Vientiane Cycling to Luang Prabang - 9 days is an incredible way to experience Laos. Avoiding all the major highways and getting way off the beaten track, this cycling adventure will take you through national parks, rivers, and rainforests.

Day 1 : Vientiane Arrival

There’s a feast of exciting activities to sink your teeth into. Spend your day exploring the many markets, museums, and temples. The day is yours to potter, caffeinate and watch the world go by. The group will meet up for dinner at 6 pm at the hotel, where we’ll dine at a social enterprise-based vocational training restaurant, supporting Friends internationally.

Inc. Meals: Dinner
Cycling: NA
Transit: Airport transfer
Hotel: Le Luxe Boutique Hotel (3 star)

Optional activities: Wat Sisaket, Ho Prakeo, That Luang Stupa, Patouxay (Arch de Triumph)

Day 2: Vientiane - Thalat

Rice fields, rivers, and rainforests

In the morning, we’ll visit the local NGO team of Pecan Mit (“Good Friends” in Lao). They are part of the Friends International organization and operate a holistic program for children, youth, and caregivers living on the streets and in marginalized communities in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. From here, we’ll depart Vientiane by van to get out of the city hustle. Our ride will take us from rice fields through to rainforests as we cycle passed the limestone cliffs of Phou Khao Khauy NP. Lunch will be in the small village of Ban Kern on the Nam Ngum river.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 68km | easy | +560m/-485m
Transit: 20km
Hotel: Long Ngum View Resort

NGO: Friends International

Day 3: Thalat - Pakistan

Phou Khao Khuay National Park- Boat rides, picnics, and waterfalls

We’ll start the day after breakfast on a boat, making our way through to the village of Longshan, just north of the national park. Our ride takes us straight through the heart of this magnificent natural beauty and through to Tad Leuk waterfall for a well-deserved break. We’ll cycle out of the park and transit through to Paksan for the evening.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: 48km |moderate | +874m/-955m
Transit: 2.5 hr boat + 1 hr drive
Hotel: Sokbounma in Paksan

Day 4 : Paksan - Phon Savanh

Riding through time

An early start to beat the heat of the day, this ride departs directly from the hotel and travels through remote areas and deep forests, where villages are untouched by modern civilization. Our lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Ban Thasi, after which, we truck about 2 hours to Muang Khoun where we will visit the Old stupa and Buddha sculpture which was bombed during the Vietnam war.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 81km | moderate | +1,088m/-1,032m
Transit: 3 hr drive
Hotel: Maly Hotel

Day 5: Phon Savanh

Plain of Jars, UXO ordinance, and a local NGO

In the morning, we’ll visit a local NGO that works with victims of land mines, remaining from the Vietnam War. This is an incredible experience to learn about the devastation left behind by the war and the effects that remains to this day.
In the afternoon we’ll visit the Plain of Jars site, an archeological landscape consisting of thousands of stone jars scattered throughout the valley. These ‘jars’ are considered to be up to 2000 years old and theorized to potentially be old burial pits.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: None
Transit: Local
Hotel: Maly Hotel

Day 6: Phon Savanh - Kasi

Cycling mountains

We’ll avoid riding the main road, the climbs, and the trucks between Phonsavan and Phou Khoun by transferring in the morning. After lunch, we’ll take the bikes on the much quieter and scenic downhill ride to Kasi. This laid-back little river town will be our last stop before riding into Luang Prabang.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 45km | easy | +664m/-1,672m
Transit: 3 hrs
Hotel: Local Guesthouse

Day 7 : Kasi - Luang Prabang

Last day of the ride

We’ll skip the first 30km of climbing by jumping in the van to the viewpoint. From here we’ll attempt to cycle into Luang Prabang, with twice as much downhill as up in the remaining 95km. There’s no rush and a support van that’s with us the whole way. Once we get into Luang Prabang, we’ll meet up again for dinner at the Friends International restaurant, KhaiPhaen. It’s a social enterprise based restaurant that empowers disadvantaged youth with vocational training among other support

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycling: 95km | moderate | +1233m / -2778m
Transit: 30km
Hotel: My Lao Home Boutique Hotel

