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Cycle Laos: Vientiane to Luang Prabang
Duration
10 days
Site savings
$47
From
$1,493 USD
Ready yourself to cycle almost 370km from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Laos is an intriguing and evocative Southeast Asian country that has untouched natural beauty and is only being discovered by travellers. Starting in the capital of Vientiane, this 10-day cycling exploration will bring you to colorful markets, refreshing blue lagoons, a sunrise trek or see the Plain of Jars, a UNESCO Heritage Site. This holiday becomes more memorable and purposeful as you visit local NGOs, conservation sites, sanctuaries and dining in social enterprises which support the youth. This is a life-changing getaway not just for you but other people as well.
- CategoryMulti-Activity
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration10 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level2 - Novice
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance248.5 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance31.1 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration10 days
- Main DestinationLaos
- Distance248.5 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance31.1 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Vientiane: Arrival day
There’s a feast of exciting activities to sink your teeth into. Spend your day exploring around the many markets, museums and temples in Vientiane. The day is yours to potter, caffeinate and watch the world go by. The group will meet up for dinner at 6pm at the hotel, where we’ll head over to the banks of the Mekong for a drink, followed by a Lao style BBQ.
- Azalea Park View Hotel, Vientiane
- Dinner
- Day 2Vientiane: Buddha Park, COPE and Friends
After breakfast, you'll get fitted for the bikes and start the day with a gentle 22km (13.6mi) ride to Wat Xieng Khouane Luang, otherwise known as the Buddha Statue Park. The van will follow and take the group back to town to visit COPE Visitors Centre, where you will get an introduction to the effect the Second Indo-china war had on locals and what COPE is doing to enhance mobility of land mine victims.
Mini Makphet restaurant is another local NGO by Friends International where the group will have lunch and learn about the vocational training programs and the social work carried out by this amazing NGO.
NGO: Friends International, COPE
- 13.7 miles
- Azalea Park View Hotel, Vientiane
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 3Thalat: Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife
You'll get out of the city hustle by van for the first 22km (13.6mi), making Tha Ngon the launching pad of the days ride. The morning destination is 39km (24.2mi) away on paved roads, as the group makes it way to the Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife. LCTW works with authorities and individuals to rescue, rehabilitate and release as many animals as they can from the illegal wildlife trade.
Cycling on from LCTW, find a local restaurant for some sustenance, then tackle the remaining 28km (17.3mi) to Long Ngum View Resort on the Nam Ngum Lake.- 42.1 miles
- Long Ngum Resort, Thalat
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 4Vang Vieng: Boat Ride and Blue Lagoons
Start the day after breakfast on a boat, making your way north towards Van Vieng (2.5 hrs). From shore, you'll be met by a van and transit to the hotel by mid morning (22km/ 45 mins). This gives you the chance to explore Vang Vieng by bike. The itinerary today was created to do a round trip of 31km (19.2mi) that takes you to Blue Lagoons 2 and 3, take a dip in the open pools and grab some lunch from one of the food stands. You'll also have the chance to explore Patong Cave Temple and a feast of surrounding attractions. The cycling is mostly on dirt roads, reasonably flat with 286m (938ft) of incline and decline. The evening is yours to relax and explore Vang Vieng.
- 19.3 miles
866.1 ft
866.1 ft- Bearlin Bungalows, Vang Vieng
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 5Kasi: Sunrise trek to the Hot Springs
If you’re up for it, there’s the option to go on a sunrise trek to Pha Ngern Viewpoint for epic views across the surrounding mountains. It’s not without it’s challenges but well worth the reward. There'll be 4 hours alloted for the return trip which starts at 5:00 AM. Or you can always sleep in.
There is every opportunity to ride from Bearlin Bungalows to Kasi Hot Springs Resort, where you'lll spend the evening. The total distance is 81km (50mi) on a paved but patchy road, we’ll aim to ride to Kasi for lunch (62km/38mi) and the final 19km (11.8mi) in the afternoon.Kasi Hot Springs is basic, but a great place to relax and unwind in the pool.
- 50.3 miles
- 1,433.7 ft
4,271.7 ft
2,837.9 ft - Kasi Hot Springs Hotel
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 6Phonsavan: Cycling mountains
- Day 7Phou Khoun: Plain of Jars UNESCO Heritage Site
In the morning, you'll see the Plain of Jars UNESCO Heritage site, an archeological landscape consisting of thousands of stone jars scattered throughout the valley. If available, the group will also meet a micro NGO, Lone Buffalo, that provides free English tuition, female empowerment programs and sports coaching. The van will take the group 90km (55mi) West, allowing you to cycle the final 50km (31mi) to Phou Khoun. The road is paved with the usual pot holes and is not foreign to some traffic. For something different, you’ll spend the night under the stars camping at Phou Khoun Strawberry Farm. Watch the sea of clouds floating over the mountains.
- 31.1 miles
- 1,076.1 ft
4,645.7 ft
3,569.6 ft - Strawberry Farm Camping, Phou Khoun
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 8Luang Prabang: Cycling into town
Skip the first 53km (32mi) of climbing by jumping in the van to the viewpoint. From here, we’ll attempt to cycle all the way into Luang Prabang, with twice as much downhill as up in the remaining 76km (47mi).There’s no rush and a support van will be with you the whole way. Once you get into Luang Prabang, the group will 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 amongst other support.
- 47.2 miles
- -3,605.6 ft
4,209.3 ft
7,815 ft - Sala Prabang Hotel, Luang Prabang
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 9Luang Prabang: Bears, buffalos and waterfalls
Ride to Kuang Si Falls, one of the most spectacular swimming holes on the continent. Along the way, you'll visit the Lao Buffalo Dairy, whose initiative provides an insight into the issues surrounding village farmers and water buffalo care. Before taking a dip in the beautiful Kuangsi Falls, there'll be a visit to Free the Bears. This sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates sun and moon bears from bile farms, working closely with Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife.
It’s a ‘there and back’ ride, totaling 57km (35mi). If you’re keen to get back to town and make the most of Luang Prabang for the evening, you can jump in the van and halve the cycling for the day.
NGO: Lao Buffalo Dairy, Free the Bears
- 35.4 miles
2,276.9 ft
2,276.9 ft- Sala Prabang Hotel, Luang Prabang
- Breakfast
- Day 10Luang Prabang: Departure day