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NORTHERN LAOS
This tour is a journey that joins two magical cities of Southeast Asia, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. We travel along near empty roads through magnificent mountain scenery in a part of Asia where time seems to stand still.
Starting in the bustling and energetic Chiang Mai, we head north to Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle before heading into Laos and heading down the mighty Mekong.
The combination of rugged mountain scenery and the rich, varied cultures still hardly tainted by tourism make this tour a very special experience. Traveling by boat as well as bicycle, we pass through limestone canyons and jungle covered valleys, home to many ethnic tribes. This tour gives you the chance to meet the local people of Thailand and Laos and gives you a unique glimpse into this varied and fascinating part of the world.
Our final destination is the old royal capital of Luang Prabang. Nestled among mountains at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers, this delightful town has a unique and special charm. We spend the last days of the tour cycling amongst the temples and discovering the French colonial splendour that drove UNESCO to make Luang Prabang a World Heritage site.
TRIP PROFILE
We ride up to 800 km mostly on fairly good asphalt, but there will be just enough broken road or unpaved dirt roads to make a mountain bike with front suspension necessary. The route is point-to-point and fully supported: an air-con minibus and luggage truck rigged to take bikes shadows us for the entire journey.
Northern Thailand and Laos is very mountainous and although there are no excessively long climbs there are enough rolling hills to make this an interesting ride. There are a few days in excess of 100 km, but a transfer is always available. Traffic is very light and on many days we will see hardly any traffic, especially in Laos. Most riding days we will be finished by mid-afternoon which will allow you to explore your surroundings further or experience muscle soothing massages or just relax. We spend one and half days traveling by riverboat and there is time at the end of the trip to discover the wonderful town of Luang Prabang.
Accommodation is varied and includes comfortable and charming hotels and guesthouses.
| ITINERARY (11 days, 10 nights starting in Chiang Mai and finishing in Luang Prabang.) | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai is the starting point of this adventurous tour. The tour starts leisurely with a ride along the Ping River and heads to the handicraft centre at Ban Tawai for some shopping. |
| Day 2 | Today is a treat for mountain bikers as the trail winds from rice fields set among soaring limestone cliffs through villages of local hill tribes. After lunch at a Forestry Camp the riding continues along serene mountain trails. |
| Day 3 | Cycling on back roads through many small villages you’ll see how the locals live and work. The afternoon ride is one of the most scenic on the trip and a real pleasure to cycle. The day is topped of with a stay at a beautiful resort with a splendid view |
| Day 4 | Ride straight from the resort to a Jakhu village before hopping onto a boat for a leisurely cruise down the Mae Kok river. The afternoon riding is off road, with beautiful views of the river, before the surface switches to tarmac for our final push into C |
| Day 5 | Though today’s riding is picturesque, through rice fields dotted with limestone karst mountains, on good road surfaces, the highlight will be the lovely lodge we’ll spend the night at. Set right in the middle of a Hmong village you’ll be able to min |
| Day 6 | Today we leave Thailand behind, cross to Laos and spend our day relaxing on the Mekong River. We have a private boat so we can stop when we want to visit some riverside villages along the way. |
| Day 7 | Be prepared for an epic day of challenging riding on a broken track along the Beng river, through pretty Lao villages and unforgettable mountain and jungle scenery. Cycling through rural Laos, you’ll have to make way for all types of colourful vehicles |
| Day 8 | We are now in the central highlands, and there are some spectacular views across the rugged mountain landscape. We cycle through Hmong villages few people will ever visit and through some of the region’s last remaining rainforest. |
| Day 9 | A day to relax those overworked legs and enjoy the balcony of your riverside room or take a leisurely stroll around the small rustic town of Nong Kiau. |
| Day 10 | A river journey between limestone cliffs on the Nam Ou river starts the day. Disembark at Pak Ou and visit the famous caves which are crammed with sacred Buddha images. Time to get back on the bicycles and a scenic ride to oneof Asia's most picturesque to |
| Day 11 | Rise early to watch the monks in their saffron robes collecting alms before we say goodbye at breakfast. |
| FACTS & FIGURES | |
|---|---|
| Tour Cost | USD $1550 Single supplement: USD $295 |
| Bike Hire | USD $135 |
| Total Distance | Up to 800 Kilometres |
| Number of Days | 11 days / 10 nights |
| Number of cycling days | Six full days and three half days. |
| Road Surface | 75% paved surfaces. |
| Support | Air-Conditioned minibuses and luggage truck rigged to take bikes. |
| Group Size | Minimum 2. Maximum 16 |
| Staff | SpiceRoads cycling leader (for groups of 10 or more), plus a local cycling guide, as well as drivers and assistants for all groups. Smaller groups will be led by our local guide and support team. |
| Accommodation | Hotels range from 4-star to 2-3 star hotels. All hotels have en suite facilities and fans or a/c. Whenever possible we try to use hotels with charm and local character. |
| Food | All meals are included from Dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 11 with the exception of lunch on Day 9. |
| Biking Grade |
(out of five)
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| Scenery |
(out of five)
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~Doug Townley
Northern Laos Tour, March 2010
~Constance Chubb
Northern Laos Tour, October 2009
It has exceeded my expectations! - Well organized in all ways. The two initial leaders were excellent (Ant & Bottle). The two drivers in Thailand part were great, always there with a smile and plenty of food, etc.
Overall, a Great trip - Thank you !!
~Bill Benson
Northern Laos Tour, October 2009
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