Ride in a small group tour through remote parts of Laos!  In response to many requests, we've added this longer tour for those that are looking for a motorcycle tour with similar minded travelers.  You should have experience riding to join the tour..  The maximum group size is 10 persons.  Enjoy the reading, we've got a great tour sure to open your eyes to this wonderful country.  Feel free to download the pdf and send it off once you've booked to your friends or to those that might be in need of just such a trip!

It's all here, remote Area Riding - Luang Prabang - Hidden Cave City of Vieng Xai - Plain of Jars - 1/2 day Kayaking and a mixture of terrain to keep all rider levels interested.  Paved road, dirt road and some slightly challenging areas will fill out a full ride program. Have a look at the Map below for an overview of the tour route.  Typically we won't ride from Sunrise to Sunset, and there is built in time for you to relax and enjoy the country as much as possible. The total KM for the ride is 1,700 or 1,065 miles. Hard to believe for such a small country but we'll get around and it's sure to be a great ride for all participants.  Food?  We'll enjoy mostly Lao food and keep your energy levels up for each day's ride or activity.  We'll be riding Honda 250 cc motorcycles, Baja or XR models as they are durable for the changing conditions we'll ride.  Each bike will be custom set for your weight and height - you can even name it for the time you are together.

Arrival Day in Vientiane
Your accommodation is booked for the Lao Orchid Hotel.  At 18:00 at the hotel, go over the trip details and get to know one another.  We'll  get to know each other and discuss trip safety and ride information will be on the adjenda  An introduction to the bikes takes place but the riding is done the next day.  Tonight we'll adjust your bike to fit if you are a bit too tall or on the vertically challenged side.

Accommodation: Lao Orchid Hotel
Meals: - - -

Day 1: Vientiane to Pak Lay.  150 km dirt , 75 km paved rural road
We depart after breakfast and one final safety talk.  We drive out of Vientiane and then turn onto the Mekong River road and the next 150 KM will be on compressed dirt.  Lunch along the way at a local restaurant and we'll take a side track or two before meeting up with a great 75 KM stretch of paved road leading over some small ridges.  A ferry crossing and we are in Pak Lay, our first night's destination.  After dinner tonight, the guides will help you improve your riding based on today's run.  Ride time will vary but we should be in Pak Lay well before sunset.

Accommodation: Doung Chia Phet Hotel
Meals: B/L/D

 Day 2: Pak Lay to Hongsa.  220 km dirt
We get rolling after breakfast and ride north on route 4, and make a morning stop along remote areas with rolling hills and scattered rice fields.  Several schools are along the way and we'll most likely draw some attention, but we'll try not to intrude upon them.  We'll stop for lunch in Xayaboury and then carry on riding up to Hongsa.  Today's ride is on all dirt roads, with just a little paved bit around the bigger towns.  There are many beautiful scenic stops along the ride and you should be quite high on the photo count by the end of the day.  Hopefully we'll pass some working elephants along the road.  Most areas will be sparsely populated areas and it's a real taste of Remote Laos.  Depending on our arrival time in Hongsa, check into the hotel and we may get in a short elephant ride. The elephant ride is optional and only if we arrive early enough into town.  Dinner tonight at a local restaurant and a night in the quiet countryside. Ride time today will also vary but each day our goal is to arrive well before sunset.

Day 3: Hongsa to Luang Prabang  100+ km dirt
Today's ride is not too long and we are headed for Luang Prabang to the east.  We'll depart and ride roads that are being improved.  We have another Mekong River crossing before Luang Prabang and our aim is to arrive in town by lunchtime.  You have a free afternoon here to soak up a little city life, get a massage, jump on email or simply relax along the Mekong River with a cold Beer Lao.  Dinner tonight for the group and after we suggest a walk through the night market.  Any items purchased can be shipped to Vientiane.

Accommodation: Villa Phathana
Meals: B/L/D

Day 4: Luang Prabang to Vieng Thong  120 km dirt, 120 km paved rural road
We will offer an early morning to those that would like to quietly observe the morning monk alms procession.  This happens at about 05:30 and our breakfast is at 07:15.  We plan to depart Luang Prabang at 08:00.  The first 35 km are on paved road and then we take a turn northeast on a compressed dirt road.  We'll have a break along the way ,as the ride is along the Nam Xeun River.  Our lunch is a mid way on the dirt road section and we'll opt for either a picnic lunch or local place.  We'll ascend into the mountains after Pak Xeng and come to what we at Remote Asia call "Rock Star Highway".  The children on the last 30 KM come out in force to greet and cheer us on.  It's overwhelming and sure to make your ride day.  We'll meet up with a rural paved road and ride 95 km to Vieng Thong.  Vieng Thong is a very small, out of the way town with limited services. Electricity in the town is sporadic and we'll do the best we can to call ahead and have a few drinks put on ice for the group's arrival.  There is an attraction in Vieng Thong and it is the working office for Wildlife Conservation Laos.  We'll drop in for a look at the photo from the remote camera traps and learn a little more about the area. This is the most 'rustic' night we'll have but the food is fine and we'll watch the entire town get rolled up after sunset.  For those that like to experiment, the local restaurant has a selection of fermented rice wine, Lao Lao.

