Laos Biking, as cycling adventure tour through Laos

 

7 days cycling the mysterious Kong Lor circuit
in Khammouane and Thakeak from/to Vientiane

 

Highlights:
Waterfalls, remoted areas, rainforest, touristic and remoted caves, hydropower-projekt, visit several NBCA, Buddha Cave, Giant Wall, sightseeing in Thakhek, taking part at Lao Life, fantastic breathtaking views in limestone mountains, see different kinds of very big trees and wild orchidees, Kong Lor, Lao and Khamu villages etc.

 

Activities included in this tour through central east Laos :
- moderate Mountain biking
- soft Trekking
- Caving
- Boat and river trip
- citytour

The speciality of this cycling trip in Laos:
In a lot of guidebooks (like lonely planet) a similar tour is recommended. It's called 'The Loop' and a few tourists do it with motorbikes. The problem about 'The Loop' is: if you want to visit the main attraction of this area (The Kong Lor Cave) you have to ride from Ban Na Hin in the north down to the south to Kong Lor. But after visiting the cave all tourists have to ride all the way back to Ban Na Hin to continue 'The Loop'.
We ride the loop in a proper way as we transfer our bikes on boats through the longest cave in Laos which allows boats inside. Its about 7 kilometres long.
With us you really do the loop!!

 

Day 1:

Start from Vientiane

With the bikes on the top of the bus we are heading out to Thakhek. We move to our accommodation and can use the rest of the day for a bit of exploration. The city has many charming French colonial buildings, villas and shop-houses. Furthermore we have the possibility to visit in a so called first bicycle-warm-up the Pha That Sikhottabong stupa which stands on the ground of a 19 th -century monastery and is about 6km south of Thakhek.   First night we stay in ‘Travel Lodge’. A cozy, comfortable lodge, where we can exchange our experiences with other travelers at a campfire. L-D

Day 2:

Area discovery by bicycle (45km on bike) – Buddha Cave – Giant Wall

On this second day we do our first serious bicycle-ride and visit Tham Pha Pa ( Buddha Cave ) and Kampeng Yak (The Giant Wall). This ride takes us through a wonderful landscape and gives us a first impression about the bizarre limestone rock formations following our hole trip during the next days. This ride takes us among others to the famous Buddha cave, discovered in April 2004. In this cave we can see about 230 bronze Buddha images in different sizes.   We stay another night at the ‘Travel Lodge Thakhek’. B-L-D

 

Day 3

Bicycle ride (75 km) – caves – limestone formations

Today we take the road 12 to Gnommalath. On our way we have the possibility to visit 3-4 different caves. One of these caves is a quite touristic place, while the others remain in natural beauty. Furthermore you have the possibility to take a refreshing bath in one of the caves or you take the chance to swim out of the cave in a blue colored river, floating through the cave. The night we spend in a simple but clean guesthouse in Gnommalath. B-L

 

Day 4

Bicycle ride (70km) - Hydropower-project – remote road – rainforest – NBCA Hin Boun – Lao villages life

Today is coming up one of the most exhausting and also one of the most diversified part of this bicycle-trip. First we are following the Nam Theun river and we can have a look at one of the biggest and most ambitious hydropower-project in Laos . On our ride we pass the dam as well as the powerhouse. After this we are climbing on a plateau, where the dirt road is very dusty and gives us a bit of a ‘paris-dakar-feeling’. We and up in a really steep downhill through green rainforest and we finish our ride in a very beautiful and remoted valley in the Nam Hin Boun NBCA. In this valley we pass many authentic   villages, where friendly Laos people wave their “sabaideees” towards us. Maybe because they hardly ever see any foreigners. We stay in a very simple and sympathic homestay in Natan where we share dinner and breakfast with the family in real Lao style. B-L-D

Day 5

Bicycle ride (45km) – boat trip –   Kong Lor – Ban Kong Lor – Limstone formations – Lao villages

Today we will see the main attraction of this bicycle trip. After breakfast we cross the longest navigable cave in South East Asia : Kong Lor . We traverse this ca. 7 km long cave on boats and a rapid in complete darkness is a unique worldclass experience. At the end of the cave we visit the village Ban Kong Lor and than follow the road through the Nam Hin Boun Protected Area to Ban Na Hin. Here we spend the night in a guesthouse. B-L-D

 

Day 6

Trekking in Nam Kading NBCA – waterfalls – lonely forest trails – rainforest

The following day, contains a welcome change because today we leave our bicycles in the guesthouse. Instead we do a breathtaking trekking in the protected area of Nam Kading, following lonely forest trails. Our trekking takes us to two of the highest waterfalls in Laos . We will have lunch in a very scenic point nearby the Nasanam waterfall. Here we have time to relax, swim and enjoying the beautiful Lao countryside around the waterfalls. In the evening we return to our guesthouse in Ban Na Hin. B-L

 

Day 7

Bicycle ride (45km) – view point – limestone formations

On our last day we have to do the last 45 km on bike. After breakfast we have to climb a little mountain (around 400m in altitude) but the view after this is all worth it. You will have a incredible view over limestone formations which is the last impression you take with you from this whole bicycle-trip. In Viang Kham we take the bus back to Vientane. B-L-D

 

Included
* English Speaking tour leader * All accommodations base on twin-share at hotel, guesthouse and Home stay * Meals detailed in the itinerary (B = Breakfast , L = Lunches ,D = Dinners) * A/C transfers and transportation to/from cycling start and ending point * Boat trip mention in itinerary * Mountain bike rental * Sightseeing excursions as outlined in itinerary * Pump, bike tools, spares tubes. * Drinking water * Seasonal fruits

 

Excluded:
* International airfares * Travel insurance * Items of a personal nature * Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks * Additional transport required due to any emergency situation * Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills * Visa fees, departure taxes * Tipping for guide

 

What to bring:
1. Your own bike helmet
2. Small backpack/daypack
3. bike bags for your luggage (or rental for 1,5 US $ per day)
4. Shoes and shorts for cycling 5. Sunglasses
6. your own torch/flashlight
7. Gloves
8. Sun block
9. Camera and batteries, recharger
10. Original Passport
11. Bike water bottle