Day 1: Hanoi
Arrive at Hanoi airport, meet with our guide and transfer to Hanoi. Dependant on your arrival time, we can enjoy a guided walking tour through the bustling Old Quarter and sprawling Dong Xuan Market. The Old Quarter, home to more than 1000 traditional houses, dates from 1010, when King Ly Thai To moved his capital from Hoa Lu in northern Ninh Binh Province to Hanoi. The Old Quarter became the trading centre of the metropolis and its 36 streets are named after the merchants’ crafts and trades.
In the evening, we have a trip briefing and then walk to Bong Sen Theater for watching the traditional Water Puppet Performance. This ancient and unique form of puppetry has the puppeteer standing waist-deep in a pool of water, skillfully maneuvering dancing puppets attached to bamboo poles.
Welcome Vietnamese dinner. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi- Kim Boi- Thung Nai
After breakfast, we depart 55km by car to Bai Lang (Kim Boi, Hoa Binh), pick up your bicycle and commence cycling to Thung Nai. The ride is about 60km mostly uphill, the scenery on both sides of the trail are spectacular. Enjoy late lunch in local homestay in Thung Nai. Then, we take the boat trip on Da River and enjoy watching beautiful sunset. Dinner and stay overnight in local home-stay
Cycled distance: Approx 55-60km/ Easy- Moderate- Tarmac road
Day 3: Thung Nai- Mai Chau- Buoc Village
After breakfast, embark the boat and enjoy a scenic cruise on Da River to Mai Chau. Arrive in Bai Sang port, take your bike and we cycle on flat terrain to Mai Chau – Lac village. Take further cycling rides around the beautiful villages’ trail before lunch.
Following lunch, ride to the Thai village of Buoc on a mix of good single track paths and undulating rough jeep trails. The views are stunning as the ride passes through many villages crossing rice paddies, past hot springs, across suspension bridges and follow the contours of beautiful terraced rice fields. On arrival in Cun Pheo village the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to wander by foot or explore the village trails further by bike. Dinner and overnight in local village home-stay at Buoc Village.
Cycled distance: Approx 50km/ Easy- Moderate- Tarmac road & dirt road
Day 4: Mai Chau- Na Meo- Vieng Xai
Transfer 2,5 hours to Na Meo border (as the border closes at 11.a.m). Upon arrival in Laos, meet our Laotian cycling team. Picnic lunch, then we begin cycling on national route 217 , cycling uphill and then over rolling hills towards Vieng Xay on paved roads along the river, passing hilltribe and local villages in the area, including Thai Dam, Thai Dang, Meuy, and Kmu.
Vieng Xay, is the former Pathet Lao Revolutionary, head-quarters. The Viengxay caves are an extensive network of caves in the limestone mountains. Four-hundred and eighty of these caves were used by the Pathet Laos during the second Indochina war to shelter from American bombardment.
Up to 23,000 people lived in the caves, which contained a hospital, a school, Pathet Lao offices, bakeries, shops, and even a theatre. The area was home to the Communist army, who were fighting the royalist forces, based in Vientiane. The caves were used for living and working in because the US Army was bombing the area very heavily. Locals say that farmers had to farm at night to avoid bombing raids. For nine years, from 1964 to 1973, more than 20,000 people lived in this ‘hidden city’. These caves sheltered local people and the country’s future leaders for a vital period in world history.
Cycling distance: Approx 55-60km/ Easy- Moderate- Tarmac road
Day 5 : Vieng Xai- Vieng Thong
Be prepared for an epic day on the saddle. We will take the National Highway 6 and cycle 105km to Nam Noen. The winding road makes the ride more challenging today. We will stop spontaneously at the local villages where our guide will help you to interact with hospitable locals. We also visit Hing Tang (Suan Hin), a man-made formation of vertical stones that may be related to those on the Plain of Jars. Our ride finishes in Nam Noen town, we then hop in the bus and transfer our weary legs (35km) to Vieng Thong. Overnight in Vieng Thong.
