Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang Cycle Adventure
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This cycling adventure links Chiang Mai in northern Thailand with Luang Prabang in northern Laos. The route takes in some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in South East Asia following dramatic mountains, mystical rivers and picturesque hill tribe villages. The locals you meet along the journey will make a lasting impression with their warmth and good nature, and the mountain and river scenery from the biking trails along the way is truly unforgettable.

 Highlights include

• Explore bustling Chiang Mai
• Ride along tribal trails through the Laos jungle.
• See the spectacular views from the Central Highlands
• Visit Hmong villages, including stunning Nong Kiau
• Take a relaxing boat trip along the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers
• Explore the famous Pak Ou Caves
• Enjoy picturesque Luang Prabang

 Tour Profile: A challenging adventure ride, this 11 day tour covers up to 700 kilometres, with 6 full days and 3 half days planned. The distance covers some of the most stunning sights in South East Asia, riding along narrow paths, along mountainous terrain, and straight into the heart of the jungle. Difficulty 4/5

Suitability: A reasonable level of fitness is helpful to handle some hills and long cycling days with distances over 100km. Most days cover 70-80km of cycling, and a support vehicle is always close at hand. If you aren’t sure, contact us for advice or references.

Trail Conditions: A mountain bike with shocks is required to complete this cycling tour, due to some off-road distances and broken or pot-holed roads. Tarmac roads in good condition can be found, as well as dirt roads. Day 5 and Day 10 bring with them the most challenging inclines as the group crosses mountainous terrain towards Luang Prabang.

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Chiang Mai

Day 2 Chiang Mai

Arrive in Chiang Mai and check in to your centrally located hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax and explore the city with its intricate temples, bustling bazaars and excellent local restaurants.

Day 3 Chiang Mai

You have a choice of activity today. Spend the day exploring the city with your personal guide, take a Thai Cookery Course or visit an Elephant camp. Speak to your travel consultant for further details.

Day 4 Meet your cycle group in Chiang Mai

In the afternoon, the cycle group will meet at your hotel and your guide will brief you and check all the bikes. To get used to riding in Thailand, you will take an easy ride along the Ping River towards Ban Tawai, known for its handicrafts.

40km Ride

Day 5 Chiang Dao Tribal Trails

Transfer to the Chiang Dao Caves, where the adventure proper begins. Travel past rice paddies, and along limestone cliff tops before taking a dirt road section through local hill tribes. Greet the friendly Palaung, Lisu, Akha and Lau people as you ride. Watch the charismatic Palaung women wearing brass waist bands as they work in the fields. Pausing for lunch at a Forestry Camp, the afternoon ride leads you through wonderful mountain trails. A vehicle transfer will take you to Thai style accommodation.

75km Ride

 Day 6 Ride to Mae Salak Along the Back Roads

After breakfast, ride past charming villages along mostly flat rural back roads before arriving in Fang, just in time for lunch. Enjoy the scenery on the way to Mae Salak - it is one of a kind. The hotel in Mae Salak has a great pool, and local children from nearby Lahu villages entertain you with traditional dances and songs.

90km Ride

Day 7  Mae Salak to Chiang Rai

An 8km off-road ride leads you to a local village, where the journey continues by boat. Pausing briefly at a forest reserve, the following 20km bike ride takes you to Ban Ruamitr. A riverside lunch is followed by a tarmac ride to Chiang Rai. Enjoy a dip in the pool on-site at the hotel.

60km Ride

Day 8  Chiang Rai to Lanjia Lodge

Enjoy breakfast and a leisurely ride along the Mae Lao river towards the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun. The contemporary temple was designed by a local artist and has a distinctive flair. Riding east along the Mekong, enjoy good quality road surfaces and flat terrain. A picnic lunch is followed by some hills, with glimpses across the river towards Laos. Visit the bike museum in Chiang Khong and travel by vehicle to Lanjia lodge in the centre of a quintessential Hmong village. You can drink tea with the shaman and learn about the local Hmong rituals and customs. You may wish to contribute a small fee and help the local villagers planting trees at the nursery.

105km Ride

 Day 9 By Boat from Chiang Khong to Pak Beng

You cross the border into Laos after breakfast today, and embark on a private river boat down the Mekong. Give your legs a rest and instead, enjoy a relaxing river cruise heading downstream, past beautiful scenery, charming villages and ending in Pakbeng as the sun goes down.

 Day 10  Pakbeng to Udom Xai

Today’s ride is both a challenge and an incredible highlight. Tonight’s accommodation lies 144km away, and depending on how the group fares, a vehicle transfer may be organized for part of the journey. Following a broken trail alongside the Beng River, the ride begins at Pakbeng and takes you through attractive Lao villages and breathtaking jungle and mountain landscapes. Stop for a picnic lunch, and then continue riding to Udom Xai, or Muang Xai as this town is sometimes called. Enjoy the large market with its colourful wares and fresh local produce.

Up to 144km Ride

Day 11 Udom Xai to Nong Kiau

Unforgettable views from the Central Highlands make today’s ride particularly special. The rugged mountains experienced severe bombing in the 1970’s during the ‘Secret War’. You will ascend more than 1000 metres into the Hmong villages - an experience truly off the beaten tourist track. The descent leads you through stunning and rare rainforest landscape, the only remaining rainforest zone in the region. You can choose a vehicle transfer for the last 25km through the river valley. The Nong Kiau Riverside guesthouse is a nice surprise at the end of the day.

95-115km Ride

Day 12  Rest Day in Nong Kiau

 A well-deserved break is planned for today in Nong Kiau. Your riverside room has a balcony for river contemplation. Alternatively, stroll through the lovely town streets. Energetic riders will enjoy an optional bike tour of the area, passing by caves and tiny villages. Enjoy your day off in Nong Kiau.

Optional 40-50km Ride

 Day 13 Nong Kiau to Luang Prabang

Following breakfast, a river boat transfer leads you through the wonderful Lao jungle. As the Nam Ou leads to the Mekong River, you will stop for lunch and a visit to the renowned Pak Ou caves, full to the brim with plenty of sacred Buddha relics. At Sanghai village, a destination known for its rice whisky, your ride towards Luang Prabang begins. This town is both vibrant and very beautiful, and traversing the streets at twilight is breathtaking.

30km Ride

Day 14 & 15 Luang Prabang

Explore every corner of fascinating Luang Prabang as you please - a highlight is the monks collecting alms as the sun rises. An optional 33km early morning bike ride to the Kuang Si falls is included on day 14 which is the last day with your cycle group. An additional 2 nights and a full day are included in Luang Prabang so that you have time to relax and explore the highlights of this beautiful part of the world before you fly home.

 Day 16 Fly Home

Today you depart Laos for the UK. If you would like to extend your tour to include more time in Laos or a visit to one of its neighbouring countries then please call one of our travel consultants for details.