Day 8 : Luang Prabang - Kuangsi Waterfalls

Bears, buffalos, and waterfalls

The relaxed road out of Luang Prabang will take us as far as Kuangsi Falls, one of the most spectacular swimming holes on the continent. Along the way, we’ll visit the Lao Buffalo Dairy. Here, you’ll meet Aussie farmer and founder, Suzie, whose initiative provides an insight into the issues surrounding village farmers and water buffalo care. The dairy also provides animal husbandry nutrition programs to the rural communities close to the falls.
Before taking a dip in the beautiful Kuangsi Falls, we’ll get a behind-the-scenes experience with the team from Free the Bears. This sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates sun, moon, and sloth bears from bile farms.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: Optional 30km | easy | +402 m / -291 m
Transit: 30km
Hotel: My Lao Home Boutique Hotel

Day 9 : Luang Prabang - Departure

Departure Day!

Congratulations! You’ve cycled Laos, covered almost 340km in the saddle, and more than scratched the surface as to what this fantastic country is all about.
We’ll enjoy a final breakfast together before we say goodbye. There’s plenty to do in Luang Prabang so just let us know if you’re staying for a few days and we can give you some suggestions.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: None
Transit: Airport transfers available on request
Hotel: Additional accommodation available on request

Please consider the environment before printing

Departure date: Join in group departure on 6th Monthly

Group Size: From 2 to 16 riders

Tour cost: Contact Us

TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAOS

Laos is a treasure trove of natural and architectural wonders. With a little patience and some time you can see incredible man-made and natural wonders from north to south in the Lao PDR. Don’t miss these top 10 things to see and do.

Wat Xieng Thong

Luang Prabang's best-known monastery is centered on a 1560 sǐm (ordination hall). Its roofs sweep low to the ground and there's a stunning 'tree of life' mosaic set on its western exterior wall. Close by are several stupas and three compact little chapel halls called hŏr. Hŏr Ɖąi, shaped like a tall tomb, houses a standing Buddha. The Hŏr Ɖąi Pha Sai-nyàat, dubbed La Chapelle Rouge – the Red Chapel – by the French, contains a rare reclining Buddha.

Fronted in lavish gilt work, the Hóhng Kép Mîen stores a ceremonial carriage, festooned with red-tongued naga (river serpents) designed to carry the golden funeral urns of Lao royalty.

Pha That Luang

Pha That Luang, Vientiane Laos |

Boun That Luang takes place every November, over three days around the full moon. The stupa in Vientiane is the national symbol of Laos and is said to house a piece of Buddha’s breastbone. Thousands of pilgrims gather at That Luang to give offerings to the monks who come from all over Laos. Processions, parties, and a trade show follow. Even if you don’t make it to the festival, the stupa is a sight to behold any time of year. Join the faithful and place offerings of flowers, candles, and incense at the alter, or quietly stroll around the massive enclosed yard.

Vat Phou / Wat Phou

Along with the Champasak Cultural Landscape, the 5th century Khmer ruins of Wat Phou is the second inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List of Laos. Wat Phou, meaning ‘mountain temple.’ Blended into the surrounding nature, the remains of Wat Phou are dotted all over the mountain face. Oriented toward the east, the ruins have two large reservoirs on either side of a long column-lined road, leading toward the mountains. Past the palace ruins, up a steep staircase, you’ll find the sanctuary with a modern Buddhist shrine and a natural spring considered to be sacred.

Tad Lo

Tad Lo is 56 miles (90 kilometers) away from the southern town of Pakse. Soak in the visual and aural splendor of the falls or take a dip and cool off from the heat. Three cascades make up the falls: Tad Hang, Tad Lo itself, and Tad Suong. Accommodations are available to spend the night and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Tad Lo is an impressive three-tiered waterfall in Salavan Province. Several guesthouses and restaurants around the falls make it an ideal lunch spot or stopover for trekking, swimming, and tubing. Tad Lo is accessible by bus, motorbike, or as part of a group tour package of the Bolaven Plateau.

Swim in the Mekong at 4000 Islands

French Bridge at Sunset on Don Det |

Don Det has a beach at its northern tip that doubles as a ferry landing. You can also take a dip in the Mekong, the largest river in Southeast Asia, on either of the two beaches on Don Khon–one by Liphi Falls and one farther south. Easy Go Backpackers Hostel on Don Det has a beach area and Don Som Riverside Guesthouse has a swimming spot on Don Som. If river swimming isn’t your thing and you’d rather lounge by the pool, check out the one by Little Eden Guesthouse at the north end of Don Det or the Blue Lagoon Swimming pool at the southern tip of the island.

