Vientiane:

Arrival day

There’s a feast of exciting activities to sink your teeth into. Spend your day exploring  around the many markets, museums and temples. The day is yours to potter, caffeinate and watch the world go by. The  group will meet up for dinner at 6pm at the hotel, where we’ll head over to the banks of the Mekong for a drink, followed by a Lao style BBQ.

Inc. Meals: Dinner
Cycling: NA
Transit: Airport transfer
Hotel: Azalea Park View Hotel (or equivalent)

Vang Vieng

Boat Ride & Blue Lagoons

We’ll start the day after breakfast on a boat, making our way north towards Van Vieng (2.5 hrs). From shore, we’ll be met by our van and transit to the hotel by mid morning (22km/ 45 mins). This gives us the chance to explore Vang Vieng by bike. We’ve created a round trip of 31km that takes us to Blue Lagoons 2 and 3, where we can have a dip in the open pools and grab some lunch from one of the food stands. We’ll also have the chance to explore Patong Cave Temple and a feast of surrounding attractions. The cycling is mostly on dirt roads, reasonably flat with 286m of incline and decline. The evening is yours to relax and explore Vang Vieng.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 31km  +264m/-264m
Transit:  2 hr 30 boat | 45 min drive
Hotel: Bearlin Bungalows (or equivalent)

Kasi

Sunrise trek to the Hot Springs

If you’re up for it, there’s the option to go on a sunrise trek to Pha Ngern Viewpoint for epic views across the surrounding mountains. It’s not without it’s challenges but well worth the reward. We’ll allow 4 hours for the return trip, starting at 5am. Or you can always sleep in.
There is every opportunity to ride from Bearlin Bungalows to Kasi Hot Springs Resort, where we’ll spend the evening. The total distance is 81km on a paved but patchy road,  we’ll aim to ride to Kasi for lunch (62km) and the final 19km in the afternoon.
Kasi Hot Springs is basic, but a great place to relax and unwind in the pool.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Cycling: 81km +1302 m / -865 m
Transit: Optional
Hotel: Kasi Hot Springs Hotel

Phonsavan:

Cycling mountains

We have approximately 160km to get to Phonsavan, so the first 110km will be covered in the van, which should take just over 3 hours. From the small village of Muang Souy, we’ll tackle the final 50km over some undulating paved roads. The road is a thoroughfare for transport around Laos and can be busy at times.
We’ll aim to arrive in the mid afternoon, giving us enough time to check in, shower and visit Quality of Life Association, who support UXO victims in the surrounding region.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 52.1 kilometers · +568 m / -574 m
Transit: 3 hrs, 110km
Hotel: Anoulack Khoun Lao 
NGO: Quality of Life Association

Phou Khoun

Plain of Jars UNESCO Heritage Site

In the morning, we’ll see the Plain of Jars UNESCO Heritage site, an archeological landscape consisting of thousands of stone jars scattered throughout the valley.  If available, we’ll also meet a micro NGO, Lone Buffalo, that provides free English tuition, female empowerment programs and sports coaching. The van will take us 90km West, allowing us to cycle the final 50km to Phou Khoun. The road is paved with the usual pot holes and is not foreign to some traffic. For something different, we’ll spend the night under the stars camping at Phou Khoun Strawberry Farm. Watch the sea of clouds floating over the mountains. 

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycling: 50km +1,416 m / -1,088 m
Transit: 2 hrs 90km
Hotel: Strawberry Farm Camping (or alternative basic guesthouse)
NGO: Lone Buffalo

Luang Prabang

Cycling into town 

We’ll skip the first 53km of climbing by jumping in the van to the viewpoint. From here we’ll attempt to cycle all the way into Luang Prabang, with twice as much downhill as up in the remaining 76km.There’s no rush and a support van that’s with us the whole way. Once we get into Luang Prabang, we’ll meet up again for dinner at the Friends International restaurant, KhaiPhaen. It’s a social enterprise based restaurant that empowers disadvantaged youth with vocational training amongst other support.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycling: 76km +1283 m / -2382 m
Transit: 2 hrs 53km
Hotel: Sala Prabang Hotel (or equivalent)

Luang Prabang

Bears, buffalos and waterfalls

We ride to Kuang Si Falls, one of the most spectacular swimming holes on the continent. Along the way we’ll visit the Lao Buffalo Dairy, whose initiative provides an insight into the issues surrounding village farmers and water buffalo care.  Before taking a dip in the beautiful Kuangsi Falls, we’ll visit Free the Bears. This sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates sun and moon bears from bile farms, working closely with Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife.
It’s a ‘there and back’ ride, totaling 57km. If you’re keen to get back to town and make the most of Luang Prabang for the evening, you can jump in the van and halve the cycling for the day.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 57km +694 m / -694 m
Transit: Optional
Hotel: Sala Prabang Hotel (or equivalent)
NGO: Lao Buffalo Dairy, Free the Bears

Nong Khuay Village

Jungle Jars, family life and homestay

Some 30km out of Luang Prabang is Nong Khuay Village. A very remote community, home to 80 families of both Hmong and Khummu origin. To get there, we will cycle 21km on a mostly dirt track, with some pretty reasonable climbs. Be prepared to get your sweat on! Then the road finishes and we need to trek through the mountains for almost 9km. The van will meet us in the village, so you can always hitch a ride if mountain trekking is not your thing. Fairtrek initiative is working extensively within the village to create new streams of revenue to boost the village economy through tourism. This is where your Social Cycles bamboo water bottles are made. We will stay the night with the community and experience real village life, eating with our new host families. The experience is very real village life, so expect simple, basic and authentic.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,  Dinner
Cycling: 21km | +510m / -157m
Transit: None
Hotel: Nong Khuay Village Homestay (basic)

Nong Khiaw

Cycling through remote villages

We cycle out of the village on dirt roads for 6km and tackle a pretty decent downhill, almost 15% at some parts. Then there’s a flat 7km of paved road before we jump in the van and head to Pak Mong (127km, 3 hrs). From here it is a further 29km through little villages nestled in between spectacular Karst peaks, on undulating paved roads.

