating hills, our guide will cook your lunch under the tree by the road when you are hungry, after lunch we keep riding until start climbing up the last hill before Vienthong, we transfer the rest to hotel in Vienthong

Distance: 120 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Daonuea Guesthouse

Day 4: Viengthong – Nam Neuan

 Breakfast today is prepared by our guide at the local restaurant, today the distance is shorter but there are some big climbs, after Vienthong, we start riding from our hotel climbing up for 17 km to the first top, after downhill the road is undulating, we stop for lunch when we are hungry and lunch will be cooked by our guide and driver, after lunch we keep riding through country side villages and quiet road before starting big climb of 5 km before we get into Nam Neun where we stay overnight.

Distance: 65 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Mitsamphan Guesthouse  

Day 5: Nam Neuan  - Muangkham

We have breakfast at the local restaurant and start riding as early as we can, after the town we start climbing up the first big climb before the other shorter climbs, there are some villages we can stop to take photo but less than the other days, lunch will be cooked by our guide and driver  and we stop under the shade when we feel hungry. We ride at the last section of 20 km to our destination is downhill. We stay overnight at local guesthouse at Muangkham 

Distance: 77 km

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: guesthouse

Day 6: Muangkham – Phonsavan

The road today is less steep compare to the past days, we have more time to stop at the villages and for photo, from the town the road is slightly up hill, after 26 km at Nongpet village we turn right from the main road through quiet road of country side Lao villages. We stop for lunch at the restaurant in Phosavan.  After lunch we cycle  to the plain of jars (site 1 ) after visit ancient stone jars we keep riding 36 km on flat road to our destination of Muangkhoun.

 Phonsavanh used to be the battled field between the communist government and anti-communist government in 1964 – 1973.

The history of the stone jars remain a mystery today, there are more than 60 sites, scattered in different group all across the plateau. Only three groups have been surveyed and assigned registration. The other groups have not yet been surveyed because the locations are covered with thick bushes and contaminated by many remaining UXOs (Unexploded ordinances) leftover from the Indo-China war. The highest jar is more than 3 meters. There are several difference theories as to the purpose of the jars, which are estimated to be 2500 – 3000 years old. According to local legend, King Khoun Chuang had them constructed in order to store wine for the big celebration of his victory in the 6th century.  

Distance:  105 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: guesthouse   

Day 7: Muangkhoun – Thathom

Our guide will prepare breakfast for the group, after breakfast, we continue our journey to our destination of Thathom, from hotel the road is gentle before climbing up to the top and after 24 downhill the road is gentle and surrounded by beautiful scenery, we pass the paddy fields and dry rice field (slash and burn cultivation) and villages at remote area some are Kmu (up lander people). We find lunch stop by the road when we are hungry

Attitude: 300 m – 1200 m above sea level

Distance: 90 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Guesthouse

Day 8: Thathom – Viangthong

Breakfast at local restaurant and prepare by our guide, after breakfast we ride from our guesthouse head south on undulating road, we stop for lunch by the road and keep riding to our destination of Viengthong.

Distance: 120 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Guesthouse  

Day 9: Viengthong – Nakai

After breakfast prepare by your guide we cycle from your guesthouse head south to Nakai plateau, stop for lunch at local restaurant at Lak sao district, after lunch we keep riding on short climbs and undulating road to a small district of Nakai where we stay overnight. optional transfer some section depending on how fast you ride 

Distance: 160 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Guesthouse

Day 10: Nakai – Thakhek

Today is easy and beautiful day. After breakfast at the guesthouse prepare by our guide, we start cycle from our guesthouse, as Nakai district locates on Nakai plateau, when we ride out of town the road is downhill to the hydro power dam, you can stop for photo along the way at the view point, the road today is surrounded my limestone mountains and almost flat all the way to our destination of Thakhek.

