Guide

In 2020, the Cycle Vietnam to Laos adventure is co-hosted by Social Cycles founder Brett Seychell. Brett is passionate about sustainable travel and enriching experiences by engaging with local experts. That’s why he will co-facilitate the 2020 tours and connect riders with local experts. To obtain an authentic Laos experience and truly gain from local knowledge, the adventure is co-hosted by a local Laos bike tour operational expert, based in Luang Prabang. The Vietnam side is hosted by a local Vietnam team. We will be changing teams at the border.

Accommodation

To make the most of Laos & Vietnam, we stay in a variety of different accommodation styles. In Luang Prabang, we stay in a beautiful French colonial style building in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage City. Once we move away from the major towns and into the rural villages, we stay in clean & comfortable guest houses. All local guesthouse rooms have their own private bathroom with a western toilet. On our third day, we will spend the night with a local family in a traditional homestay.

Transport

In Laos, we partner with a local supplier for the hire of our bikes and as a result, there is a great range that are designed to deal with the local environment perfectly. You are welcome to bring your own clip in pedals, seat or any other adjustment you like. All mountain bikes have a 24 speed gear set to help you get up and down those hills!

Meals

Sticky rice, fresh vegetables, mountains of fresh herbs, fish and meat, fish sauce, chilli, spices, fruit and more sticky rice… one of the wonderful features of the Lao diet is the almost complete absence of processed foods. Ironically, it’s the poor economic status of this small, landlocked South-East Asian country that has kept its cuisine fresh, vibrant and healthy for hundreds of years. Lao’s culinary offering includes universal hits, like steamed fish in banana leaf and pork laap salad, alongside options for the adventurous eater, such as duck’s blood salad.

Not included:

Insurance

Optional

NGO Donation. Laos is the most heavily bombed country in history relative to the size of population. The USA dropped more bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War than it dropped on Europe & Asia in all of WWII. There are an estimated 80 million unexploded bombs scattered across the country. We’ll meet just some of the NGOs tackling this issue. For every Social Cycles Adventure, riders are requested to contribute a nominal sum of US$150. During the course of the tour, you are given the chance to engage with, and learn from, local NGOs. This Social Cycles adventure has the unique opportunity to visit and learn from these projects. You can learn more about the individual NGOs we visit on the next tab. The funds raised from each rider will be able to influence which project they would like to support based on their learnings throughout the week. In addition to building a profile for our impact partners, Social Cycles also pays each NGO for their time and resources. We spend 1-2 hours with each NGO who are then remunerated, regardless of whether or not there is a follow up donation from the group.

Flights

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Luang Prabang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Luang Prabang

Arrival dinner

We will collect you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

A welcome dinner and tour briefing at Khaiphaen a local vocational training restaurant that trains marginalised youth for careers in hospitality from the surrounding villages.

Enjoy the evening, unwind and explore this true Gem of a city, The peninsula in the confluence of the Nam Khan river and the Mekong offers a fantastic backdrop to this unforgettable adventure.

Inc. Meals: Dinner

Cycling: NULL

Transit: Private pick up from airport

Hotel: My Lao Home Boutique Hotel
Day 2 Day 2: Luang Prabang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Luang Prabang

Bears, buffalos and waterfalls

The relaxed road out of Luang Prabang will take us as far as 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

Cycling: Optional 30km | easy | +402 m / -291 m

Transit: 30km

Hotel: My Lao Home Boutique Hotel
Day 3 Day 3: Nong Khuay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Nong Khuay

UXO education, family life and homestay

We’ll cycle via the UXO Education Centre to get an incredible insight into the horrific bombings endured by the Lao people and the effect it still has today. The UXO centre is an amazing NGO that does fantastic work, yet just scratches the surface of this little known issue. Some 35km out of Luang Prabang is Nong Khuay Village. A very remote community, home to 80 families of both Hmong and Khummu origin. Fairtrek 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: My Lao Home Boutique Hotel
Day 4 Day 4: Nong Khiaw
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Nong Khiaw

