12-day cycling trip through the mountains of northern Laos

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About the trip

A 12-day cycling holiday through Laos with a small group

On this 12-day cycling trip you travel from Luang Prabang through the mountains and rural areas of Laos to Vang Vieng and Vientiane. You ride quiet tarmac roads and unsurfaced routes, past rice fields, wooded slopes, limestone mountains and the Mekong. The longer riding days and the climbs make for a real challenge, but you do not have to ride every kilometre yourself. You can choose an e-mountain bike and use the support vehicle along the way, so you decide how much of a challenge you take on.

The bike is the thread running through the trip, but there is time for much more along the way. You see historic Luang Prabang, visit Kuang Si Falls, have a free day in Vang Vieng and finish the trip in the green surroundings of Nam Pien Yorla Pa.

Luang Prabang: temples between two rivers

Luang Prabang lies between the Mekong and the Nam Khan. You walk past traditional wooden houses, richly decorated temples and buildings from the French colonial period. The way these different influences come together is what makes the town distinctive and earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visit Wat Xieng Thong, learn about the history of Laos at the former Royal Palace, or climb Mount Phousi for a view over the town, the rivers and the surrounding mountains. Early in the morning monks walk through the streets to receive offerings of food from residents. This alms ceremony is an important part of Buddhist life. Your guide explains how to watch from a respectful distance without disturbing it.

Luang Prabang is above all a town to take in slowly. Walk through the market, have a drink by the Mekong and take the time to look around. You do not need to work through a long list of sights to get a sense of the place.

Kuang Si Falls: blue-green pools in the forest

At Kuang Si the lime-rich water flows down over natural terraces and forms clear blue and turquoise pools among the trees. Above these pools the main waterfall drops around sixty metres. The colour of the water changes with the season and the amount of rain, so Kuang Si looks different at every time of year. The combination of the water, the limestone and the green forest is what makes this place stand out.

Along the Mekong through rural Laos

One of the finest stages follows a largely unsurfaced route along the Mekong. You ride through green valleys and small villages, well away from the busier traffic on the main roads. On the bike you stay close to daily life. You see people working the land, children on their way to school and small stalls along the road. Sometimes people wave, or a conversation starts during a stop.

Phou Khao Lak: into the mountains

At Phou Khao Lak, Laos shows its mountainous side. The road winds upwards between wooded slopes and deep valleys. The higher you get, the further the landscape opens up. On a mountain bike this is a sporting challenge. If you choose an e-mountain bike, the support makes the longer and steeper sections considerably lighter. If you would rather not ride the whole climb, you can cover part of it in the support vehicle. After the pass a long descent towards Kasi is waiting.

Vang Vieng: between river and limestone mountains

At Vang Vieng the Nam Song flows between steep limestone mountains that rise almost vertically out of the rice fields. The action of water has created caves, underground springs and natural pools of clear blue-green water here. From the river or a viewpoint you can see how remarkable this landscape is. The Nam Song winds through the valley while at the foot of the mountains daily life goes on in the villages and the rice fields.

You have a free day to see Vang Vieng in your own way. Go kayaking on the river, visit a cave or walk to a viewpoint. If you would rather simply take in the mountains and the river after the riding days, that is possible too.

Muang Feuang and Ban Vang: quiet Laos

After Vang Vieng you ride on through Muang Feuang and Ban Vang. The high mountains slowly give way to a more open landscape of rivers, rice fields and low limestone formations. Away from the better-known places the accommodation is simpler and fewer foreign travellers come. It is here that you get a sense of the rhythm of rural Laos.

Vientiane on the Mekong

After days of riding through mountains, rice fields and small villages you reach Vientiane. Although it is the capital of Laos, the city feels notably relaxed. Among the Buddhist temples, markets and wide avenues, buildings from the French colonial period still stand. In the middle of the city is Patuxai, the Lao victory gate. The monument recalls the Arc de Triomphe in Paris but is decorated with lotus flowers, mythological naga and Buddhist and Hindu figures. From the top floor you look out over the city and the wide avenue leading to the gate.

At the end of the day residents head for the banks of the Mekong. They walk and exercise along the water, pick up something to eat at a stall or watch the sun go down. Thailand lies on the other side. It is a good place to look back on everything the trip has brought.

Xieng Khuan: the Buddha Park

Outside Vientiane lies Xieng Khuan, better known as the Buddha Park. It was laid out in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat and holds more than two hundred concrete statues with motifs from Buddhism and Hinduism. Among them are gods, animals and mythical figures. One of the most striking structures has three levels representing hell, earth and heaven. Although the statues look old, they were made only in the twentieth century.

Nam Pien Yorla Pa: finishing in the green

The trip ends at Nam Pien Yorla Pa, a nature and adventure park in wooded surroundings outside Vientiane. It is not a national park but a place where a stay in nature is combined with various outdoor activities. Here you can recover from the riding days or choose a canopy walk over suspension bridges between the trees. If you are after one more adventure, there is a zipline course through the forest.

Riding with a guide and support vehicle

You travel with a small group and a fixed local team. The English-speaking cycling guide knows the route and helps with small technical problems. The driver carries your luggage and stays close by with the support vehicle as much as possible. On the longer climbs everyone can ride at their own pace. If you cannot or would rather not ride a section, you can use the support vehicle. Only on the unsurfaced stage to Muang Nan does the vehicle take a different road to the next accommodation. The cycling guide stays with the group that day.

Would you like to stay longer in Laos?

Would you like more time in Luang Prabang? We recommend arriving a few days early, so that you can see the temples, markets and surroundings at your leisure before meeting the group and starting the riding programme.

You can also stay on in Vientiane afterwards, or combine the trip with another part of Laos. Get in touch with us to discuss the options.

Departure dates

Departure dates for the 12-day cycling trip through Laos

This group trip has fixed departure dates and runs with at least 4 and no more than 10 participants. Along the way the group is accompanied by an English-speaking cycling guide and a driver with the support vehicle. See the available departure dates below and choose the trip that suits you best.

Departure date	Duration	Level	Availablility	Price p.p.
12-10-2026	12 days	Mixed	Available	€ 1.995,00	Book this trip
11-02-2027	12 days	Mixed	Available	€ 1.995,00	Book this trip
14-10-2027	12 days	Mixed	Available	€ 1.995,00	Book this trip

The level of this cycling trip

This trip is level 4 if you ride all the distances and climbing on a gravel bike or mountain bike under your own power. With an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike the long climbs in particular become considerably lighter. You can also shorten stages by arrangement with the guide, covering part of the route in the support vehicle. With these options the trip is accessible from level 3.

Daily Itinerary

Day-by-day itinerary for the 12-day cycling trip through Laos

On this 12-day group trip you ride from Luang Prabang through the mountains and rural areas of Laos to Vang Vieng and Vientiane. You ride a combination of surfaced roads, unsurfaced routes and long mountain passes. The riding days range from 50 to 90 kilometres.

This is a demanding trip that asks for good fitness. You can also choose an e-mountain bike. The electric support makes the long and steep climbs lighter in particular, but even with support the distances and the changing surface still ask for effort.

A guide, driver and support vehicle travel with the group on the riding stages. The vehicle carries your luggage, water and other supplies. If you want to skip a climb or part of a stage, that is possible by arrangement with the guide. Only on the unsurfaced route on day 3 can the support vehicle not stay with the group; that day the vehicle takes the luggage to Muang Nan by the main road.

The full day-by-day itinerary is below, with what to expect along the way on this cycling trip through Laos.

