8:00 AM pick you up from your hotel we’ll depart to Thalat by van and cycle to get out of the city hustle. Our ride will take us from rice fields through to rain forests 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.
Day 2: Thalat – 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 3: Phou Khao – 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 4: Phon Savanh – Plain of Jars
In the morning 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 5 : Phon Sa Vanh – 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 6 : Kasi – Luang Prabang – Riding into town
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 7 : Luang Prabang Cycling to Buffalos, bears, and falls
The relaxed road out of Luang Prabang will cycle to 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, Dinner
Cycling: Optional 30km | easy | +402 m / -291 m
Transit: 30km
Hotel: My Lao Home Boutique Hote
Day 8 : Luang Prabang – Nong Khuay Village – family life and homestay
We’ll cycle 35km out of Luang Prabang is Nong Khuay Village. A very remote community, home to 80 families of both Hmong and Khummu origin, the 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: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycling: Optional 30km | easy | +402 m / -291 m
Transit: 30km
Hotel: Home-stay
Day 9 : Nong Khuay – Nong Khiaw – Cycling through remote villages
We cycle out of the village on dirt roads for 37 km 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 favorite 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: Mandala Ou Resort (pool)
Day 10 : Nong Khiaw – Muang Khua- River cruising in a long tail boat
Today we transfer to the river to board a traditional longboat for the cruise up the Nam Ou river to the entrance to the Phongsaly district. We call in at the sleepy town of Muang Ngoi on the way to stretch our legs and 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 in Muang Khua around 5 pm.
Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: None
Transit: All day by boat
Hotel: New Chaleunsouk Guesthouse
Day 11 : Muang Khua – Dien Bien Phu – 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). Lunch in Laos before 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 12 : Dien Bien Phu – Mường Lay – 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: 70km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m
Transit: 30 mins
Hotel: Hoa Binh Hotel
Day 13 : Muong Lay – Lai Châu – 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 Nua. 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 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: 70km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m
Transit: None
Hotel: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (pool)
Day 14 : Lai Chau – Sapa – Epic mountains, incredible valleys
Today is another great day as we conquer the O Quy Ho Pass. This 38 km makes for the longest pass of Northwest Vietnam. It is located in the system of four mountain passes in 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.
Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: 85km | hard | +2291m / -1700m
Transit: None
Hotel: Sapa Elegent Hotel
Day 15 : Sapa to Hanoi – cycling to villages
A morning meander through the local market will highlight the melting pot of ethnic tribes and goods for sale.
You can cycle a gentle 25km downhill into the Sapa valley to visit Lao Chai and Ta Van villages and experience the fantastic scenery of mountains, rice paddy fields, and Hmong villages along the way. Alternatively, you can rest and relax in the town of Sapa before lunch. Then transferred to Hanoi via a new highway. Arrive in Hanoi around 5:30 PM. Check-in youe own hotel .End The Tour At Your Hanoi Hotel.
Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 25km | Easy and hard| +164m / -1267m
Transit: 4 hours
Hotel: None
