| Number of Cycling Days: 11 Days | Total Cycling Distance: 923 Km |
| Accommodation: Included | Bike Hire: Included |
| Single Supplement: Supplement Charge | Tour Code: TH – CBL |
| Next departure: 08th August, 2024 | Difficulty: Challenge |
We start our Cycling Tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang from the capital of Bangkok, pushing the pedals to Khao Yai National Park then head to Surin. From there, we cycle to visit Elephant village and go through the most beautiful rural areas and learn about the local culture of Thailand to admire the spectacular scenery, the endless sugar cane farm and casava.
Then heading off to Lao take riders deep into the heart of hill tribe country on a rugged and wild ride filled with raw adventure. Climb into the hills, through thick jungle pathways, isolated mountainsides, and remote river valleys on a journey that’s as rewarding as it is challenging. Meet curious locals who have never met a foreigner- certainly not a mountain biker!- and take in virgin views of some of Southeast Asia’s most impressive scenery by day, and a pure, starry sky by night.
Day 1: Bangkok – Khao Yai National Park
Our cycling tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for biking fitting and safety briefing then transferring about 1 hour from Bangkok to Saraburi to avoid the busy traffic in Bangkok. We stop for rest room in the gas station and start cycle on the back road to Khao Yai National Park, the Thailand’s first national park which is opened in 1962. Khao Yai is listed as a World Heritage Site because of the variety of its fauna and flora. We stop for lunch at the local restaurant before climbing to your comfortable hotel. Overnight stay in Khao Yai.
Day 2: Khao Yai – Surin
Today after breakfast we start cycle down hill to enjoy the fresh air. We stop for water after cycling and enjoying for a while and slow down to see this one of the most beautiful National Park. It is the biggest and longest hills, which is just a couple hours from Bangkok and situated between Saraburi until the border. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue cycle our bike tours Thailand and Laos for another 45km on more flat road. Overnight stay in Surin.
Day 3: Surin – Roi Et
We start cycle from our hotel on back road. Soon we get to quiet small road, which is suitable for our adventure cycling. Stop for water and visit “Ban Chang” means Elephant Village and learn how elephants connect with the people in the village. The villagers should to take good care of the elephants but not riding. Afternoon, we continue cycle on the quiet road to complete 80km.
Day 4: Roi Et – Khon Kaen
Before we start cycle, we transfer around 30 minutes from the busy part of the town of Roi Et, then get on our bikes to cycle off the main road along the beautiful rice fields. This part of Surin and Khon Kaen are the biggest part to produce rice where the road to Udon Thani has more farming of sugar canes and casava. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant after lunch we continue cycle for the last 29km to our hotel. Overnight stay in Khon Kaen.
Day 5: Khon Kaen – Udon Thani
After breakfast, we continue our Cycling Tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang. Cycle on the most beautiful part of rural Thailand. Lunch will be at a local restaurant then continue ride through many nice scenery starting with rice fields, endless sugar palm farm and cassava. Then we reach to the villages and out to the farms and fields again as the scenery keep changing. There are a bit of down hills and up hills but not much climb just about 150m to 300m high. Overnight stay in Udon Thani.
Day 6: Udon Thani – Vientiane
Today is a last in Thailand part of our Cycling Tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang. We start cycle straight from the hotel, watch out for the traffic for the first 5 to 10km. Then we get to the quiet road through the countryside. Today cycling route is relatively flat with maximum altitude 150m high. We cycle on some of the very small roads through the countryside and the villages in the remote areas. Then we reach out to Nong Khai, the border town separated Nong Khai (Thailand) and Vientiane (Laos) by the Mekong River.
Late afternoon, upon arrival at the Thailand – Lao border, our Thai guide will assist you with immigration procedures before meeting with our Lao crews on the other side of the border. We get our lugguage and put into another support vehicle. Then continue our bike tours Thailand and Laos to Vientiane, which is 15km from the border.
Day 7: Vientiane to Nam Ngum
After breakfast, we start cycle out of Vientiane. After leaving the bustle of the town, we ride through pastoral agricultural land passing paddy fields and more intensively farmed areas. Towards the end of the day there are two short but rewarding climbs just before we reach our destination at Ang Nam Ngum reservoir.
Day 8: Nam Ngum – Vang Vieng
We have an early start this morning along mostly flat roads. Towards the end of the morning we reach the fishing village of Tha Heauna where all manner of salty fish are on sale by the road. We will have lunch here, sampling the local produce, before cycling on to arrive by early afternoon in Vang Vieng. Overnight stay in Vang Vieng.
Day 9: Vang Vieng – Rest Day
Vang Vieng has recently become a popular destination for backpackers and is a comfortable place with nice restaurants and guesthouses. There are options to swim, tube or visit nearby caves. We can relax with a beer Lao to finish off the day and enjoy the sunset over the river behind the stunning limestone pinnacles.