Day 1: Arrival in Luang Prabang
After arriving at Luang Prabang airport you are met by our local guide. The transfer to the hotel takes around fifteen minutes, depending on traffic.
After checking in you can rest after the journey or start exploring the historic centre on your own. Luang Prabang lies between the Mekong and the Nam Khan and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995. It owes that status to the combination of traditional Lao architecture, Buddhist temples and buildings from the French colonial period.
In the evening you can take a first walk through the night market, where textiles, handicrafts and local dishes are sold.
Meals: not included
Accommodation: Villa Chitdara or equivalent
Day 2: Free day in Luang Prabang
Today you have all the time you need to see Luang Prabang at your own pace. If you are up early, you can watch the traditional alms ceremony at sunrise, when monks walk through the streets in silence to receive offerings of food from residents. This ceremony is an important part of Buddhist life in Luang Prabang. Your guide will gladly explain how to watch respectfully and, if you wish, how to make an offering yourself according to local custom.
Afterwards you can visit the morning market, where residents sell fresh vegetables, herbs and other produce. You then return to the hotel for breakfast.
The rest of the day is yours. Visit Wat Xieng Thong, for example, one of the most important temples in Luang Prabang. The former Royal Palace, which now houses the National Museum, gives more insight into the history of Laos. From Mount Phousi you have a view over Luang Prabang, the Mekong, the Nam Khan and the surrounding mountains. The steps up can be busy, especially around sunset.
Would you like to ride today already? You can discuss with the guide whether a ride on the other side of the Mekong is possible. You can also use the day to walk through the centre, find a café or prepare for the first riding stage.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Villa Chitdara or equivalent
Day 3: Kuang Si Falls and riding to Muang Nan
After breakfast you drive to Kuang Si Falls, around 30 kilometres outside Luang Prabang. In the middle of the forest the lime-rich water flows down over natural terraces and forms clear blue and turquoise pools. You have time to walk along the different levels and can swim in one of the pools that are open for it.
The riding then begins in earnest. From a junction you get on the bike for a largely unsurfaced route of around 52 kilometres to Muang Nan. You follow part of the Mekong and ride on through green valleys, farmland and small villages. Along the way you find a good spot with the group for the packed lunch, in the shade of a tree or by a simple hut among the rice fields.
The support vehicle cannot follow this route and therefore takes your luggage to Muang Nan by the main road. Your cycling guide stays with the group for the whole stage. At the end of the afternoon you reach Muang Nan.
You stay in a simple local guesthouse: less comfort than in Luang Prabang, but a fitting place for a night in rural Laos.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: local guesthouse
Distance: around 52 kilometres
Day 4: Over Phou Khao Lak to Kasi
Today you ride right through the mountains of northern Laos. From Muang Nan the route first runs through rolling country. After a climb of around three kilometres, descents and gently rising sections follow while the mountains come closer.
The longer stretch to Phou Khao Lak then begins. Over some 32 kilometres the route winds further upwards through wooded slopes and deep valleys. There are regular stops for water, a snack and, of course, the view. On a mountain bike this is a sporting challenge. If you choose an e-mountain bike, the support makes the longer and steeper sections considerably lighter. If you would rather not ride the whole climb, you can cover part of it in the support vehicle and get back on later, so you decide how much of the climb you ride.
At or near the top of the pass it is time for lunch. Then comes the reward: a long descent towards the valley. You descend at your own pace and follow the guide’s instructions. The last section runs through rolling country to Kasi, where you spend the night.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Somchit Guesthouse or equivalent
Distance: 80 km – 2,474 m up, 2,390 m down
Day 5: Through the karst landscape to Vang Vieng
After breakfast you set off towards Vang Vieng. The guide assesses the current road conditions and chooses the part of the route that is best rideable at that moment. If necessary you first cover a section in the support vehicle.
You then get on the bike for a fine ride through the karst landscape around Vang Vieng. You cross the Nam Song and ride past small villages and farmland, with the steep limestone mountains around you throughout.
Along the way you visit the Blue Lagoon at the Tham Phu Kham cave. This natural pool is fed by cool spring water from the surrounding limestone mountains. The blue-green colour of the water can differ by season and after rain. After lunch you can swim here or relax by the water. You then ride on to Vang Vieng.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Vansana Hotel or equivalent
Distance: around 55 km – 2,580 m up, 760 m down
Day 6: Free day in Vang Vieng
