Name: 12 Day Luang Prabang to Hanoi Cycling Tour in Laos and Vietnam
Brand: Social Cycles
Price: 3200 AUD
Availability: InStock

Accommodation

Social Cycles understands how important it is to take a rest in a place that is clean and comfortable, especially after a hard slog on the bikes. That is why they always make an effort to get you settled in somewhere in town suited to that description. To make the most of Laos, you stay in a variety of different accommodation styles.

In Luang Prabang, you stay in a beautiful French colonial-style building in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage City. Once you move away from the major towns and into the rural villages, you stay in clean and comfortable guest houses. All local guesthouse rooms have their private bathroom with a western toilet. Please bear in mind though some rural towns only have local guesthouses.

Day 1: Sala Prabang Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 2: Sala Prabang Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 3: Nong Khuay Village Homestay (basic)
Day 4: Mandala Ou Resort (or equivalent)
Day 5: New Chaleunsouk Guesthouse
Day 6: Muang Thanh Hotel
Day 7: Thanh Binh Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 8: Muong Thanh Lai Chau Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 9: Sapa Center Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 10: Sapalay overnight train (four-bed cabin)
Day 11: Phoenix Hotel (or equivalent)

Program

Cycle majestic mountains, take boats through national parks, stay in local homes, learn from NGOs in regard to the effect of unexploded land mines, and enjoy incredible food. This is arguably Social Cycles' most rewarding Social Cycles adventure. Social Cycles will take you on a journey to interact and connect with local grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the beneficiaries of a funded project of your choosing. Research what really happens on the ground and out in the villages with Social Cycles in a holiday that carefully balances ethical research and local impact with cycling and sightseeing.

Cycling is considered ‘moderate’, meaning that there is one day in there that is challenging, amongst some easier days. All rides are fully supported with a van that tails you, which you can get into whenever you like. There is no rush, plenty of time to take photos along the way, and you have plenty of breaks. The average moving speed is about 15 kilometers per hour. All rides are designed to be open and available for the beginner to the average recreational cyclist.

Distance: approximately 410 kilometers / 255 miles
Terrain: Flat, some off-road, and one hill

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Luang Prabang: Cycling into town

You will meet up for dinner at the Friends International restaurant, KhaiPhaen. It is a social enterprise-based restaurant that empowers disadvantaged youth with vocational training amongst other support.

Meals: breakfast and dinner
Distance: 76 kilometers / 48 miles
Elevation: +1283 meters / +4210 feet and -2382 meters / -7815 feet
Transit: two hours - 53 kilometers / 33 miles

Day 2 - Luang Prabang: Bears, buffalos, and waterfalls

You ride to Kuang Si Falls, one of the most spectacular swimming holes on the continent. Along the way, you will visit the Lao Buffalo Dairy, whose initiative provides insight into the issues surrounding village farmers and water buffalo care. Before taking a dip in the beautiful Kuangsi Falls, you will 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 is a 'there and back' ride, totaling 57 kilometers. If you are 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.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 57 kilometers / 36 miles
Elevation: +694 meters / +2277 feet and -694 meters / -2277 feet
Transit: optional
NGO: Lao Buffalo Dairy, Free the Bears

Day 3 - Nong Khuay Village: Jungle Jars, family life and homestay

Some 30 kilometers 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, you will cycle 21 kilometers on a mostly dirt track, with pretty reasonable climbs. Be prepared to get your sweat on. Then the road finishes and you need to trek through the mountains for almost nine kilometers. The van will meet you 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. You will stay the night with the community and experience real village life, eating with your new host families. The experience is very real village life, so expect simple, basic, and authentic.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 21 kilometers / 13 miles
Elevation: +510 meters / +1674 feet and -157 meters / -516 feet
Transit: none

Day 4 - Nong Khiaw: Cycling through remote villages

You cycle out of the village on dirt roads for six kilometers and tackle a pretty decent downhill, almost 15% at some parts. Then there is a flat seven kilometers paved road before jumping in the van and heading to Pak Mong (127 kilometers, three hours). From here, it is a further 29 kilometers through little villages nestled in between spectacular Karst peaks on undulating paved roads. The small town of Nong Khiaw is a favorite and the rustic charm of this quiet enclave is intoxicating, relax alongside the river in the shadow of Elephant Head Mountain.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Distance 1: 13 kilometers / 8 miles
Elevation 1: +130 meters / +427 feet and -677 meters / -2222 feet
Distance 2: 29 kilometers / 18 miles
Elevation 2: +364 meters / +1195 feet and -402 meters / -1319 feet
Transit: three hours

Day 5 - Muang Khua: River cruising in a long tail boat

Today, you transfer to the river to board a traditional long boat for the cruise up the Nam Ou River to the entrance to the Phongsaly district. You call in at the sleepy town of Muang Ngoi on the way to stretch your legs, along with some other riverside villages. You will enjoy a pre-packed picnic lunch along the way, arriving at Muang Khua around 5:00 p.m.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Transit: all-day boat

Day 6 - Dien Bien Phu: Crossing into Vietnam

You start the day getting to the Tay Trang border crossing, into Vietnam. The 66-kilometer drive will take just under two hours, but you will get to the border nice and early, and then it is 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 41 kilometers 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.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Distance: 35 kilometers / 22 miles
Elevation: +458 meters / +1503 feet and -1121 meters / -3678 feet
Transit: one hour and 45 minutes

