7 Day Northern Laos Motorcycle Tour

A weeklong motorcycle tour of the north of Laos taking in Vang Vieng, Plain of Jars, remote northeast Laos, Nong Khiaw, Luang Prabang and one last night of partying in Vang Vieng (Vang Vegas!).  The tour is all paved and basic riding skills are required.  There are several optional activities and based on time, we may get a few side tracks in here and there to get a bit of dirt on the boots. A general road condition video of Laos is available, don't worry about all the mud shots, this is a paved run with little nasty bits if any.

Brief itinerary:

Vientiane Arrival

Day 1 Vientiane – Vang Vieng
Day 2 Vang Vieng - Phonsavan

Day 3 Phonsavan – Vieng Thong

Day 4 Vieng Thong – Nong Khiaw  

Day 5 Nong Khiaw – Luang Prabang

Day 6 Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng

Day 7 Vang Vieng - Vientiane 

Vientiane Departure

 

Day to day itinerary:

 

Arrival day

Based on your arrival time, we’ll meet in the evening at the hotel at 18:00 for a review of the trip and details of the tour.  We will go over safety information and trip details tonight as well as a rewiew of the protective gear you have for the trip.

 

Accommodation: Lao Orchid Hotel

Meals: -

 

Day 1  Vientiane to Vang Vieng, 190 km

We depart from the hotel after breakfast.  We’ll ride on highway 13 direct to Vang Vieng and it should take about 4 hours or so. Our goal is to get to the hotel no later than 13:00, have lunch and then transfer to the tubing office for an afternoon on the river.

 

Accommodation: The Elephant Crossing Hotel  

Meals: B/L/D

 

Day 2 Vang Vieng to Phonsavan, 230 km

Breakfast along the Nam Song River and we depart at 08:00.  The first 70 km are reletively flat and we ascend the Phou Khoun Mountain grade with a early lunch at Phou Khoun.  The ride here is very scenic but it is dry season and this means many fires will be burning along the way.  The view may be hazed out but with a good wind, we may be lucky.  We turn east at Phou Khoun and ride 130 km to Phonsvan with stops along the way as you like.  One stop is a small Buddha Cave in Nong Tang.  We continue to Phonsavan for a late afternoon check in to the hotel and then a short 9 km ride to Plain of Jars site 1.  In the evening, we’ll take you to the MAG – Mine Advisory Group’s office for viewing a 50 minute film on the problem on unexploded ordinance in Laos. 

 

Accommodation: Xieng Khoung Hotel

Meals: B/L/D

 

Day 3 Phonsavan to Vieng Thong, 205 km

Breakfast at the hotel and we depart at 08:30.  We continue east for 50 km on the main road and then take a smaller, mountain road for about 95 km.  Lunch today is in a small town called Nam Neun.  A few km after lunch and a sharp ascent, we turn west to Vieng Thong.  Vieng Thong is a very small town and has electricity from 04:00 – 06:30 and 18:30 – 21:00. The guesthouse is quite basic as is the restaurant in town.  Depending on our arrival time, we can take some time to visit the Wildlife Conservation Society offices in town.  The visitor’s center is not quite open but we may get a little time from one of the Lao staff to explain the area.  There is a small dirt road outside of town and remote villages along the way if you choose for an extended ride this day.

 

Accommodation: Vieng Thong Guesthouse

Meals: B/L/D

 

Day 4 Vieng Thong to Nong Khiaw, 170 km

Breakfast in town and we are departing early today, 07:30 if possible.  Our goal is to arrive in Nong Khiaw by around noon to allow you to take a boat up the Nam Ou River to Moung Ngoi.  It is a beautiful ride along the river and takes about 4 – 5 hours.  The boat fees vary and the river is quite low at the moment.  Expected boat fees are USD $40.00 per person but could vary.

 

Accommodation: Nong Khiaw Riverside Bungalows  

Meals: B/L/D

 

Day 5 Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang, 155 km

Another early departure today at 07:30 so we can get down to Luang Prabang with enough time to allow you a walking tour of the city in the afternoon.  We hope to arrive by 12:00 and then Jim will explain the area and make a suggestion on where to walk.  The night market is defiently worth the time to visit as there are all kinds of items for sale.  Our hotel is adjacent to the night market and 250 meters to the Mekong River.  Dinner in town and a free evening.

 

Accommodation Villa Phathana
Meals: B/L/D

 

Day 6 Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, 230 km

The morning alms offering to the local monks happens between 06:00 – 06:30 and will pass directly in front of the hotel.  We suggest discretion when taking photos of the procession.  Breakfast is at 07:30 and we depart at 08:30.  Our route today will be over the mountains and quite twisty roads.  We ascend and drop quite low elevation wise today until we reach Phou Khoun again.  While this is a backtrack on the trip, the road is quite spectactular.  (I’ve personally ridden this stretch of road about 60 times and never get tired of it!) We’ll take time on the downward leg from Phou Khoun for photos as you like, we have plenty of time.  Upon arrival in Vang Vieng, we check into the hotel and relax.

 

Accommodation: The Elephant Crossing Hotel

 Meals: B/L/D

 

Day 7 Vang Vieng to Vientiane, 190 km

As you are staying in Vientiane this night, we have lots of time to get back to the city.  Our departure is at 08:00 following breakfast and we head south on the main road until Phonhong.  We’ll turn on some smaller rural roads and make stops as you need.  There are a few places we will stop along the way and the first is an overlook at the Nam Ngum Reservoir.  Lunch today is in Ban Keun at at riverside restaurant.  We’ll continue along the road to Vientiane and traffic will pick up.  If  you like, we can take a short detour on some dirt roads to get back to the Vientiane. 

 

Accommodation: Lao Orchid Hotel

Meals: B/L

Departure Day

 Based on your onward travel.

Accommodation:

Meals: B

 

Terms and Conditions

 

 

 

Ready to roll? Send us a Tour Request with the number of persons and your dates, we'll put together a quote for your tour and personalize it to your needs.  Some questions are answered on our FAQ page, have a look.

 

Inclusive:

• English speaking lead guide
• Protective gear as available at 50% discount from http://www.remoteasia.com/Rental_Gear.html
• Pre-trip briefing, pre-trip email packet
• Meal as indicated
• Airport transfers
• Motorbike + fuel + helmet + 3^rd party insurance for guest
• Motorbike + fuel + helmet + 3^rd party insurance for lead guide
• Tool kit
• Entry fees to sites and all ferry crossing charges
• Accommodation as indicated, twin share
• Permit  + Tax
• Drinking water and hydration solutions
• First aid kit (basic)
• Post ride GPS map of the tour
• Some tours include post ride video
• Activities as indicated

 

Exclusive:

• Flights
• Damage to the bikes
• Support vehicle
• Visa (visa on arrival is available at 30 - 45 USD, 1 photo is required)
• Travel insurance
• soft drink, alcohol and meals not indicated
• Activities as indicated
• Laundry and personal expenses