Cycling through remote villages

We cycle out of the village on dirt roads for 37km 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 favourite and the rustic charm of this quiet enclave is intoxicating.. relax poolside in the shadow of elephant head mountain.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycling: 67km (30km + 37km) | moderate |

Transit: 2 hours

Hotel: Mandala Ou Resort (pool)
Day 5 Day 5: Muang Khua
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Muang Khua

River cruising in a long tail boat

Today we transfer to the river to board a traditional long boat for the cruise up the Nam Ou river to the entrance to Phongsaly district. We call in at the sleepy town of Muang Ngoi on the way to stretch our legs, 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 into Muang Khua around 5pm.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycling: NULL

Transit: All day boat

Hotel: New Chaleunsouk Guesthouse
Day 6 Day 6: Dien Bien Phu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: 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).

Once 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

Cycling: 65km | hard | +2219m / -1404m

Transit: 1 hour

Hotel: Him Lam Resort (pool)
Day 7 Day 7: Muong Lay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Muong 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

Cycling: 70km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m

Transit: NULL

Hotel: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (pool)
Day 8 Day 8: Lai Chau
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Lai Chau

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 Nura. 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 definitely worth it. The reward at the end of it is some of the best views in the whole region.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycling: 70km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m

Transit: NULL

Hotel: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (pool)
Day 9 Day 9: Sapa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Sapa

Epic mountains, incredible valleys

Today is another great day as we conquer the O Quy Ho Pass. These 38km make for the longest pass of Northwest Vietnam. It is located in the system of four mountain passes of 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

Cycling: 75km | hard | +2291m / -1700m

Transit: NULL

Hotel: Sapa O’Chau Eco Lodge
Day 10 Day 10: Sapa To Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Sapa To Hanoi

Overnight train to Hanoi

In the morning, we’ll take time to learn about Sapa O’Chau, a great social enterprise program which offers training in tourism and hospitality to youth of the Sapa region. A morning meander through the local market will highlight the melting pot of ethnic tribes and goods for sale.

You can choose to spend the afternoon cycling a gentle 25km downhill into the Sapa valley 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.

The riders will be transferred back to Sapa and then to Lao Cai railway station for your overnight train to Hanoi.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cycling: 25km | easy | +164m / -1267m

Transit: NULL

Hotel: Sapalay overnight train (4 berth cabin)
Day 11 Day 11: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Hanoi

The Great Donation Debate

Step out of the station and into the throngs of the city, the aromas of famous Hanoi street food awaits for breakfast. After checking into the hotel, we’ll spend the morning learning from our NGO partner, Mekong Plus.

The afternoon is yours to explore the Old Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex or just find one of Hanoi’s endless funky cafes to sit back, relax and enjoy a egg coffee. In the evening, we’ll enjoy our last supper together as we discuss the NGOs we learned about and where the donation money could and should go.

Inc. Meals: Dinner

Cycling: NULL

Transit: Train Station to Hotel

Hotel: Three star Hanoi Hotel
Day 12 Day 12: Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Departure

Departure Day

Say goodbye to your new found friends and riding buddies after breakfast as you get set to continue your onward journey.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast

Cycling: NULL

Transit: Airport transfer arranged on request ($)

Hotel: Additional accommodation arranged on request ($)

12 days tour

Cycle Luang Prabang To Hanoi - 12 Days

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cycle Luang Prabang To Hanoi - 12 Days

Day 1: Luang Prabang

Day 2: Luang Prabang

Day 3: Nong Khuay

Day 4: Nong Khiaw

Day 5: Muang Khua

Day 6: Dien Bien Phu

Day 7: Muong Lay

Day 8: Lai Chau

Day 9: Sapa

Day 10: Sapa To Hanoi

Day 11: Hanoi

Day 12: Departure

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