Tat Kuang Si

Thirty kilometers southwest of Luang Prabang, Tat Kuang Si is a many-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations into a series of cool, swimmable turquoise pools; the term 'Edenic' doesn't do it justice. When you're not swinging off ropes into the water, there's a public park with shelters and picnic tables where you can eat lunch. Don't miss the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, where wild Asiatic moon bears, confiscated from poachers, are given a new lease of life.

Many cheap eateries line the entrance car park at the top end of the Khamu village of Ban Thapene, selling everything from local snacks to grilled chicken and fish.

Visiting Kuang Si by hired motorcycle is very pleasant now that the road here is decently paved and allows stops in villages along the way. By bicycle, be prepared for two long, steady hills to climb. A tuk-tuk from Luang Prabang costs 150,000K for one person, and 50,000K per person in a group of three, so it's best to get a group together. A private minivan will cost 350,000K.

Plain of Jars

Plain of Jars’ thousands of mysterious megalithic jars are scattered throughout Xiang Khuang Province in northeastern Laos. Dating from the iron age, the oldest jars go back to 500 BC. The largest “King Jar” is at Site 1 and the longest jar is at Site 2. It’s possible to hire a guide to take you on a trek from Site 2, which is behind a rice paddy to Site 3, which is in the forest on top of a hill. The leading theory suggests these stone vessels were used in burial rituals. Evidence suggests that bodies were distilled in the jars until only bones remained. The bones were then removed and interred in a ceramic jar or on the ground. Nine of the 90 sites containing jars have been cleared of UXOs, so stick to the established routes and bring a guide out trekking with you.

Kuang Si Falls

Kuang Si Falls |

In the north of Laos lies Luang Prabang, a portion of the old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Ride or cycle to Kuang Si or Tad Saw waterfalls, take a boat cruise down the Mekong river, and eat local Lao or fantastic French food at one of the restaurants in town. This former royal capital is home to some of the most elaborate and best-preserved temples in the country. Visit the Royal Palace and the watermelon-shaped Wat Wisunarat or hike up Mount Phousi for sunrise or sunset.

Tour Cost Includes:

MTB Bikes for complete Tour and helmet
Accommodation in tour - 8 nights
All Meals B = Breakfast , L = Lunch , D = Dinner
Lunch in Midway restaurant/City Restaurant or Pack Lunch
Mechanic throughout the tour
Boat trip, local ferry in tour
Back up AC vehicle for the complete tour ( Bus, + Truck for the group )
English speaking Local Guide - Cum biking guide
Fresh Fruits/Snacks (Only Cycling Part)
Unlimited filter water during cycling (Only Cycling Part)
All road and transport taxes
Driver Allowance
Toll and Parking charges

Tour Cost Excludes:

International flight tickets, visa
Accommodation not in tours
Other personal expenses
Tips and Gratitude
Travel insurance
Any Hard and Soft Drinks with meals

Travel Information

Bikes: Trek MTB Bikes

Bike Hire: Includes on Tour Cost. You may bring your bikes, but in this case, let us know in advance. Other equipment provided: Pedals, helmet, water bottles.

Accommodation

Accommodation is offered at all locations. Most of the hotels are Culture Resort, Home-stay, guesthouse, Eco Resorts & family-run hotels - all with a common line of quality in service. Our costs are based on a 'twin-sharing' foundation. For those who want a single room, we offer a single room, but at an extra cost.