This free day gives you all the room you need to see Vang Vieng and the surrounding karst landscape in your own way. You can relax at the hotel or choose from a number of activities.
One way to see the area is a kayak trip on the Nam Song. From the water you look out at the green banks and the steep limestone mountains that are so characteristic of Vang Vieng. If you want more adventure, you can go to Tham Nam. In this water cave you float with a head torch on a rubber ring along a rope through part of the underground river. Whether this is possible depends on the water level and the conditions in the cave.
Closer to the centre is Tham Chang, also known as Tham Jang. This cave was used as a refuge by local people in the nineteenth century. From the raised entrance you look out over the Nam Song and the surrounding landscape.
For a wide view you can walk to the Nam Xay viewpoint. The climb is short but steep and asks for good shoes, certainly when the path is wet. At the top you look out over farmland, villages and the limestone mountains around Vang Vieng.
Whichever activity you choose, discuss it with the guide in advance. Access to caves and river activities can change with rain and water levels.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Vansana Hotel or equivalent
Day 7: From Vang Vieng to Muang Feuang
After a short transfer you leave the bustle around Vang Vieng behind. You get on the bike and follow Route 13 south. After lunch in Hin Heup you turn off towards Muang Feuang.
Along the way the limestone mountains gradually give way to a more open landscape. At the end of the afternoon you reach Muang Feuang, a rural spot on the Nam Lik that is popular above all with Lao travellers. Here you see a quieter part of Laos.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sinsoda Hotel or equivalent
Distance: 91 km – 950 m up, 960 m down
Day 8: From Muang Feuang to Ban Vang
You get on the bike at the guesthouse for a gently rolling stage with a few short climbs. The route runs through small towns and farmland, where you come across daily life along the way. There is every opportunity to stop for a photograph or a chance meeting. After around 53 kilometres you stop for lunch. You then ride the last 32 kilometres to Ban Vang, where you stay in a simple local guesthouse.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: local guesthouse
Distance: 85 km – 750 m up, 765 m down
Day 9: From Ban Vang to Vientiane
The guide prepares breakfast and then you get back on the bike. You follow the Mekong towards Vientiane, with wide views over the river and Thailand on the other side.
After 70 to 80 kilometres the ride ends. You avoid the busier traffic around Vientiane by covering the last part in the support vehicle, so you reach the capital of Laos without stress.
Vientiane feels smaller in scale and quieter than many other Asian capitals. Buddhist temples and buildings from the French colonial period stand along wide avenues. At the end of the day residents gather along the Mekong to walk, exercise, eat something and watch the sun set over the river.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Salana Boutique Hotel or equivalent
Distance: 70-80 km – 790 m up, 830 m down
Day 10 – From Vientiane to Nampien Yorlapa National Park
After breakfast you travel by support vehicle to Xieng Khuan, better known as the Buddha Park. On the bank of the Mekong stand more than two hundred statues in which Buddhist and Hindu stories come together. The park was laid out in 1958 by the Lao artist and spiritual leader Bunleua Sulilat.
Among the statues, one large spherical structure stands out in particular. You step inside through the open mouth of a demon and reach three levels representing the underworld, the earth and heaven. If you climb the narrow, steep stairs, you can look out over the park from the top.
After this visit you get on the bike. You gradually leave the built-up area around Vientiane behind and take smaller roads to Nam Pien Yorla Pa, a nature and adventure park with a resort in wooded surroundings. After lunch you can relax and take in the quiet. The adventure activities in the park can be kept for the next day.
Meals: breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Nam Pien Yorla Pa Resort
Distance: 54 km – 300 m up, 300 m down
Day 11: Free day at Nam Pien Yorla Pa
Today there is no riding. You can stay at the resort or choose one of the activities in the park.
One option is a canopy walk over a course of 22 suspension bridges between the trees. The bridges differ in length and height. Along the way you come to various viewpoints in the forest and to a waterfall.
If you are after more adventure, there is a zipline course. Over a series of lines you move between the trees and across parts of the valley. The activities are run by the local team and differ in height and difficulty.
The activities are optional, not included in the trip price and subject to availability and weather conditions. If you would rather rest, you can spend the day quietly at the accommodation.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Nam Pien Yorla Pa Resort
Day 12: Departure from Laos
After breakfast you still have time to take in the surroundings of Nam Pien Yorla Pa. Later in the day the support vehicle takes you back to Vientiane and the international airport. The departure time is matched to your flight schedule. With that, your cycling trip through Laos comes to an end.
Meals: breakfast

Pricing information

Price information

The price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, and applies with at least four participants. The group has a maximum of ten travellers. On the riding stages you are accompanied by an English-speaking cycling guide, a driver and the support vehicle.

Included

All nights in a twin room
Breakfast, lunch and dinner as stated in the day-by-day itinerary
Dutch-speaking trip leader with a group of 8 to 10 participants
Driver and support vehicle throughout the trip
Transport of your luggage between the accommodations
The option to cover part of a stage in the support vehicle by arrangement with the guide
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
Drinking water, fruit and snacks on the riding stages
Entrance fees for the sights in the programme
Local taxes

Excluded

International flights, although we can advise on flights
Single supplement EUR 30.00 per person per night
Hire of a gravel bike or MTB (EUR 150.00) or an e-MTB (EUR 350.00), including helmet
Visa, insurance and personal expenses
Optional activities at Nam Pien Yorla Pa (zipline and similar)
Alcoholic drinks and drinks with meals
Tips for guides

Room allocation for solo travellers

If you travel alone, you will in principle share a room with another solo traveller of the same sex, if there is one. If only a room shared with a participant of the opposite sex is available, we discuss this with you in advance. If you are both happy to share, no supplement applies. If you would rather have a room of your own, you pay a single supplement of EUR 30 per night.

If there is no other solo traveller to share with, you stay in a single room and the single supplement applies as well.

Accommodation

Where you stay on your cycling trip through Laos

On this trip, comfortable hotels, a nature resort and simple local guesthouses follow one another. In Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane you stay in hotels with more facilities. Outside the larger towns the accommodation is smaller in scale and simpler. That variety suits a trip that also takes you into rural Laos.

Salana Boutique Hotel: comfort in Vientiane

Salana Boutique Hotel is centrally located in Vientiane, a short walk from the Mekong, several temples, restaurants and the night market. The interior combines contemporary comfort with Lao detailing, which gives the hotel a warm, well-kept feel. The rooms are comfortable and the hotel has a restaurant, spa and bar. A full breakfast buffet is served in the morning. It is a good base from which to see Vientiane and to unwind after a long day’s riding.

Vansana Hotel: a view of the mountains at Vang Vieng

Vansana Hotel is in Vang Vieng, between the Nam Song and the characteristic limestone mountains. From several parts of the hotel you look out over the river, the landscape and the surrounding peaks.

After the riding stages you can relax in the garden or take a swim in the outdoor pool. The rooms are simple and well kept, with the facilities you need for a comfortable stay.

Nam Pien Yorla Pa: sleeping in the green

Nam Pien Yorla Pa is a nature and adventure resort in a protected forest area along the Nam Pien. The rooms and bungalows are spread among the trees, so you really do stay surrounded by forest.

You can enjoy the quiet of the forest or choose one of the resort’s activities. Depending on the programme available, walks, ziplines, kayaking and treetop courses are among the options.

