- Total distance: 430km
- Duration: 5-6 days riding, together with a possible rest day in Vang Vieng
- Terrain: Though it starts out flat, the hills quickly appear giving you difficulties all the way to Luang Prabang town. Some stages are extremely challenging.
- Accommodation: Hotels.
- Highlights: The gorgeous scenery from Kasi to Kiukacham, a chance to visit the fascinating H’mong villages.
- Lowlights: It is not always easy to find a nice cold drink. There are not many choices of where to stay in spite of the regular accommodation.
- Tips: For chilly mornings and evenings in the high towns of Phou Khoun and Kiukacham, make sure to bring long trousers and a warm top.
Section 1 – From Vientiane to Thinkeo (92km)
Vientiane to Thinkeo- source: internet
It is very easy to head out of Vientiane. After getting along Lane Xang Avenue, going straight through the roundabout and passing 8km from the southern bus station, you will keep on traveling a few more kilometers till you see the road split. The road is flat and surrounded by rice fields for most of the day. Till it veers away from the river after Pakkagnoung, the road stays level.
Section 2 – Thinkeo to Vang Vieng (102km)
It is only a couple kilometers and two bridges from Thinkeo to Tha Lat where there are several hotels, shops and a large market. Guesthouses are mostly slightly out of the center of the town. You will reach Phophong town after just over 20km on the clock and to join the main Route 13, let’s turn right.
Though as you come through Phophong, things are still pretty level there is a tough hill and the rolling up-and-down theme unrelentlessly continues for the next 45km or so after around 28km into your ride. Don’t forget to make a few stops for cool drinks. Besides Hinheup – one of the biggest towns, a stunning spot for a guesthouse or a break in case you get fainted, you will also pass a lot of smaller villages selling snacks and refreshments.
The road flattens out again only when you reach the other end of the reservoir and luckily, the last 20km leading into Vang Vieng are not only quickly covered but also free of hills. Laos travel tours
Section 3 – Vang Vieng to Kasi (59km)
An unforgettable land travel- source: internet
This stage is not too strenuous. See some of Vang Vieng’s attractions in the morning and head out to Kasi by early afternoon if you do not want to spend 2 nights in Vang Vieng. As the following 50km are very hard work and better attempted in the cool morning hours, you should stop in Kasi for the night.
The road starts out reasonably flat, going through some small villages with the beautiful mountains rising up all around you and rice fields together with lush jungle to both sides.
Section 4 – Kasi to Kiukacham (97km)
Kasi to Kiukacham- source: internet
You are faint-hearted? Don’t dare to experience this section! Shortly after you leave Kasi will the hills start and you will have no flat moment to relax. In spite of some significant downhill stretches, it is a battle between you and the mountains, with several grades at or almost at 10 percent for most of the day. The magnificent scenery and the fascinating and kind Hmong people you pass through are the reward for your efforts. It is a tough ride yet one should-not-be-missed. To make this stage easier, there are two ways. Stay overnight in Phou Khoun’s only guesthouse or the Bor Num Oon Guesthouse and Restaurant in the village of Namxa Noy. There, you might have a chance to meet other cyclists.
Before the hard work starts around 9km into the day, just past Houamuang village, the initial route out of Kasi rises gently. You will descend steeply to a river and then it is back up again for nearly the entire way to Phou Khoun after leaving Namxa Noy village. Stock up on what you need in Phou Khoun as the road from Phou Khoun to Kiukacham is more desolate than on the first half of the journey from Kasi.
Section 5 – Kiukacham to Luang Prabang (80km)
Conquer Vientiane-Luang Prabang by bike- source: internet
It is good news that with a flying descent of over 20km from Kiukacham, you finally get to reap the rewards of all your hard climbing. However, the fact that once getting to the Nam Ming River at the bottom, you have to go back up again is the bad news. Before the final descent to Xiang Ngeun, you will experience a 15km climb followed by a double peak.
It is only about 25km from Xiang Ngeun to Luang Prabang. It’s time to enjoy a tough ride completion!
See more:
TOP UNIQUELY DESIGNED PAGODAS IN LAOS
VANG VIENG- THE QUIET TOWN TO RETREAT IN LAOS
HIGHLIGHTS IN LUANG PRABANG- YOU SHOULD KNOW
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