Cycle Vietnam To Laos - 19 Days

Guide

In 2023, the Cycle Laos adventure is hosted by local cycling legend and guru, Phout. With a smile that stretches from ear to ear and a ‘nothing is too much trouble’ attitude, we’re proud to have Phout donning the SC uniform! Phout is particularly passionate about highlighting the many features of Laos. He’ll grab the menu and order a feast, ensuring you get to try the best of Lao cuisine, make sure your bike is in top condition at all times and be there in the van ready to give you a lift when you need it most! Brett Seychell, Social Cycles founder, will try and make the adventure too.

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.

Transport

The overall distance, should you cycle the whole way, is just over 770km over the 15 cycling days. In addition to that, there are a lot more hills than there are flats. More often than not, you’re either going to be climbing a mountain, or flying down! In total, it is a 16,243m ascent and descent over the trip. It can sound a little daunting, but with the aid of the support van, you can cycle as much or as little as you like. Should you choose, you can even just cycle downhill! E-Bikes are available on request (but are limited). There is an option to have an E-Bike in Vietnam only, and a regular bicycle in Laos. Just get in touch. An air-conditioned minivan is used in both Laos and Vietnam to transport the riders when the team is not cycling.

Accommodation

18 Nights 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. In the Lao village of Nong Khuay, we will spend the night with a local family in a traditional homestay. Where we can, we'll always choose to stay in a hotel with a pool.

Flights

For this tour, you'll need to fly into Vientiane Laos and depart from Hanoi, Vietnam.