Terrain

The landscape is a mountain, biking through the village streets, fields, fruits garden, local ferry, and monkey bridges

Climate

The annual monsoon cycles that affect all of mainland Southeast Asia produce a ‘dry and wet monsoon climate’ with three basic seasons for most of Laos. The southwest monsoon arrives in Laos between May and July and lasts into November.
The monsoon is followed by a dry period (from November to May), beginning with lower relative temperatures and cool breezes created by Asia’s northeast monsoon (which bypasses most of Laos), lasting until mid-February. Exceptions to this general pattern include Xieng Khuang, Hua Phan, and Phongsali Provinces, which may receive rainfall coming from Vietnam and China during April and May.
Rainfall varies substantially according to latitude and altitude, with the highlands of Vientiane, Bolikhamsai, Khammuan, and eastern Champasak Provinces receiving the most.
Temperatures also vary according to altitude. In the humid, low-lying Mekong River valley, temperatures range from 15°C to 38°C, while in the mountains of Xieng Khuang can drop to 0°C at night.
When to go
The best time for visiting most of Laos is between November and February when it rains the least and is not too hot. It’s also Laos’s main season for both national and regional bun (festivals).
If you plan to focus on the mountainous northern provinces, the hot season (from March to May) and the early rainy season (around June) are not bad either, as temperatures are moderate at higher elevations. Southern Laos, on the other hand, is best avoided from March to May, when daytime temperatures break into the 40s and nights aren’t much cooler.
The rainy season is not as bad as you might think. While it will rain – very heavily – the downpours are often fairly brief and can be bracketed by long periods of sunshine. The rains also clear dust from the skies and land, making everything clearer and brighter. Of course, there are downsides; unsealed roads can become quagmires, and extensive travel in remote areas like Salavan, Phongsali, and Sainyabuli might be impossible. River travel can be a good alternative during these months. If you intend to travel extensively by river, November is the best; flooding has usually subsided yet river levels are still high enough for maximum navigability. Between January and June, low water can make navigating some rivers difficult.
December to February and August are the peak tourist times. January, in particular, is very busy and booking ahead is advisable.

Transportation/Support Vehicles

All transport is involved in the cost. We provide a backup vehicle at all times during cycling trips. The vehicle can be used to boat your baggage & yourself as required.

Food

Food is a very essential part of these trips. We make sure that the meals we offer are method delicious unless you ask for dull meals. You are also permitted the choice of veggie or non-vegetarian meals. We suggest that you consume only the canned standard water. Please make sure that the container is enclosed.

What to bring

Footwear
Bike shoes
Helmet
Pedal
Water Bottle
Sun cream lotion
Relaxed shoes for walking
Shoes for other sightseeing
Socks

Clothing

In Laos, the conventional outfit is more traditional. We counsel you to prevent very short shorts/skirts and limited tops/tanktops when viewing small non-urban places, pagodas, temples, mosques, or other sacred sites as this may limit your access.
Water-resistant jacket.
Riding bike equipment like safety gloves and shorts.

Others

Torch
Mosquito repellent
Eyewear, cap
Sun lotion of SPF of at least 35
Individual Bike riding equipment like bar finishes, pedals, chairs, and headgear
Helmets for riding a bike

Health

Malaria is an avoidable disease that can create trouble if neglected. One can prevent disease by taking recommended anti-malarial drugs and defending against insect attacks. The areas you will be passing are Malaria-free. Make sure that your insurance provider includes illnesses and injuries overseas.

Precautions

Bring all the important medications and OTC medications. Do not ignore to have the brands as well as the general titles of the medications one needs to have.
Use a sun hat when revealed.
Consume a lot of liquids. Don't drink tap water. Use only bottled water which is always kept in the back of your automobile.
Bring your medical kit and pest resilience.
To avoid fungus and parasitic attacks, keep legs clean and dry, and do not go without shoes.
Do not eat food bought from road providers.
Do not drink drinks with ice.
Do not eat milk products unless it is known that they have been pasteurized.
Prevent managing creatures (especially apes, pets, and cats) to avoid attacks and serious illnesses.

Medical Information Update

Details given above are liable to change now and then and one should contact the Native Lao tasks of the specific country or the government vacationer offices for more details.

Shopping

You will get possibilities en route to do a bit of purchasing. However unless particularly requested, our guide will not suggest any particular store. Neither we nor our driver/guides take any percentage on purchasing.

Spending Money

Every visitor will have different cash specifications and varying personal costs. Please assess your spending routines while enabling for beverages, purchasing, and falling. Also keep aside cash for extra costs like:

Foods that are not included
Emergencies
Optionally available activities /additional sightseeing
Shopping/Souvenirs/Tips

Foreign Exchange

As Laos currency value tends to go up and down, refer to the following website for daily return rates: https://www.ldblao.la

Airport Taxes

There is no airport terminal or leaving taxation from any airport terminal in Laos.

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