When Lao was a colony of French in 1945, French governor based in Thakhek and Lao national frond (became Lao communist party later) fought against the French but they lost the war and escape to Thailand, a lot of Local people included children were kill by French. Colonial building are still remain in this town

Distance: 90 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Hotel  

Day 11: Thakhek – Savannakhet

After breakfast we cycle from hotel along the road by Mekong River, you can look at Thailand at the other side, we cycle pass Nongbok district that’s one district of Khammuan (Thakhek) province, and we stop for lunch at local restaurant on the way.  Riding today is easy we would cycle all the way to hotel.

Savannakhet is the most population in Laos and the second biggest city in Laos after Vientiane

Distance: 130 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Hotel  

Day 12: Savannakhet – Xebangnuan

After breakfast at hotel, we ride from the town and head south to the main road of No. 13th south, the road in southern part of Laos is almost flat, you consider the landscape is different from northern Laos, northern Laos is more mountainous but east and southern Laos are flat.

We overnight at the guesthouse at small village.

Distance: 113 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Guesthouse

Day 13: Xebangnuan – Pakse

Breakfast will be prepared by your guide at the guesthouse, we keep riding on main road head south to Pakse province, and riding today is similar to the pass day, easy ride on flat road, lunch stop at the local restaurant

Pakse used to be the separated kingdom of Laos, the former king palace is still remain but taken by the government after 1975 revolution and rent to business man to run hotel 

Distance: 100 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  hotel  

Day 14: Pakse – Paksong

After breakfast at your hotel we head east on direction to Vietnam, we cycle to Borlaven plateau, this place is the most popular of coffee plantation in Laos, we cycle up to plateau the road is slightly up and good for riding, we stop at Tadfan enjoying your coffee look at waterfall, zip line is through the cliff to waterfall is possible. After lunch and enjoying your time here we keep riding to the top of plateau known as Paksong where we stay overnight. 

Distance: 60 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Phouthevada hotel  

Day 15: Paksong – Xekong

The weather would be cold in winter time because we are on the top of plateau, we leave plateau after breakfast head east on direction to Vietnam, this area was popular as Hochimin trails during Indochina war because it closes to Vietnam border, we ride on main road but not very busy, you will enjoy riding through hill tribe villages, rice fields and mountains. Our guide will prepare lunch by the road when you are hungry. We stay overnight in the center town of small province of Xekong.

Distance: 90 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Hongthong hotel  

Day 16: Xekomg - Tadlor

As Xekong province locates on the east and share the border to Vietnam, today we head west, we ride from our hotel on flat road after 15 km the road is slightly up but no big climb, we stop for lunch at local restaurant at a small town of Thateng, after lunch we cycle downhill to Tadlor waterfall where we stay overnight. After check in hotel you can walk around resort enjoying waterfall or swimming   

Distance: 90 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Tadlor resort   

Day 17: Tadlor – Pakse – Champasak

After breakfast at your resort we start riding from resort head west to Pakse, the road is undulating but no big climb, after 63 km, we meet the junction where we turn to Paksong plateau 4 days ago, it is easy ride to the town for lunch, after lunch we keep riding to Champasak where we stay overnight.

Champasak is a province in southwestern Laos, near the borders with Thailand and Cambodia. It is one of the three principalities that succeeded the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. The capital is Pakse, but the province takes its name from Champasak

Distance: 120 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation:  Le Basac hotel   

Day 18: Pakse departure

Today is exploring day, after breakfast optional riding or transfer to Wat Phou (ancient ruins) visit ancient ruined Khmer - Hindu temple, after visit temple we transfer back to Pakse for your departure.

Vat Phou is a ruined Khmer-Hindu temple complex in southern Laos and one of the oldest places of worship in Southeast Asia. It is at the base of mount Phou Khao, some 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the Mekong in Champasak province.

There was a sanctuary on the site, center on a sacred spring and an offering place for a mighty tutelary sprit dating back to pre-historic times. The first megalithic stone structures had been built probably as early as the second century, consisting of two stone cells, a carving of a crocodile, serpent stairs, and several offering platforms. One of the first pre-Angkor brick buildings onsite was erected in the early 7th century and became the focus of all consequent building activities. Most of the other surviving buildings date from the Angkor period, in the 11th—13th centuries.

Distance: 40 km

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: None

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