Laos, a Carbon Friendly Journey

📍 Vientiane Airport – Vientiane (4 km): 15 min

Upon arrival into Vientiane, our guide and driver will be waiting at the airport to provide transport to the hotel for check in. 

Get ready to get a true ‘taste’ of Laos with an evening exploring the best food in Vientiane. 

Start the evening the local way by heading to a beer shop for a sundowner. Sip on cold BeerLao as the sun sets over the Mekong River. Beer shops are popular post-work watering holes and the atmosphere is always enjoyable. 

After dark, the street stalls fire up their grills and start cooking. Take a walk through Sihom, an area of small stalls selling cheap but tasty snacks. This crowded street market is popular with locals, especially on the weekends. Wander from stall to stall stopping to taste items such Lao-style donuts, bowls of steaming noodles and pork meatball wraps. 

Continue to nearby Ban Anou night market, the city’s culinary hub. The market is a hive of activity in the evening with Vientiane’s residents who come to dine with friends or family. Walk through the ends rows of food stalls and rub-elbows with the locals. The market is a great place to sample exotic snacks such as fried insects or classic Laos favourites like grilled pork skewers. 

Having filled up on savoury treats, venture to a hidden sweets shop for dessert. The specialty here is ice cream and sticky rice, an oddly delicious combination. 

With a full belly, it is time to return to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Overnight in Vientiane

Inclusions:

Vientiane is one of Southeast Asia’s most misunderstood cities. While many tourists dismiss it as a modern, dusty capital, it has a unique charm that unveils itself to the intrepid traveller. Spend today getting to know the true lure of Vientiane.

Start the walking tour with a visit to Vat Sisaket, a serene temple whose teak hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Nearby is Vat Phra Keo where ancient Lao and Khmer art works are on display and the Presidential Palace, a beautiful colonial-style building once used as the French governor’s residence.

Next it’s on to Vat Simuang to partake in a unique Laos’ tradition. This is the city’s most venerated temple and the locals believe that any wish will be granted by walking around its main pillar three times. 

Take a break at midday for lunch at Mini Makphet is run by Peuan Mit, an organization founded by Friends-International in Vientiane in 2004, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to address the needs of street children and young people in Laos. 

Then it is on to two of the most recognizable landmarks in Laos: Patuxay and That Luang. Built to resemble Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, Patuxay offers fabulous views over the capital. That Luang is equally impressive, a 16th-century gilded temple that is one of the country’s holiest sites. 

As evening approaches, join the locals on the banks of the Mekong River. Stroll along the riverside, stopping to enjoy a cold drink or to sample a snack from one of the many food stalls. This area is very popular with locals and is a good chance to rub shoulders with Vientiane’s residents. Wrap up this full day Vientiane tour with a full stomach and better understanding of the sleepy, charming capital. 

Overnight in Vientiane

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

After breakfast then transfer to Vientiane train station to take the train to Vang Vieng.

Suggested Train: C82/VTE-VV/07:30-08:25 (second class)

Transfer from the train station to your hotel, where your bike will be ready for you (no backup vehicle included).

Spend today exploring the natural beauty of central Laos by bike. Start by crossing the Nam Song River, leaving behind any signs of modernity in Vang Vieng and heading into the countryside. 

Travel through the rice paddies to Tham Pou Kham, a cave located 100 meters underground. Wander around the immense cavern and go for a swim in the clean, spring-fed waterhole. 

Continue through the countryside to Tham Chang Cave. Set high in the cliffs, the cave offers a spectacular view over the surrounding farms and fields. Inside there are plenty of stalactites and stalagmites to explore and a natural spring-fed basin contains cool water for swimming. 

Lunch at a local restaurant

Cycle to an organic farm. Take a short walk around to learn about the organic growing process and to see the range of produce being grown. 

Then return to Vang Vieng for a relaxing afternoon in town. 

Dinner at Villa Vieng Tara

Overnight in Vang Vieng

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast then transfer to Vientiane train station to take the train to Vang Vieng.

Suggested Train: C82/VV-LPQ/08:25-09:23 (second class)

Transfer from the train station to the hotel will be done by e-vehicle based on availability.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang then kick off this Luang Prabang cycling excursion with a proper bike fitting, then it’s time to start pedaling! Cruise through the flat streets of the city center to the National Museum for a visit. Once the Royal Palace, the building now houses an impressive collection of historical relics and informative displays. 

Continue exploring the downtown area this morning. The narrow peninsula, with the Mekong River on the west and Nam Khan River on the east, is a mix of residential houses, small businesses and dozens of Buddhist temples. Cycling through the streets and lanes, Luang Prabang reveals its true charms. Witness the daily lives of the people, see how religion forms an integral part of the culture and feel the atmosphere of a land where time seems to have stood still. Stops will be made a few wats of importance and to take photos of scenic spots. 

Having worked up an appetite, stop for lunch at a restaurant known for its local specialties. Having rested and refuelled, return to the bikes and pedal out away from Luang Prabang to discover what awaits beyond the city limits. 

The traffic begins to thin out away from the city and soon the Phosy Market appears. This large market is open daily and is predominantly selling locally-grown produce, fruits, and other items. Wander through the aisles, where exotic ingredients are beautifully displayed and stop to sample freshly-prepared snacks.  