Simple guesthouses along the way

In places such as Muang Nan and Ban Vang the choice of accommodation is limited. Here you stay in a simple local guesthouse. Do not expect luxury, but you can expect a suitable place to eat, shower and rest before the next day’s riding.

Room allocation for solo travellers

If there is no other solo traveller to share with, you stay in a single room and the single supplement applies as well.

Practical information

The level of this cycling trip

This trip is level 4 if you ride all the distances and climbing on a mountain bike or gravel bike under your own power. The stages range from 50 to 90 kilometres. The climb of Phou Khao Lak and the longer riding days in particular ask for good fitness.

With an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike the long and steeper climbs become considerably lighter. You can also shorten a stage by arrangement with the guide, covering part of the route in the support vehicle. With that support the trip is accessible from level 3.

The routes consist of surfaced roads and unsurfaced sections. The riding is generally not very technical, but the changing surface, the heat and the height differences can make a stage harder. Riding regularly and preparing well mean you get more out of the trip.

Guiding and the support vehicle

An English-speaking cycling guide, a driver and the support vehicle travel with the group on the riding stages. The vehicle carries your luggage, drinking water, snacks and other supplies. If you want to skip a climb or part of a stage, discuss it with the guide.

On the largely unsurfaced route to Muang Nan on day 3 the support vehicle cannot stay with the group. The cycling guide rides with the group that day while the vehicle takes the luggage to the next accommodation by the main road.

Passport and visa

If you travel on a Dutch passport, it must be valid for at least six months after you leave Laos and contain at least two blank pages. You need a visa for Laos. Before departure we send you further information about the application and the entry formalities that apply.

If you travel on a Belgian or another passport, check which conditions apply to your nationality. You remain responsible for valid travel documents yourself. Because entry rules can change, it is important to check them again shortly before departure.

Flights to Laos

The trip begins in Luang Prabang and ends in Vientiane, so a multi-city ticket is preferable:

Outbound: Amsterdam or Brussels to Luang Prabang

Return: Vientiane to Amsterdam or Brussels

Book your flight only once the departure of the group trip has been confirmed. When choosing your ticket, pay attention to the baggage conditions as well, particularly if you want to bring your own bike.

Insurance and health

Good travel insurance covering medical costs, cycling and repatriation matters. Check as well whether the activities you want to do on the free days, such as kayaking, ziplining or visiting caves, are covered. Cancellation insurance is not compulsory but is advisable.

Get personal advice on vaccinations and health measures well before departure, through the GGD, a specialist vaccination clinic or your doctor. The right advice depends among other things on your health, earlier vaccinations and any extension of your trip.

Clothing for riding in northern Laos

It can be warm during the day, but in the mountains and in the cooler months the mornings and evenings can feel fresh. Bring clothing you can easily wear in layers.

For the bike we recommend:

* Several pairs of cycling shorts and cycling jerseys
* Cycling gloves
* A well-fitting cycling helmet
* Sports or cycling shoes with enough grip
* Sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
* A lightweight rain jacket
* A wind jacket or windproof top
* Arm and leg warmers or a thin extra layer
* A refillable water bottle
* Insect repellent

For the evenings, light long clothing and a thin cardigan or fleece are comfortable. Bring swimwear as well for the waterfalls, lagoons and pools.

Your own bike equipment

Even if you hire a bike, you can bring your own saddle and pedals. This is not necessary but can add comfort on the longer stages. Let us know in advance which type of pedals you use, so that we can check whether they fit the hire bike.

While riding you only need to carry what you need along the way. The rest of your luggage is carried by the support vehicle. A small day rucksack can be useful on walks and free days.

A unique mix of UNESCO culture and rugged nature
Cycling off the beaten track
Accessible for every level

Level of difficulty:

Suitable for:

Gravel / MTB / E-MTB

12 days for € 1.995,00 p.p

Book this trip

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