Laos Epic Bike Tour

Epic Bike Tour of Laos

Tour Description: Guided

Join us for 13 days biking in stunning rolling landscapes and meet the most chilled peopleon earth.Often overshadowed by its bigger neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia – Laosquietly goes about its business.

With a population of only 6 million of the most chilled outpeople we have ever come across, the heavily forested and mountainous Laos quitepossibly has Southeast Asia’s most pristine environment. Immerse yourself in the cultureand enchanting history of this tropical, hospitable, seldom travelled region.

We begin our challenging biking adventure in the world heritage town of Luang Prabangand explore very rural northern Laos looping through both remote hill tribal areas andlowland regions. We visit the mysterious Plain of Jars at Phonsavanh which was also acentral point during the Laotian Civil War, try elephant riding and take a boat trip on theNam Ou river as we return to Luang Prabang. Quiet roads, friendly people, tasty food and a few hills combine to make this a wonderfully challenging biking adventure.

We ride between 12-56 miles (30-120 km) per day; a total distance of 398 miles (640 km) spread over 10 days ofbiking. Good quality paved roads make for some lovely smooth riding so ideal for ahybrid or touring bike. The terrain however can only be described as hilly. There are three types of riding on this trip - up hill, down hill and flat with the later being fairly rare. This trip is suited to bikers with a good level of fitness, a good pair of hill climbing legs and anappreciation for unbelievably long downhills!

We start and finish in the World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang and loop through thevery rural Northern Laos. Your group will be made up of 5-12 bikers from around the world,plus Escape leaders, local guide/interpreter and local crew. Our trusty support vehiclecarries all your luggage, can help you up the hills (if you like) and always has lunch, snacksand water at hand.

Accommodation is twin-share and ranges from fairly basic localguesthouses (in the more remote part of the trip) to hotel style accommodation in thebigger towns. Most have en-suites however it is occasionally necessary to share bathroomfacilities. Meals and snacks are provided, mostly taking advantage of the delicious fare inlocal restaurants. This excludes two lunches and five evening meals which are at your ownexpense to give you more opportunity to explore and experience local cuisine.

Learn more about guided tours

Tour Description: Self-guided

Join us for 13 days biking in stunning rolling landscapes and meet the most chilled peopleon earth.Often overshadowed by its bigger neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia – Laosquietly goes about its business.

With a population of only 6 million of the most chilled outpeople we have ever come across, the heavily forested and mountainous Laos quitepossibly has Southeast Asia’s most pristine environment. Immerse yourself in the cultureand enchanting history of this tropical, hospitable, seldom travelled region.

We begin our challenging biking adventure in the world heritage town of Luang Prabangand explore very rural northern Laos looping through both remote hill tribal areas andlowland regions. We visit the mysterious Plain of Jars at Phonsavanh which was also acentral point during the Laotian Civil War, try elephant riding and take a boat trip on theNam Ou river as we return to Luang Prabang. Quiet roads, friendly people, tasty food and a few hills combine to make this a wonderfully challenging biking adventure.

We ride between 12-56 miles (30-120 km) per day; a total distance of 398 miles (640 km) spread over 10 days ofbiking. Good quality paved roads make for some lovely smooth riding so ideal for ahybrid or touring bike. The terrain however can only be described as hilly. There are three types of riding on this trip - up hill, down hill and flat with the later being fairly rare. This trip is suited to bikers with a good level of fitness, a good pair of hill climbing legs and anappreciation for unbelievably long downhills!

We start and finish in the World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang and loop through thevery rural Northern Laos. Your group will be made up of 5-12 bikers from around the world,plus Escape leaders, local guide/interpreter and local crew. Our trusty support vehiclecarries all your luggage, can help you up the hills (if you like) and always has lunch, snacksand water at hand.

Accommodation is twin-share and ranges from fairly basic localguesthouses (in the more remote part of the trip) to hotel style accommodation in thebigger towns. Most have en-suites however it is occasionally necessary to share bathroomfacilities. Meals and snacks are provided, mostly taking advantage of the delicious fare inlocal restaurants. This excludes two lunches and five evening meals which are at your ownexpense to give you more opportunity to explore and experience local cuisine.

Learn more about guided tours

Highlights: Guided

• Rural landscape
• Elephant ride
• Buddhist Monastarys
• Local accommodation
• Great food

Highlights: Self-guided

• Rural landscape
• Elephant ride
• Buddhist Monastarys
• Local accommodation
• Great food

Daily Program: Guided

Day 1: Arrive in Luang Prabang
Free day to enjoy this stunning and relaxed worldheritage town. We will meet for a pre-departure meeting at 5pm.
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 2: Nam Khan (22 miles/35 km)
Our first day’s ride takes us out to an elephant sanctuary dedicated to givingworking elephants a brighter future. Take a ride on an elephant along the banks of the Nam Khan river.
Meals include: B and L (evening meal at own cost)
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Day 3: Phou Khoun (31 miles/50 km)
We take a short vehicle transfer out of town and ride to Phou Khoun, a smalljunction market town. 80kms drive, 50kms biking.
Meals include: B, L, D
Overnight in Local Guesthouse (very basic).

Day 4: Nong Tang (56 miles/90 km)
A challenging day of undulating terrain and rural farmland to Nong Tang.
Meals included: B, L, D
Overnight in Local Guesthouse.

Day 5: Phonsavanh (28 miles/45 km)
In the morning we head out to explore the nearby Buddha caves before biking onto Phonsavanh.
Meals included: B, L (evening meal at own cost)
Overnight in Phonsavanh.