What’s included: Private transportation, English speaking guide, bicycle, helmet, drinking water, snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner & accommodation.
Cycled distance: Approx 105km/ Moderate/Challenging- Tarmac road
Day 6: Vieng Thong- Nong Khiau
After breakfast, transfer out of town to the start of your challenging ride of numerous hills. Your ride will treat you to stunning scenery of limestone karst mountains and jungles. Stop along the way to interact with hospitable locals. It’s a great way to get an insight into their culture and traditional way of life, which has remained unchanged for decades. Arrive in Nong Khiaw, a small town on the banks of the Nam Ou River. The town itself boasts a gorgeous backdrop of imposing limestone mountains, picturesque river views and genuine local color.
Cycling distance: Approx 70km/ Moderate/Challenging- Tarmac road
Day 7: Nong Kiau- Luang Prabang
The whole day is reserved for a refreshing and wonderful cycling trip along the Nam Ou River as you head for Luang Prabang via Pakbeng. Plenty of time to stop and interact with local people. Transfer the last 20km to Luang Prabang by bus. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Cycling distance: approx. 70-80 Km/ Difficulty: Moderate
Day 8 Luang Prabang – Ban Na Kham – Ban Houay Tan – Ban Som – Ban Na – Ban Chan Tai – Luang Prabang
A great start today, cycle downhill to the boat pier that will take you across the Mekong River to Ban Xieng Man village. Cycle to Ban Na Kham, locally known for growing sugarcane and sticky rice cooked in bamboo. Time to look around and perhaps sample some of the local snacks. Continuing on, head to Ban Houay Tan (Khmu village) and then towards Ban Na for lunch. After lunch, we walk to an aged mango tree that is over 500 years old! Next stop is Ban Chan Tai pottery-making villages, before heading back across the Mekong, to Luang Prabang. On route stop at a Lao whisky village and a paper-making village.
Cycling distance: Approx 50-60km/ Difficulty: Moderate
Day 9 Luang Prabang – Ban Longlanh – Kuang Si Fall – Luang Prabang
Take a scenic cycle trip into the surrounding hills to visit Ban Longlanh, home to the H’mong and Khmu ethnic minorities. The tribes are best known for their bright and extravagant clothes – and if shopping is your thing, you’ll have an excellent opportunity to buy some stunning souvenirs. Your afternoon ride takes you to the Kuang Si waterfalls – 35km from Luang Prabang. This ride is a bit more challenging as some hills are quite steep. Eventually you will enter a national park where you can hike to the waterfall for a swim in the turquoise and transparent waters. On the way back to town, stop to see the natural dyes, weaving techniques and symbolism in Lao textiles at a weaving center. Many visitors to Laos are astonished by the beauty and quality of the textiles and experts will be on hand to explain the process and to answer any of your questions. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Cycling distance: Approx 60-70km Difficulty: Moderate
What’s included: Private transportation, English speaking guide, bicycle, helmet, drinking water, snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner & accommodation.
Accommodation: Sala Prabang
Day 10: Departure
At leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
GRADING DEFINITION
To give you an indication of the difficulty of our trips, we’ve graded our adventures into three categories: easy, moderate and challenging. We take many factors into consideration in this grading, including distances covered, terrain, altitude, weather conditions and vehicle support.
- Easy: Suitable for most people in good health. These trips generally include short days on good paths and at low altitudes.
- Moderate: A reasonable level of fitness is required, as these trips can require sustained endurance levels, hills, longer days and altitude. All of our moderate trips have a support vehicle following closely, so weary travelers can hitch a ride and take a rest for a while.
- Challenging: These trips are physically demanding and best suited to fit people with a high endurance level. Days can be long, often at altitude, in remote regions and sometimes without a support vehicle nearby. Travelers may be required to carry a backpack.
