Code:	LABK 04
Routes:	through Thailand and Laos
Duration:	18 days

A great arrangement for travellers who love to get in touch with culture and people during their cycling holiday. The tour offers some of the most beautiful areas in northern Laos and a big variety of possible activities besides the tour. The Highlights are the Mekong river journey, the backroads of Laos, World Heritag Town of Luang Phabang, waterfalls, high mountains and different cultures along the way...
*Tour starts in Chaing Rai (Bangkok possible with flight to Chiang Rai)
May 1 st
August 7 th 2006

Detail Itinerary

Day 1 - Chiang Rai.
Arrival Chiang Rai where you will be met by your guide, who will transfer you to our guest house. Group welcome dinner. (D)

Day 2 - Chiang Rai - cycle sighteseeing.
This morning will be spent assembling cycles and preparing for the start of your cycle ride and the purchase of any last minute shopping, snack foods etc and general acclimatisation. In the afternoon we take a cycle tour of the town of Chiang Rai including the outskirts. Time for last minute cycle adjustments. Time permitting you may like to visit the Hill tribe museum. Tonight the guide will take you to the Night Market which has free Thai dance and music and help you chose from one of the many eating places for your dinner.(B)

Day 3 - Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen on bikes - 52km
After breakfast our vehicle will transport you to Chiang Saen - the start of our cycle tour. Today is a gentle ride of 52km to Chiang Khong on a paved road. With mountain backdrops the road follows the Mekong river through picturesque hill tribe villages, tobacco and rice fields. The road joins the main road just before the entry to Chiang Khong that is our border entry to Laos . There are many eating places along the way and a meeting point will be arranged for having lunch together. We leave behind Thailand and cross the mighty Mekong River into Ban Huay Xai in Laos (B)

Day 4 - Boat to Pakbeng
This morning we board our slow boat for our journey to Pakbeng. The ride is slow and laid back passing spectaular scenery as you chug through the mountains of Udomxai Province to arrive at Pakbeng some 10 hours later. This journey gives a wonderful insight into how important the rive is to the survival of the Laos people. Not only in people transportation but in irrigation, fishing, and the transportation of essentials to areas not covered by a reliable road system.(B/L)

Day 5 - Pakbeng to Muang Houn - 50km
We are now in very rural Lao, an areas inhabited by hill tribe villages who eke a meagre existence from the land. Along the way you will pass villages of Phu Thai, Thai Lu, Hmong, Thaai Dam, Lao and Khamu. The people are very friendly as as yet not tourist tired. The greetings are genuine and you will hear the calls of excited children as you travel past their villages. The road is unsealed and can be muddy after rain. We overnight tonight in a basic guesthouse of local villages (B/L/D)

Day 6 - Muang Houn to Udomxay - 80km
The day brings more hill tribe villages and a hilly but interesting route, there are some 400 and 500 meter passes to cycle over. The vehicle is there for you to ride in if you need a rest. We stop at weaving villages along the way, in these villages you still see families sitting in the shade weaving on old looms. We arrive in Udomxai the capital of the Udomxai Province . (B/L)

Day 7 - Udomxai to Pak Mong - 83km
Back into the jungle stretches of this spectacular route, although hilly it soon gives way to gentler gradient and opens put to magnificent scenery and finally a 30km downhill ride to Pak Mong. This small supply depot town. This is one of the more difficult day of your ride, so either challenge yourself or take an enjoyable ride in the vehicle. (B/L)

Day 8 - Pak Mong to Luang Prabang and Pak Ou Caves - 115km
Flater and better roads today will enable you to complete the longer distance to Luang Prabang. Where the Nam Ou river meets the Mekong River are the famous Pak ou Caves. 2 caves in a limestone cliff facing the river are home to hundreds of Buddha images. We taek a well earned rest here to explore the caves before heading on the last section to the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang. (B/L)

Day 9 and 10 - Rest, exploration, optional activities.
Luang Prabang remains one of Asia's most beautiful historic towns earning it the status of a World heritage Site in 1995. With a population of only 16,000 the town is easy to walk round and explore by foot. Built on the junction of the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River it is becoming a popular place for its many Temples and preserved French architecture. There are also ancient monasteries, and a Royal Palace Museum . For those who still have energy to spare there are optional activities which include, rafting, kayaking, Trekking, elephant Treks and or trips to the waterfall. (B)

Day 11 - Luang Prabang to Kiu Kachan - 75km
This is 'THE DAY' although the days starts easy as we ride out of Luang Prabang we begin the first of 2 climbs, 15km up into the mountains. Take you time and remember the support vehicle is there to help. The scenery will help the pain as you pass some of Asia's highest and most spectacular limestone mountains that jut at odd angles from jungle covered mountains. You will see Phu Pha a craggy limeston peak considered holy to the animist hill tribes and Buddhists alike. The ride down the other side will help you recover for the next enslaught a further 22km to our much awaited guest house at Kiu Kachan. Overnight simple guest house. (B,L)

Day 12 - Kiu Kachan to Kasi - 90km
More mountains today though less steep passes. The day will take you up and down the rolling hills and through the magnificent, craggy, limestone mountains and dense jungle. We stop for lunch along the way. We journey down hill as we leave behind the mountains into the fertile valley and rice fields of Kasi. Guest house in Kasi. (B/L)

Day 13 - Kasi to Vang Vieng - 60km
A much easier day today as we cover a shorter distance on gentle rolling hills to Vang Vieng where we will be in time for lunch. In the afternoon you can choose to visit the Tham Xang or Tham Hoi caves which are set in dramatic scenery on the banks of the Nam Song. Relax with a Lao beer and watch the dramatic sunsets over the mountains you have just crossed. (B)

Day 14 - Vang Vien to Ang Nam and Ang Nam Ngum - 110km or boat option.
An easy 24 km takes us to the fishing village of Tha Heua , famous for salted fish. You can choose to ride the next 85km to Ang Nam Ngum or take a 3 hour boat journey on the Ang Nam Ngum reservoir to Na Nam . It is a pretty boat journey should you choose to take it. The alternative cycle ride ends in a 2km steep climb to Ang Na Nam . Ang Na Nam is a large artificial Lake created by the damming of the Nam Ngum River . It is dotted with picture postcard villages and islands. (B)

Day 15 - Ang Ngum to Vientiane - 90km
The end of your cycle ride begins with two hills that will test the last of your energy then it is flat all the way to the capital. While the road now becomes busier as we head toward Vientiane you will not be in heavy traffic and the scenery os still pleasant as to passes through smaller denser farming communities and the more affluent life the close proximity of the nearby city brings. Choose to ride in the support vehicle if you wish.(B)

Day 17 - Vientiane
A relaxing day in Vientiane , last minute shopping and to pack up the cycles and clean you gear. Celebrate yr achievements tonight with a farewell dinner. (B/D)

Day 18 - airport transfer
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Tour departs with minimum of 6 travellers or choose our private tour packages

*** B - Breakfast; L - Lunch; D - Dinner

Please note:
We need full personal information of each guest before arrival. This list should include full name, address, date of birth, passport number, nationality and insurance details.