Day 1. Arrive Vientiane
On arrival at Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport (airport code VTE), you will be met by a driver who will drive you to our city centre hotel, where your tour leader will be waiting to greet you.
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Meals
Day 2. Vientiane to Tathom - Transfer.
To avoid the traffic and road 13 out of Laos capital, Vientiane, today will be dedicated to the five-hour vehicle transfer to the small town of Tathom. Upon arrival at our guesthouse in Tathom, we can prepare our bicycles for the adventure to come.
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Day 3. Tathom to Muang Khoun
Our day begins with a peaceful and gently undulating ride through beautiful rural scenery. At 47 kilometres, we reach the base of the first challenging climb of the tour, as we gain 800 metres during a gentle 22-kilometre climb. We then undulate to a small guest house in the quiet town of Muang Khoun.
Cycling 90KMS
Ascent 1800M
Descent 900M
Meals BDLS
Day 4. Muang Khoun to Phonsavan via Plain of Jars.
An altogether gentler day today as we take a short flat ride to the tourist town of Phonsavan. Along the way, we visit the Plain of Jars, an area awash with large, hand-carved stone jars, the origins of which are a mystery. We are also passing through one of the most heavily bombed regions in the history of warfare with the result of badly cratered land all around, and some wonderfully creative recycling of American bombshells.
Cycling 50KMS
Ascent 180M
Descent 1300M
Meals BDLS
Day 5. Phonsavan to Muang Kham
With pine trees and giant hardwoods vying for space amidst bamboo, all set to a backdrop of green rice fields today's scene could perhaps be summed up as topical low alpine. We are now riding at 1100 meters which helps to keep a cycling-friendly climate, which, combined with just 65 kilometres of riding including a 20 kilometres descent means another relaxing day on the bikes.
Cycling 65KMS
Ascent 330M
Descent 840M
Meals BDLS
Day 6. Muang Kham to Namneaun
A pleasant few kilometres of warm-up across a wide fertile valley lead us to today's longest climb which sees us gain 1100 metres over 18 kilometres. Now at 1500 metres above sea level, we are treated to stunning views, as for 50 kilometres we undulate along a ridge. Our day ends with a winding twenty-kilometre descent to the valley floor and our resting place for the night.
Cycling 85KMS
Ascent 2300M
Descent 2350M
Meals BDLS
Day 7. Namneaun to Vieng Thong.
A cheeky little six-kilometre climb will warm you up for today's major event in the form of a 1000-metre altitude gain over a distance of 25KMS. All of this on a road all but bereft of motorcars as we wind our jungle vegetation and agricultural land. The villages we pass through along the way consist of the simple homes of the Kms people, and after 45 kilometres we enter a protected area where the jungle becomes much deeper and thicker. The day draws to an end with a 15-kilometre downhill to our guest house.
Cycling 65KMS
Ascent 1750M
Descent 1650M
Meals BDLS
Day 8: Vieng Thong to Vieng Kham
With 120 kilometres and more than 2500 metres of climbing on winding rural roads between available accommodations, we must enjoy the views of the first 25KMS today from the comfort of our support vehicle.
The road is so light of traffic that seeing a car is a noteworthy event, and the jungle is now so dense it is one of the few places in SE Asia where tigers still roam wild. The meandering valley of the Nam Seng River leads us to the day's final climb before descending for 20 km to our night’s lodgings.
Cycling 120/95KMS
Ascent 2500/1500M
Descent 2770/2300M
Meals BDLS
Day 9: Vieng Kham to Nong Kiaw
Following yesterday’s somewhat challenging day in the saddle, today’s shorter distance will undoubtedly come as a relief as a gentle climb followed by a descent towards Nong Kiaw will see you in our riverside resort in time for lunch.
Cycling 50KMS
Ascent 1000M
Descent 1100M
Meals BDLS
Day 10: Nong Kiaw - Rest Day.
A pleasant, small village on the banks of the Nam Ou River Nong Kiaw has built up around the needs of back-packers and has just the sort of laid-back vibe a weary cyclist needs on a well-earned rest day. And by now rest is much needed, and where better than chilling at our riverside resort, or wandering around this convivial little village?
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Meals B
Day 11: Nong Kiaw to Oudomxai
A flat 35 kilometres takes us to our first break for the day. Straight afterwards we embark on the first of the day's two notable climbs as a perfectly surfaced, Chinese roads twists ever upward to lunch. The afternoon features a sweeping descent and another, shorter climb through beautiful Laotian scenery before the final 18 kilometres downhill leads us to the town of Oudomxai with its industrious Chinese influence.
Cycling 115KMS
Ascent 2500M
Descent 22000M
Meals BDLS
Day 12: Oudomxai to Pak Beng
Fortunately, with 145 kilometres ahead of us today, by the time we have our first break the lion's share of the climbing will be behind us. The rest of the day gently undulates downward through an area of agricultural land and rubber plantations as we make our way towards the Mekong River.
Cycling 145KMS
Ascent 1700M
Descent 2000M
Meals BDLS
Day 13: Pak Beng to Luang Prabang - River Cruise
With the cycling now behind us we can relax and enjoy a classic river trip aboard our private charter riverboat. Read a book, enjoy a beer, and relax and watch the jungles of Lao drift by as we make our way slowly towards one of the gems of Southeast Asia, the delightful town of Luang Prabang.
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Day 14. Tour Ends.
The tour officially ends after breakfast today. For those leaving straight away, we will provide a transfer to the nearby international airport. However, Luang Prabang is not a town for leaving in a hurry; it is a town to remain at lingering, wandering amongst the temples and colonial architecture, and relaxing at delightful little cafés. We are, of course, more than happy to arrange any extra nights accommodation you may require.
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