| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 860km |
| Time | 15 days |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Terrain | Hilly in the north, flat in the south, hilly in the east |
| Highlight | Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng |
Overview
Laos is a great country to ride in. Don't believe the people who say it's too dangerous to cycle from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng - it's true that some cyclists were shot there many years ago, but we didn't see any trouble, just incredible scenery and friendly people.This 15 day trip has 10 cycling days, but obviously you can chop and change as you like. It starts with a two-day boat ride down the Mekong from the Thai border, which lands you at Luang Prabang, the most beautiful town in Laos. It's well worth taking a few days off here to explore, and get some souvenirs from the fantastic night market. Make sure you eat loads, because the next stretch is the hardest ride we've ever done!
The next three days to Vang Vieng are very steep, but it's worth the effort to see the spectacular views and remote hill tribe villages. Most tourists pass through on buses and completely miss what is easily the nicest part of Laos. Treat yourself to a day off in Vang Vieng when you arrive, you'll have earned it - maybe do some tubing on the river or just hang out in the bars.
From here on it's pretty much flat to Vientiane, passing through a series of villages to the beautiful Nam Ngum dam, and then onto the capital, Vientiane, which is worth a day or two if you've got time. This city boasts the only bike shop in Laos, so stock up on any spare parts, because you won't be able to get anything at all from here to Vietnam.
From Vientiane it's a four day ride to Na Hin, which is dead flat except the final day which has some great limestone karst hills. From Na Hin it's well worth the trip to the Kong Lor caves, but until they finish building the road the bus is the best option. When you get back it's two days to the Vietnam border, and make sure you stop off at the crazy Lak Xao market, which has a really varied selection of dead forest animals for sale. The last day from Lak Xao to the border is really steep as it climbs up to the mountain pass at Nam Phao, and on to Vietnam...