Laos → Vietnam · 12 days

We collect you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. You have the chance to meet fellow travellers who started in Vientiane and swap stories before the ride begins.

Spend the evening unwinding and exploring Luang Prabang, which sits on a peninsula where the Nam Khan meets the Mekong.

Hotel: Sala Prabang Hotel (or equivalent) · Meals: D

The ride out of Luang Prabang is a relaxed 28 km on quiet roads to Kuang Si Falls, where you can cool off with a swim. The Lao Buffalo Dairy is at the 23 km mark. There you learn how it supports village farmers through water buffalo care and nutrition programs for rural communities.

Before the falls comes a visit to Free the Bears, a sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates sun, moon and sloth bears from bile farms. The support van can take you back to town in time to enjoy Luang Prabang in the evening.

Dinner is at Khaiphaen, a Friends International restaurant that gives disadvantaged youth vocational training through its social initiatives.

Cycling: 28 km · 384 m climb · Hotel: Sala Prabang Hotel (or equivalent) · Meals: B, D

NGO: Lao Buffalo Dairy, Free the Bears

Nong Khuay is a remote community of 80 Hmong and Khmu families, 30 km from Luang Prabang. Getting there takes some effort. First is a 21 km ride on dirt tracks with some solid climbs. Then the road ends and we trek 9 km through the mountains. If trekking isn't for you, a van waits in the village.

The Fairtrek initiative works to strengthen the local economy through tourism. The village is where your Social Cycles bamboo water bottles are made. We spend time with local families, with our guide helping across the language barrier, and stay the night sharing meals with our hosts.

Cycling: 21 km · 510 m climb · Hotel: Nong Khuay Village Homestay (basic) · Meals: B, L, D

After leaving the village by van, we start a 44 km ride on mostly paved roads, with short but sharp undulations. Lunch is at the Pak Ou Caves, a site filled with thousands of Buddha statues.

From there the van takes us to Pak Mong (127 km, about 3 hours). Time permitting, we cycle on for 29 km through small villages between towering karst peaks. This section is challenging, with steady climbs and sharp undulations that will push your legs, with views along the way.

Our destination, Nong Khiaw, is a quiet riverside town. You can unwind along the river, with Elephant Head Mountain, a striking natural landmark, in view.

Cycling: 44 km and 29 km · Hotel: Mandala Ou Resort (or equivalent) · Meals: B, L

Today we travel by boat. A traditional long boat takes us up the Nam Ou River, toward the entrance of Phongsaly district.

The first stop is the sleepy riverside town of Muang Ngoi, to stretch our legs, visit a local temple and see the historic cave complex, once used as shelter during the 2nd Indochina War.

Further along we call in at rural communities on the riverbanks and see something of daily life in this remote region. A picnic lunch is served, with views of the river.

Hotel: New Chaleunsouk Guesthouse · Meals: B, L

The day starts with the drive to the Tay Trang border crossing into Vietnam. The 66 km drive takes just under 2 hours. We reach the border nice and early, and then it is time to say goodbye to the Laos team.

On the Vietnam side, the Social Cycles Vietnam team is waiting with a new set of bikes. The ride down to Dien Bien Phu is just 34 km, mostly paved, with a nice drop in elevation.

Once in Dien Bien Phu, the evening is yours to explore. Your guide leads the way to some local Vietnamese food.

Cycling: 34 km · 362 m climb · Hotel: Him Lam Resort · Meals: B, L

The ride follows winding valleys on a paved road, through rice fields and villages with glimpses of daily rural life.

We climb beyond 1,000 m in elevation, with views along the way. Then there is a 20 km descent into Muong Lay town, where the landscape opens up again.

Midway we stop for a simple village lunch of local food. Once we arrive in Muong Lay, the evening is yours to explore at your own pace. Wander the town and take in the riverside.

Cycling: Up to 95 km · Hotel: Thanh Binh Hotel (or equivalent) · Meals: B, L

Get up early for the view over the Black River. After breakfast at the hotel, we cycle the first 25 km on a tarmac road to Chan Nura. From there a vast landscape opens up beneath you: endless mountains stretching into the distance, and deep valleys dotted with stilt-home villages around clear streams.

It is a hard day's cycling, but worth it. The day ends with wide views over the region.

Cycling: 70 km · 1718 m climb · Hotel: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (or equivalent) · Meals: B, L

Today is the O Quy Ho Pass. It is 38 km long, Northwest Vietnam's longest mountain pass, and part of a group of four famous routes in the region.

The climb is demanding. It starts from a low point of 700 m and takes us beyond 2,000 m in elevation, with wide views of peaks and valleys on the way.

This is the toughest cycling day of the ride. It is 76 km from hotel to hotel, with 2,291 m of climbing and then a 1,700 m descent. The road is mostly paved. The support van is always nearby, whether you need a breather or prefer to leapfrog ahead.

Cycling: 75 km · 2291 m climb · Hotel: Sapa Centre Hotel (or equivalent) · Meals: B, L

The morning starts with a walk through the local market, which shows the mix of ethnic groups and goods for sale.

In the afternoon you can cycle a gentle 25 km downhill into the Sapa valley, past mountains, rice paddy fields and Hmong villages, or rest in the town of Sapa. The riders are then transferred back to Sapa and on to Lao Cai railway station for the overnight train to Hanoi.

Cycling: 25 km · 164 m climb · Hotel: Sapalay overnight train (4 berth cabin) · Meals: B, L

You step out of the station into the crowds of the city, and the aromas of famous Hanoi street food are waiting for breakfast. After checking in to the hotel, we spend the morning learning from our NGO partner, Hope Box. This micro NGO has built a social-enterprise system that supports women who have experienced gender-based violence in Vietnam.

The afternoon is yours: the Old Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, or one of Hanoi's many cafes for an egg coffee. In the evening we have our last dinner together and discuss the NGOs we learned about and where the donation money could and should go.

Hotel: Phoenix Hotel (or equivalent) · Meals: D

Say goodbye to your newfound friends and riding buddies after breakfast, then set off on your onward journey.

Meals: B