Day 1: Hanoi to Yen Bai ( L, D )
7:30 Am pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. we transfer the group out of Hanoi and drive part of the way to Yen Bai. We will ride the last 32km to Yen Bai arriving late afternoon.
Accommodation: Hong Nhung Hotel
Cycling distance: 80 km
Day 2: Yen Bai to Nghia Lo ( B , L , D )
Our first full day in the saddle takes us on the back roads to Nghia Lo. A spectacular ride through the undulating terrain of tea plantations, lush forests, rice fields, and gum trees. The town sits on a mountain ridge overlooking the Red and Black River and is home to the Thai, Nung, Hmong, La Ha, and Ma peoples.
Accommodation: Home-stay
Cycling distance: 74km
Day 3: Nghia Lo to Tu Le ( B , L , D )
Today we will cycle out of Nghia Lo passing large white limestone mountains as we explore the “real Vietnam”. Following the rolling road, to end the day in Tu Le.
Accommodation: Suoi Tien Guest House
Cycling distance: 55km
Day 4: Tu Le to Than Uyen ( B, L, D )
Leaving Tu Le we travel through rugged terrain with dense vegetation and come into contact with the Black Hmong and the mysterious White Tay people, who are famed for their folk music, poems, and songs. The road winds down out of the hills and we descend into the valley to end the day at Than Uyen.
Accommodation: Duc Duy Hotel
Cycling distance: 95km
Day 5: Than Uyen to Lai Chau ( B, L, D )
From Than Uyen we begin with a gentle 20km ascent to ride along with the Hoang Lien Son mountain range through magnificent landscape. Then, from Binh Lu Junction to Lai Chau hopefully, we will glimpse its lofty peaks.
Accommodation: Muong Thanh Hotel
Cycling distance: 68km
Day 6: Lai Chau (Old Tom Duong) to Muong Say (Old Lai Chau) ( B , L , D )
We cycle out of Lai Chau today making two big climbs and then follow the Na River passing through spectacular gorges and Black Dao villages.
Accommodation: Hoa Binh Hotel
Cycling distance: 66km
Day 7: Muong Say to Dien Bien Phu ( B , L , D )
In 1954, the Vietnamese achieved the impossible by carrying heavy artillery into the mountains to defeat the French Garrison at Dien Bien Phu. As you ride along this route you will wonder how this was ever achieved. The surrender at Dien Bien Phu marked the end of French Indochina. It is not widely known that the US had developed a plan to aid the French by using tactical nuclear weapons at Dien Bien Phu.
Accommodation: Him Lam Resort
Cycling distance: 64km
Day 8: Dien Bien Phu to Muang Khua ( Laos ) ( B , L , D )
Today is a long day’s cycling. Leaving Dien Bien Phu behind, we cross into Northeast Laos at Tay Tran. This area of Laos is the least populated part of the country. From here we travel on to Muang Khua on the banks of the Nam Ou river.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Cycling distance: 103km
Day 9 : Muang Khua to Pak Mong to Namtuam village ( B , L , D )
This morning the bikes will be transferred to Nong Khaiaw whilst we take a glorious boat trip along the Nam Ou river. The scenery is breathtaking as we journey past mountains and caves. From Nong Khaiaw we will ride the final 30km into Pak Mong.
The dam would impact the river, the level of the River would be too low in the dry season, in this case, the boat cannot run on this river, in this case, we have 2 options:
Option 1: Day 2: cycle from Muangkua to Udomxai, overnight, Day 3: cycle Udomxai to Pakmong and transfer the rest to LuangPrabang
Option 2: Day 2: cycle from Muangkua to Udomxai and transfer the rest to Namtuam village, Day 3: cycle to LuangPrabang
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Cycling distance: 40km
Day 10: Pak Mong to Luang Prabang ( B , L )
Today is the longest and the most rewarding day of cycling, we will be treated to our first glimpse of karst rock formations rising boldly out of the landscape. We will be riding on good, mainly flat roads. After 82km you can choose to take a boat into Luang Prabang, stopping to visit the holy caves of Pak Ou, (optional extra), or cycle to beautiful Luang Prabang, encircled by mountains and situated on the banks of the Mekong where it meets the Nam Khan River. This delightful World Heritage town with 32 historic temples, ancient monasteries, the magnificent Royal Palace Museum, and its French Colonial architecture is a place to chill out and enjoy the food, the peaceful surroundings, and the people. End The Tour.
Accommodation: None
Cycling distance: 112km or 82km
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