Back on the bikes ride on to Ock Pop Tock, a not-for-profit organization aiming to preserve traditional Lao weaving techniques. The center sprawls over stunning rural farmland. A short tour reveals the age-old process of creating beautiful Lao textiles- from dying to the actual weaving. 

It’s then time to head back toward the city, this time pedaling along a riverside path. One last stop will be made at the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. 
Spend time visiting the color displays of costumes, tools and artifacts to better understand the rich diversity of the Lao people. 

Note: closed on Mondays

Optional, if you are “templed-out”,opt for a visit to the UXO Lao Visitor Center. Here you can learn about the problems caused by unexploded bombs and mines left behind by American armed forces after the end of the Vietnam War and the Secret War, which we often hear too little about.  The center provides a free entry and shows the outstandingly courageous work of the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao) to clear this dangerous ordinance.

From here it is a short ride back to the hotel, where the Luang Prabang cycling tour concludes. 

Walking to kick-off the evening at 17:00 at a local restaurant along the Mekong for a beautiful sunset.  (Please note: start time will vary depending on the time of sunset) The simply named Sunset Restaurant is famous for the ‘Obama Coconut’ as this was where the former US President came for a refreshment on his last visit! Be served a selection of the owners' favorite local snacks, sip on a fresh coconut while watching sunset over the Mekong.

Next, walk (500m) to the bustling night market food stalls. The night market is where both locals and travelers come for a cheap, bountiful and savory meal. Sit in a reserved stall and try the grilled chicken with a papaya salad. This, of course, must be accompanied with a fresh bottle of beer!

Then, continue the foodie tour through the night market to Tangor, a trendy restaurant known for its Indochinese inspired decor and cuisine. Here, indulge in either the red duck curry or fish ceviche accompanied with a selected glass of red or white wine. 

From here, walk  back to the hotel.  
(Tour ends at about 21:00 - 21:30 pm) 

Note: Most local cuisine is traditionally spicy and hot! Please inform the guide just how much chili is tolerable and he/she will arrange with the restaurants accordingly.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Transfer by Boat: 1 hr Cycling distance: 27km Difficulty: Medium

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Luang Prabang at 8.30am by minivan and head off to the bike station. There your guide will be doing a briefing of the trip and let you do biking adjustments before cycling towards the former Royal boat pier. 

Upon arrival at Ban Xieng Mene, we will cycle along the Mekong on small village paths and rocky trails towards Vat Chom Phet. Climb up the stairs to discover this first temple, which used to be King”s favorite temple to retreat when he needed to get away from the court’s hassles. 

Further along the way, you can admire Vat Long Khoun, with its unique inner mural paintings. The façade also shows signs of the Tai Dam during their occupation in the region.

We will now take a dirt road- sharing the path with chickens, buffalos and motorbikes -to ride our way through the untouched and rarely visited countryside. Along the way, we will stop at a Ban Nakham for snacks and refreshments before continuing our exploration though the paddy fields and serene landscapes. Certain parts of the path are hilly and tracks are irregular. 

Next stop, we’ll ride towards a Khmu village to meet the elders and have a close up experience on their daily environment and lifestyle. Wave goodbye and continue your way towards the secret Hoy Khoua waterfall, where we will enjoy our picnic lunch and take time to cool off.

Note: For agricultural purposes, and related to abundance of rain during rainy season, the waterfall can be dry at periods.

As we have taken time to relax and rest, we will take our bikes back towards the mighty Mekong. If you feel at any time of the trip the need to stop cycling, feel free to hop on the back up minivan.

As we stop at Ban Pak Loung, this time being a Hmong village, we will board our private boat to cruise upstream to Ban Chan. The village is renown in the region for its pottery making. Admire a young man work the clay into a small bowl and visit the underground kilns, used to bake hundreds of jars at a time. These ancestral methods are transferred, from one generation to another and require patience and dexterity. Feel free to support them by buying a little figurine in order to support their handicraft (at own expenses). 

As we cruise back up to Luang Prabang, we can admire the Mekong river lifestyle and picturesque landscapes. We will be arriving back midafternoon, where your minivan will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel.

As we  aim to limit our carbon footprint, this day's cycling trip does not include a back up vehicle.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Then transfer to Luang Prabang train station by e-vehicle( based on availability) to take the train to Oudomxay.

Suggested Train: C82/LPQ-Oudomxay/09:23-10:17 (second class)

Upon arriving in Oudomxay, you will be transferred to the hotel.  Then the rest of the day is spent enjoying the activities.

Lunch at Nam Kat Yorlapa

Departure will be at the Tour information’s center before 14:00 hrs. We will be cycling towards Namkat Waterfall for about 5 km. When reaching the entrance, we will trek and walk over 13 sky bridges about 1 km. After that we will do 11 zip lining back to the entrance and cycling back to the Tour information’s center.

Overnight in Nam Kat Yorlapa

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Luang Prabang– Luang Prabang Airport (4 km): 15 min

After breakfast, the rest of the day is free to explore the resort until your transfer to Oudomxay train station to take the train to Luang Prabang.

Suggested Train: C81/Oudomxay-LPQ/12:45-13:45 (second class)

Upon arrival Luang Prabang then transfers to have lunch at a local restaurant.

Enjoy some free time at leisure until transport (provided by guide and driver) to the airport for the departing flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch