What is an individual cycling trip in Laos?
An individual cycling trip through Laos is a trip we put together just for you or for the party you are travelling with. No unfamiliar fellow travellers come along. You choose your own departure date and are accompanied along the way by local guides and a driver with a support vehicle.
We use an existing trip as a starting point or build a completely new programme around your wishes. You can choose northern Laos, travel south from Vientiane or combine Laos with Vietnam. The length of the trip, cycling distances, rest days, accommodation and activities can also be adjusted. The result is a trip that suits your cycling experience and what you would like to see and experience along the way.
What makes cycling in northern Laos different?
In northern Laos you soon notice that life follows a calm pace. As far as possible we choose small roads and quiet stretches that take you deeper into the country. You ride through a landscape of green mountains, rivers and small villages and reach places many travellers pass by. Along the road you see farmers in the fields, children on their way to school and daily life going on around you.
Northern Laos has great cultural diversity. While cycling you pass villages of different ethnic groups, each with their own traditions and customs. It is the combination of the landscape, the calm and the encounters that makes cycling here so special.
The north is mountainous and no two cycling days are the same. Rolling roads alternate with tough climbs and descents. The road surface also varies from good tarmac to damaged roads, gravel and unpaved sections. Rain and roadworks can change conditions along the way. That is why we tailor the stages to your level and use the support vehicle where needed.
How does the programme from Laos to Vietnam work?
On this combination trip you link northern Laos and northern Vietnam in one programme. You can start the trip in Laos or Vietnam, and we decide the direction of travel together. We tailor the route, the number of cycling days, the rest days and the time you spend in each country to your wishes.
Along the way you cross the border between Laos and Vietnam. The guidance changes at the border, so that in both countries you travel with local guides who know the routes, culture and surroundings well. We arrange the transfer and the transport of your luggage. We go through clearly with you in advance which border documents and visas you need yourself.
You notice the difference between the two countries straight away. Laos feels calm and relaxed, while Vietnam is livelier and busier. The landscape and the cycling days change too. That way you experience two countries with their own character on one trip, without the programme feeling like two separate trips.
How much climbing should you expect in northern Laos?
Northern Laos is mountainous, so during the trip you will encounter differences in height, longer climbs and descents. Some days are rolling, while on others several climbs follow one another. How hard a stage feels depends not only on the climbing, but also on the distance, temperature, humidity and road surface.
Because we tailor the trip to you, we adjust the cycling days to your experience and fitness. We can shorten the distances, choose a different starting point or cover a section in the support vehicle. With an e-gravel bike or e-mountain bike you get extra support on the climbs. That way you can experience the mountains of northern Laos in a way that suits you.
Which bike do you ride on your individual cycling trip in Laos?
You can bring your own bike or hire a gravel bike, e-gravel bike, mountain bike or e-mountain bike. Let us know which bike you would like to hire and we will arrange it for you.
Which bike suits you best depends on the chosen route, the road surface and your experience. A gravel bike is suitable if you like riding at a sporty pace and are used to longer climbs and changing surfaces. Thanks to its wider tyres, a mountain bike offers more comfort and control on damaged roads, gravel and unpaved sections. If you would like extra support on the climbs, you can choose an e-gravel bike or e-mountain bike.
Bike hire is not included in the trip price. You will find the available bikes and their hire prices on the trip page under the Price info tab.
What guidance do you get along the way in Laos?
On your individual cycling trip you are accompanied by an experienced local cycling guide and a driver. The guide knows the route and surroundings, adjusts the pace to you and knows where there is room for a stop or a special encounter. The driver stays close by in the support vehicle and carries your luggage, water and other essentials.
Would you like to skip a climb, shorten a stage or stop earlier? Then you can use the support vehicle in consultation. That way you get support when you need it and keep the freedom to experience the trip your way.
If you combine Laos with Vietnam, the guidance changes at the border. That way you travel in both countries with local guides who know the country, the culture and the surroundings well.
When is the best time to cycle in Laos?
From November to February, conditions for cycling in Laos are usually at their most pleasant. It is then drier and less hot than in the months that follow. In the mountainous north the mornings and evenings can be cool, though.
March and April are less suitable. Temperatures rise, and during the burning season smoke from agricultural and forest fires can affect air quality and the views. From May to October most of the rain falls. Cycling is not impossible then, but unpaved roads can become muddy and showers can change the state of the road surface.
If you combine Laos with northern Vietnam, October and November are often the best months for both countries. Other months are possible too, but in winter it can be cold and misty in the Vietnamese mountains. Because the best travel period depends on the chosen route, we advise you on a suitable departure date when putting the trip together.
What a cycling day in Laos looks like
The evening before each cycling stage, the guide talks you through the route, the number of kilometres, the climbing and the expected road surface. That way you know what the next day looks like and you can discuss any adjustments together.
After breakfast you get on the bike. Your luggage travels in the support vehicle, so you only carry what you need along the way. You ride through mountains and valleys, past rivers, rice fields and small villages. Along the way there is time for a drink, a local market, an encounter or simply to enjoy the view.
The road surface can change along the way from tarmac to damaged roads, gravel or an unpaved section. The guide adjusts the pace to you and your party. Would you like to skip a climb or stop earlier? Then you can use the support vehicle. What time you arrive at the next accommodation depends on the distance, the climbing and how much time you take along the way for stops and encounters.
What determines the price of an individual cycling trip in Laos?
The trip price depends on the number of travellers, the length of the trip, the chosen route and the standard of accommodation. Extra rest days, domestic transfers, additional activities and a possible combination with Vietnam also affect the price. If you travel with several people, costs such as the guide, driver and support vehicle can be shared. As a result, the price per person is usually lower.
Bike hire is not included in the trip price. Would you like to hire a gravel bike, e-gravel bike, mountain bike or e-mountain bike? Then we arrange it for you. The hire price depends on the type of bike and the length of the trip.
After a personal conversation you receive a tailor-made trip proposal with the total trip price and a clear overview of what is and is not included.
Why choose an individual cycling trip in Laos with CvA travel?
At CvA travel a cycling trip is much more than distances and climbing. The bike is the means of really experiencing Laos. As far as possible we choose small roads and quiet stretches that take you deeper into the country. That way you reach places many travellers pass by, meet the people who live there and see daily life up close.
We know Laos and the routes from our own experience and work with an experienced local partner who knows the country and the conditions well. That means we can carefully tailor the cycling days, accommodation and activities to your experience and wishes.
You do not travel on a fixed programme that is the same for everyone. Together we decide the route, the number of cycling days, the rest moments and what you would like to experience besides cycling. Along the way, local guides, a driver and the support vehicle give you trusted support. The result is a personal cycling trip that suits your level and way of travelling.
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