Day 10: Vang Vieng – Kasi
Today we begin our Cycling Tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang by cycle on a route with hills on either side. After about 28km we begin to get a taste of what’s to come with an 8k climb. This is followed by a long gentle descent to Kasi.
Day 11: Kasi – Kiu Kachan
We plan for an early start in preparation for the hardest day of the trip. The cycling begins with a gentle 10k ride as the scent of jasmine and lotus blossoms drifts through the clear air from the rich jungle flora. This is followed by a massive 38k ascent to reach Nung Phum. We will stop here for a well-deserved lunch. This afternoon we cycle a further 50k up and down through dramatic scenes of craggy limestone peaks some of which are the highest in South East Asia. At the end of this challenging day we arrive in Kiu Kachan.
Day 12: Kiu Kachan – Luang Brabang
Our bike tours Thailand and Laos will reach Luang Brabang today, the world heritage site and one of the highlights of the trip. The day starts with a long descent for 22 k followed by a 15k hard climb. On the way we pass through Hmong villages each of which has its own distinctive character and style of house.
Day 13: Explore Luang Brabang City
We begin to explore this wonderful town with your guide, firstly we start to visit the local market where you can see the locals getting their daily supplies. The tour will continue with visits to the National Museum (They closed on Tuesday & Sunday afternoon), Wat Mai, and Wat Xieng Thong. Here, you’ll learn about Lao history and the kingdoms, which ruled this place in former times. Then our local guide will accompany for lunch at a local restaurant, where you can try the sample Lao food.
After lunch we continue to visit Wat Visoun, which dates back to the 16th century, before heading to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the ethnic diversity in Laos today. After returning we’ll ascend Phousi Mountain to marvel at the sunset over town before descending into the colorfully-lit tents of the Night Market to shop for handmade crafts. Overnight stay in Luang Brabang.
Day 14: Kuang Si Waterfalls – Local Life
Today after breakfast we make our way to Kuang Si waterfall, we will drive through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills, and small villages, stopping to visit a small village along the way that will provide an opportunity to learn more about the ethnic diversity in Lao PDR. The Hmong live in this region and maintain a culture that is very different from that of their neighbors. You will have an opportunity to learn about their traditions and culture, much of which has remained unchanged for centuries. Then relax at the Kuang Si Waterfalland enjoy the natural surroundings and as you wander through this protected area. You’ll have time to take a swim and visit the Bear Rescue Center to learn about efforts to protect native bears.
In the afternoon we will explore some villages that make handicrafts. The locally made saa paper is especially interesting as it is handmade from the bark of the mulberry tree. After your visit, we’ll drive back to Luang Prabang. Overnight stay in Luang Brabang.
Day 15: Luang Brabang – Departure
Our adventure cycling tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang officially ends this morning. Hotel check out time is midday. We will arrange transfer from the hotel to the airport for your international flight home.
What’s Included
What’s Excluded
Guides
Your trip will be led by our local cycling tour guide. For a group less than 5, one English speaking cycling guide plus driver. A group of 6 or more, a Cycling Tour Leader, plus English-speaking cycling guide, drivers and assistants. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you.
Bikes & Repairs
The bikes you will be riding are well-known makes of hybrid or mountain bikes (depending on the tour.
Our guide carries a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems so all you normally need to carry is a daypack, for your camera etc. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so if you are bringing your own bike on the tour you must ensure that it is in good working order. If in doubt, have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.
Support Vehicle
You will at all times have the security of a back-up vehicle. The vehicle will carry your luggage (we transport your main baggage by support vehicle from each overnight stop to the next) and yourself if you want. The backup van will be with us throughout the day stopping around every (15km).
Accommodation
We choose accommodation on the basis of comfort rather than luxury. Our prices are based on Double or sharing a twin room. If you wish to stay in single room you have to pay extra for your single room supplement. For more information on the additional costs please see send us via email
Safety
We recommend you to wear a helmet all our biking adventures and is non-negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour guide is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree, you must be responsible for your own safety while riding.
Terrain
We ride along back roads and quiet highways and along side rivers before climbing up into spectacular limestone mountains. This trip involves some longer days over 80km and a couple of days with mountainous terrain. Riders should be of good cycling fitness. You will cycle on back roads with lovely open landscapes and leisurely with plenty of stops in every 15km to enjoy snack and drink or taking photos. Our guides can also easily accommodate any type riders, in case you would not be able to complete the distance you would be able to jump into the support vehicle.
Fitness level
This Cycling Tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang is tailor-made to suit cyclists of all levels of experience, fitness, and all ages with different backgrounds. Asia Cycling Tour requires all of the cyclists to enjoy the challenges but should respect everyone’s limits of cycling. The tours are designed so everyone can go at their own pace, and bear in mind that this is not a race.
Health & Medical Conditions
Due to the physical nature of our trips, it is extremely important that you are of good physical health and therefore able to fully participate in group tour. Prior to the start of your tour and at every trip stop during your tour, every traveller is required to provide details of any pre-existing medical conditions or to inform the tour guide if he/she feels unwell. Disclosure of this information is extremely important so as to ensure that we can act effectively in the case of an emergency.