Day 6: Phonsavanh
Free day or explore the Plain of Jars, an unexplained field dotted withhuge carved stone jars. In the afternoon visit the SOS orphanage.
Meals included: B, L (evening meal at own cost)
Overnight in Phonsavanh.

Day 7: Muang Kham (45 miles/73 km)
We ride on through rolling countryside to Muang Kham. Soak away the days ride ina bath filled with natural hot spring mineral water.
Meals included: B, L, D
Overnight in guesthouse.

Day 8: Nam Nuen (40 miles/65 km with 53 mile/85 km option)
A big day as we climb up into the lush hills and hill-tribe villages of rural Laos. At the end of the day a 20km decent brings us to Nam Nuen.
Meals included: B, L, D
Overnight in local guesthouse.

Day 9: Vieng Thong (40 miles/ 65 km)
We start the day with a visit to a local village primary school to meet the children and teachers . We ride on narrow, quiet winding roads and through small villages and lushforests to Vieng Thong.
Meals included: B, L, D
Overnight in local guesthouse.

Day 10: Vieng Kham (59 miles/95 km)
Our longest and most challenging day, but remember there is always the supportvehicle! The roads are narrow and quiet and we share them with grazing buffalo andfarmers on their “tractors”. The day ends with a descent into Vieng Kham. Meals included: B, L, D
Overnight in local guesthouse.

Day 11: NongKiaw (29 miles/46 km)
A spectacular ride through mountains and rocky bluffs as we drop down to NongKiaw on the banks of the Nam Ou River.
Meals included: B, L (evening meal at own cost)
Overnight in NonKiaw

Day 12: Pak Ou (19 miles/30 km)
This morning we take a scenic long-boat trip down the Nam Ou river and visit theBuddha caves at Pak Ou. We finish the day with a ride beside the Mekong river back to Luang Prabang.
Meals included: B, L (evening meal at own cost)
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 13: Departure
Airport transfer; or stay on to spend time relaxing/exploring the very charming Luang Prabang.

Daily Program: Self-guided

Dates: Guided

Nov 4, 2012; and Nov 3, 2013

Dates: Self-guided

Packages and Prices: Guided

Tour Package
Single person, double occupancy NZ$3950 Single person, single occupancy NZ$300 Bike rental NZ$300

Packages and Prices: Self-guided

Included Services: Guided

•  Transport
•  Support vehicles
•  Meals as stated in itinerary
•  Accommodation and activities for the duration of the trip.

Included Services: Self-guided

Hotels: Guided

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

Villa Sensouk, Luang Prabang  

www.villa-senesouk.com/

Hotels: Self-guided

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

Villa Sensouk, Luang Prabang  

www.villa-senesouk.com/

Bike Rentals: Guided

Merida Matts 40 fitted with Slick tyres

Bike Rentals: Self-guided

Merida Matts 40 fitted with Slick tyres

Surface and Terrain: Guided

We ride between 19-75 miles (30-120 km) per day; a total distance of 398 miles (640 km) spread over 10 days of biking. Good quality paved roads make for some lovely smooth riding so ideal for a hybrid or touring bike. The terrain however can only be described as hilly. There are three types of riding on this trip - up hill, down hill and flat with the later being fairly rare. This trip is suited to bikers with a good level of fitness, a good pair of hill climbing legs and anappreciation for unbelievably long downhills!

This tour is rated Challenging and is for cyclists in above average physical condition.

Surface and Terrain: Self-guided

We ride between 19-75 miles (30-120 km) per day; a total distance of 398 miles (640 km) spread over 10 days of biking. Good quality paved roads make for some lovely smooth riding so ideal for a hybrid or touring bike. The terrain however can only be described as hilly. There are three types of riding on this trip - up hill, down hill and flat with the later being fairly rare. This trip is suited to bikers with a good level of fitness, a good pair of hill climbing legs and anappreciation for unbelievably long downhills!

This tour is rated Challenging and is for cyclists in above average physical condition.

How To Get There: Guided

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Luang Prabang, Laos

How To Get There: Self-guided

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Luang Prabang, Laos

Weather: Guided

Weather Underground offers information on average and record temperatures at many destinations throughout the globe. Type a destination in the search box and enter a travel date range to learn about seasonal weather patterns.

Get weather information

Weather: Self-guided

Weather Underground offers information on average and record temperatures at many destinations throughout the globe. Type a destination in the search box and enter a travel date range to learn about seasonal weather patterns.

Get weather information

Tour Company Background: Escape Adventures: Guided

Escape Adventures is a small owner operater company, which began leading cycle tours in East Africa in 1999. It then expanded to New Zealand in 2003 and Asia in 2007. They design, create and lead all of their tours personally to retain a high standard and customer experience.

They are located in Takaka, New Zealand and now offer tours in Kenya, Tanzania, China (Tibet), Laos, Cambodia and New Zealand. They are constantly planning new tours in new destinations. Their strenghts include personal service, small groups (maximum of 12), attention to detail in designing and planning trips. All trips have at least 2 trip leaders plus local interpreter on all trips.

Tour Company Background: Escape Adventures: Self-guided

Escape Adventures is a small owner operater company, which began leading cycle tours in East Africa in 1999. It then expanded to New Zealand in 2003 and Asia in 2007. They design, create and lead all of their tours personally to retain a high standard and customer experience.

They are located in Takaka, New Zealand and now offer tours in Kenya, Tanzania, China (Tibet), Laos, Cambodia and New Zealand. They are constantly planning new tours in new destinations. Their strenghts include personal service, small groups (maximum of 12), attention to detail in designing and planning trips. All trips have at least 2 trip leaders plus local interpreter on all trips.

Terms and Conditions: Escape Adventures: Guided

Information coming soon. 

Terms and Conditions: Escape Adventures: Self-guided

Information coming soon.