Accommodation: SooksakhoneGuesthouse
Meals: B/L/D   

Day 5: Vieng Thong to Xam Nua , 190 km paved rural road
We start off early today and continue riding the remote rural road east.  We'll cross several small passes and be riding through the Nam Et Phouy National Protected Area.  The ride today is all paved, but the road conditions are less than perfect.  The upcountry roads are difficult to maintain and while in reasonably good condition, we'll not be racing along as if on smooth blacktop.We'll pass many villages along the way and by noon we'll arrive in Xam Nua.  After a lunch, we check into the hotel, then we'll ride east another 30 km to Vieng Xai for a tour of the Phathet Lao Hidden Cave City from the Indochina War. We'll tour at least 3 of the caves with a specialist local guide from the area.  The caves are quite impressive and massive.  They survived repeated attacks from aircraft and ground forces, and served as the shelter for the founding fathers of the modern day Laos.  During this part of the tour, there will be some walking on uneven ground and reasonable footwear is suggested.  After the tour, return to Xam Nua for dinner and our overnight.

Accommodation: Xam Nua Guesthouse
Meals: B/L/D

Day 6: Vieng Xai to Phonsavan 220 km paved rural roads in the mountains
An early start and we are returning on the same mountain road we came into Vieng Xai on.  We'll take a side diversion to Suan Hin Standing Stones mid morning and lunch will be in Nam Neun. We'll be riding on a higher elevation road after lunch for the next 90 km/55 miles.  We take a stop at Tam Piew Cave at the base of the high elevation road for a look at the view and learn a little history of the cave.  We are then good paved road into Phonsavan for the night with a late afternoon arrival.  Dinner tonight at a local restaurant and overnight in Phonsavan.

Accommodation: Nice Guesthouse (really - that's the name!)

Meals: B/L/D

Day 7:  Phonsavanh Area Ride 130 km mixed terrain
We start the day with a ride to Site 1 of the Plain of Jars about 10 minutes out of town.  We will continue on to site 2 and 3 afterward.  From Site 3, we'll loop around to Old Xieng Khoung for lunch and return via Phonsavanh, then take a dirt road loop around the north to some remote villages.  The area was heavily bombed during the late 1960's and 1970's and scattered bomb craters will be on the route. We will return to Phonsavanh in the late afternoon and tonight we'll take time to visit the MAG (Mine Advisory Group) offices to view a short movie about unexploded ordinance clearing in Laos.  Dinner and overnight in Phonsavannh.

Accommodation: Nice Guesthouse
Meals: B/L/D

Day 8: Phonsavanh to Vang Vieng 230 km paved road
We are on the way to Vang Vieng today and, we'll stop in a Buddha Cave for a small break slightly outside of Phonsavanh.  A little stair climbing but this cave is well lit and quite small.  We'll continue on some excellent windy roads to Phou Khoun where we turn south on Highway 13.  Our lunch stop is a fantastic hillside restaurant overlooking a deep valley.  We ride on and should arrive mid afternoon in Vang Vieng where we'll stay for 2 nights.  Rest up after today's long ride and dinner at Xayoh Cafe in Vang Vieng is sure to please - they've got really good Pizza!  Dinner and overnight in Vang Vieng, as well as a chance to catch up on your email!

Accommodation: Elephant Crossing Hotel
Meals: B/L/D

Day 9: Vang Vieng area ride 60 km mixed terrain, 1/2 day Kayak tour (optional)

Today we will take a half day ride to the east of Vang Vieng in the morning.  We'll ride the full loop trail along karst limestone formations.  There are a number of small schools on the ride and we've plenty of time.  On the ride, there are several bamboo suspension bridges and if you need help getting the bike over, not a problem.  We'll return to Vang Vieng for lunch and then take a half day kayak trip down the Nam Song.  This tour is optional and those that wish to have a full relaxing day in Vang Vieng can easily do so.  Dinner tonight at Ban Sabai on the river and overnight in Vang Vieng.
Note: Kayaking is an optional activity and is not included in the tour price, kayak tour is USD $36.00 per person.

Accommodation: Elephant Crossing Hotel
Meals: B/L/D

Day 10: Vang Vieng to Vientiane 130 km paved, 40 - 60 km dirt
Our last day ride and we start out early after breakfast.  We'll ride south on Highway 13 to Phonhong and it's not realy fast road riding so we'll take our time.  We divert off the main road to a smaller rural one leading us to Nam Ngum Reservoir

, a man made lake supplying Laos with hydro-electric energy.  Shortly after, we have lunch riverside on the Nam Ngum.  One last ride into Vientiane and we'll break away from the paved road and loop via some dirt roads on the outskirts of town.  Our arrival back will be late afternoon and those that have early flights should be fine.   Upon our return, we'll stop for one last group photo at Pataxay Monument.  We return to the city and collect what luggage you left behind and our mechanical team will collect the bikes and inspect them.  We've time for one final farewell - the trip has concluded.

Accommodation: Not Included

Tour Route Map 10 Day Motorcycle Tour of Laos
The tour route is in blue and runs clockwise out of Vientiane