Eating (Special diets)
Most meals are included in your trip price apart from on non cycling days and some other exclusions. Please check the itinerary for full details. If you have a special dietary request, please advise us at the time of booking. Most diets can be catered for, but it is always important to advise us in advance.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Cambodian cuisine is a mixture of Thai, French and Chinese dishes and we make sure you can sample a wide variety.
Drinking
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.
Extra Expenses
Most of the things are included in the package tour, you might want to budget for food and drinks if you choose to head out at night, or additional activities. The cost of the activity depends on what you want to do. We would recommend you to bring a small cash of US$30 for incidentals.
Money
Thailand: The Thai currency is the baht. ATMs, which are abundant, are the easiest ways to get Thai baht. Have a supply of US dollars in cash on hand, just in case your card doesn’t work. Banks or the rarer private moneychangers offer the best foreign-exchange rates. Credit cards are accepted in big cities and resort hotels but you’ll need baht for family-run guesthouses or restaurants.
Laos: The official national currency in Laos is the kip, however, Thai baht and US dollars are also used, especially in larger cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, kip is usually preferred. There are now a few ATMs in Laos, but they are not widespread and are operational only sporadically. The best overall exchange rates are those offered at the BCEL (Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao). Licensed moneychangers rates are similar to banks Spend all your kip before you leave as no one will exchange it for you once you leave the country!
Solo Travellers
We have a wide mix of cyclists on our tours from couples, friends to solo travellers. Our prices are based on twin shared accommodation. If you sign up for one of our tours as a solo traveller we will twin share you with another person of the same gender in your group. If you prefer to have your own room this is an option on most of our tours for an extra charge.
Passport & Visa
Thailand: All nationalities require a passport for entry into Thailand. Please ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your stay in the country. If staying less than 30 days then a visa in advance is not required by European, North American, Australian and many other nationalities. Please check this page to see if you qualify. You will need to show proof of an onward flight out of Thailand to be eligible for the visa on arrival. This is strictly enforced.
Laos: All nationalities require a visa for Laos. A 30-day visa on arrival can be obtained at all airports and *some land border crossings. An eVisa can be used to enter Laos at international airports in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse. The process takes 3 days and can be applied for here.
A visa issued at a Laos consulate abroad is valid for 60 days. When entering Laos with a visa please be sure to obtain an immigration entry stamp. Entering the country on only a visa, and not the proper immigration entry stamp, could subject you to fines and/or penalties.
*Beginning December 31, 2019, these border posts will no longer offer Visa On Arrival (VOA) services or accept eVisas. If you are traveling into Laos from Vietnam through the Dien Bien Phu border (as in Cycling Hanoi to Luang Prabang) or the Nameo border (as in Remote Vietnam and Laos by Bike), you will need to obtain your entry visa at a Laotian embassy or consulate prior to arrival in Laos. Please contact the Laotian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence to apply for your visa in advance. Be aware that posted visa fees from the Laotian government can be subject to change without notice.
Insurance
It is mandatory that you are well-insured for the full duration of the tour. This must include personal injury, medical expenses, death, repatriation, helicopter or aircraft rescue, loss of luggage or equipment, cancellation or curtailments.
You should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in your tour. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be directed to your insurers. We strongly recommend that you take out insurance at the time of booking your trip to ensure that you are covered in the event of cancellation.
Climate
Thailand: Generally has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. The North and Central region have a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. Northeast Thailand has a humid hot and dry weather alternatively with medium rain while the coastal areas of the east is humid and hot with intermittent rain. The South of Thailand has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity.
There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27˚C/80 F and 40˚C/104 F, with night temperatures in the 20s. The rainy season is from July to October, but temperatures are slightly lower, because of the effect of the rain. During this time it will not rain continuously, but in sharp bursts, and the sun can come out quickly. The cooler season is from October to February, with average temperatures between 20˚C/68 F and 30˚C/86 F.
Laos: Laos has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27C and 40C (80-104F), with night temperatures in the 20C/75F). The rainy season is from June to October. The cooler season, is from November to February, with average temperatures between 20C and 30C (70- 86F). It can get a little cold at night at higher elevations year round so bring a light fleece for the evenings.
Deposit
Once the trip is confirmed, we will be required you to pay a deposit to guarantee your booking with us. For the tours less than 7 days to the departure date, the deposit amount is 100% of the tour price, per person. For the tours more than 7 days to the departure date, the 30% of the tour price per person will be required.
Balance
The remaining balance must be paid 45 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
Final Tour Confirmation
Our team will send you the final tour confirmation of cycling tour Bangkok to Luang Prabang, which are included personal details you provided us (including your flight information), visa application advice, a packing suggestion list and a detailed tour itinerary. It will also include a checklist to ensure you get everything ready for your holiday.
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