The small town of  Nong Khiaw is a favourite and the rustic charm of this quiet enclave is intoxicating.. relax along side the river in the shadow of elephant head mountain.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 13km | +130m /-677m & 29km | +364m / -402m
Transit: 3 hours
Hotel: Mandala Ou Resort (or equivalent)

Muang Khua:

River cruising in a long tail boat

Today we transfer to the river to board a traditional long boat for the cruise up the Nam Ou river to the entrance to Phongsaly district. We call in at the sleepy town of Muang Ngoi on the way to stretch our legs, along with some other riverside villages.

We’ll enjoy a pre-packed picnic lunch along the way, arriving into Muang Khua around 5pm

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: None
Transit: All day boat
Hotel: New Chaleunsouk Guesthouse

Dien Bien Phu

Crossing into Vietnam

We start the day getting to the Tay Trang border crossing, into Vietnam. The 66km drive will take just under 2 hrs, but we’ll get to the border nice and early, then it’s time to say goodbye to the Laos team!The Social Cycles Vietnam team will be waiting on the other side with a new set of bikes for you to take on the ride down to Dien Bien Phu. The ride is mostly paved and just 41km away with a nice drop in elevation.

Once in Dien Bien Phu, the evening is yours to explore. Be led by the guide and feast on local, authentic Vietnamese cuisine!

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 35km | +458m / -1,121m
Transit: 1 hr 45
Hotel: Muang Thanh Hotel

Mường Lay

Cycling rivers and valleys

Today we cycle along windy valleys on a paved road that snakes through the beautiful countryside. We are surrounded by rice fields and villages. We climb to an elevation of over 1000m and are rewarded once again with stunning views before descending (20km) to Muong Lay town.

Lunch will be simple and authentic, at one of the villages along the way. Once into town, the evening is yours to explore.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: Up to 95km | hard | +1997 m / -2258 m
Transit: None
Hotel: Thanh Binh Hotel (or equivalent)

Lai Châu:

The mountain challenge

Get up early to capture pristine nature and picturesque scenery over the Black river. After breakfast at the hotel, we will cycle the first 25km on a tarmac road to Chan Nura. A vast landscape opens up beneath you: endless mountains stretching into the distance and craterous valleys dotted with stilt-home villages clustered around clear streams. Today is a hard day’s cycling, but definitely worth it. The reward at the end of it is some of the best views in the whole region. 

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 70km | hard | +1,718m / -2,387m
Transit: None
Hotel: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (or equivalent)

Sapa

Epic mountains, incredible valleys

Today is another great day as we conquer the O Quy Ho Pass. These 38km make for the longest pass of Northwest Vietnam. It is located in the system of four mountain passes of the North West. This climb takes you to an elevation of over 2000m, with the lowest point of the day at 700m. The views and stunning scenery will provide lifelong memories and will forever be ingrained as some of the most majestic and spectacular natural imagery on the planet. This is the hardest riding day of the tour. The total distance from hotel to hotel is 76km with an overall climb of 2291m and a descent of 1700m. The road is mostly paved and the van is always close by and will be available should you want to take a break or even leap frog the group.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 75km | hard | +2291m / -1700m
Transit: None
Hotel: Sapa Centre Hotel (or equivalent)

Sapa to Hanoi:

Overnight train to Hanoi

In the morning, we’ll take time to learn about Sapa O’Chau, a great social enterprise  program which offers training in tourism and hospitality to youth of the Sapa region. A morning meander through the local market will highlight the melting pot of ethnic tribes and goods for sale.
You can choose to spend the afternoon cycling a gentle 25km downhill into the Sapa valley and experience the fantastic scenery of mountains, rice paddy fields and Hmong villages along the way. Alternatively, you can rest and relax in the town of Sapa.
The riders will be transferred back to Sapa and then to Lao Cai railway station for your overnight train to Hanoi.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Cycling: 25km | easy | +164m / -1267m
Transit: None
Hotel: Sapalay overnight train (4 berth cabin)

Hanoi:

The Great Donation Debate

Step out  of the station and into the throngs of the city, the aromas of famous Hanoi street food awaits for breakfast.  After checking into the hotel, we’ll spend the morning learning from our NGO partner, HopeBox. This micro NGO has created an incredible, social enterprise based system supporting victims of gender based violence in Vietnam.

The afternoon is yours to explore the Old Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex or just find one of Hanoi’s endless funky cafes to sit back, relax and enjoy a egg coffee. In the evening, we’ll enjoy our last supper together as we discuss the NGOs we learned about and where the donation money could and should go.

Inc. Meals: Dinner
Cycling: None
Transit: Train Station to Hotel
Hotel: Phoenix Hotel (or equivalent)

Hanoi:

Departure Day

Say goodbye to your new found friends and riding buddies after breakfast as you get set to continue your onward journey.

Inc. Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: None
Transit: Airport transfer arranged on request ($)
Hotel: Additional accommodation arranged on request ($)