Day 7 - Mường Lay: Cycling rivers and valleys

Today, you cycle along windy valleys on a paved road that snakes through the beautiful countryside. You are surrounded by rice fields and villages. You climb to an elevation of over 1000 meters and are rewarded once again with stunning views before descending (20 kilometers) to Muong Lay town. Lunch will be simple and authentic, at one of the villages along the way. Once in town, the evening is yours to explore.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Distance: 95 kilometers / 59 miles
Elevation: +1997 meters / +6552 feet and -2258 meters / -7409 feet
Transit: none

Day 8 - Lai Châu: The mountain challenge

Get up early to capture pristine nature and picturesque scenery over the Black River. After breakfast at the hotel, you will cycle the first 25 kilometers 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.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Distance: 70 kilometers / 44 miles
Elevation: +1718 meters / +5637 feet and -2387 meters / -7832 feet
Transit: none

Day 9 - Sapa: Epic mountains, incredible valleys

Today is another great day as you conquer the O Quy Ho Pass. These 38 kilometers make for the longest pass in Northwest Vietnam. It is located in the system of four mountain passes in the northwest. This climb takes you to an elevation of over 2,000 meters, with the lowest point of the day at 700 meters. 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 76 kilometers with an overall climb of 2291 meters and a descent of 1700 meters. 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 leapfrog the group.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Distance: 75 kilometers / 47 miles
Elevation: +2291 meters / +7517 feet and -1700 meters / -5578 feet
Transit: none

Day 10 - Sapa to Hanoi: Overnight train to Hanoi

In the morning, you will take time to learn about Sapa O’Chau, a great social enterprise program that offers training in tourism and hospitality to the 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 25-kilometer 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.

Meals: breakfast and lunch
Distance: 25 kilometers / 16 miles
Elevation: +164 meters / +538 feet and -1267 meters / -4157 feet
Transit: none

Day 11 - Hanoi: The Great Donation Debate

Step out of the station and into the throngs of the city, the aromas of famous Hanoi street food await for breakfast. After checking into the hotel, you will spend the morning learning from Social Cycles' 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 an egg coffee. In the evening, you will enjoy your last supper together as you discuss the NGOs you learned about and where the donation money could and should go.

Meals: dinner
Transit: train station to hotel

Day 12 - Hanoi: Departure day

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

Meals: breakfast
Transit: Airport transfer arranged on request

Social impact

For every Social Cycles tour, all riders have contributed 200 AUD to go to the NGO of your choice. During the tour, you are given the chance to engage with, and learn from, local NGOs. You visit no less than two NGOs during the Laos tour and spend some time learning about their projects, strategies, and challenges. At the end of the tour, the riders are empowered with newfound knowledge and have the opportunity to combine the allotted donation money and make an impact on a project of their choosing.

In addition to building a profile for their impact partners, Social Cycles also pays each NGO for their time and resources. You spend one or two hours with each NGO. The donation part is included in your ticket price. They want people to be open to the idea of supporting one or more of the NGOs they visit and learn about. If, after meeting some of the local teams and learning about their programs, the riders did not want to donate, then they are not required to and a refund will be arranged.

Bikes

In Laos, they have a great range of bikes that are designed to deal with the local environment perfectly. The bikes used are either Trek 3900 and/or Giant Rincon mountain bikes. All mountain bikes have a 24-speed gear set to help you get up and down those hills. You are welcome to bring your own saddle if you are slightly nervous about getting a bit sore or have not had the chance to get a lot of saddle time before the ride. Another good option is to bring along a gel seat (cushion). The bikes are fitted with standard pedals. Again, you are welcome to bring clip-ins should you want them. All bikes are fitted with a water cage.

Distance

There are a lot more hills than there are flat. More often than not, you are either going to be climbing a mountain or flying down. In total, it is a 16,243-meter ascent and descent over the trip. It can sound a little daunting, but with the aid of the support van, you can cycle as much or as little as you like. Should you choose, you can even just cycle the downhill. E-bikes are available on request (but are limited). There is an option to have an e-bike in Vietnam only, and a regular bicycle in Laos. Just get in touch.

Group size

They take a minimum of four riders and a maximum of 12. They strongly believe that when you travel with a group beyond 12, there is a risk that voices and opinions may be drowned out when you have the rare opportunities to visit NGOs and ask questions to local leaders.

NGOs

Friends International is leading the charge in the ‘ChildSafe’ movement and the ‘Think Families, Not Orphanages’ campaign. Friends International has a restaurant in Luang Prabang, which makes for a great introduction to Laos. Their programs of ‘Saving Lives’ and ‘Building Futures’ have been used as templates all over the world. HopeBox is a new introduction to the program, based in Hanoi. this is an excellent opportunity to understand the important work being carried out in regard to supporting victims of gender-based violence.

Instructors

Brett Seychell

Brett, the founder of Social Cycles, tries to get along to most SC adventures when he can. He loves cycling, food, and social impact; start him talking about this and he may not stop.

Phout

In 2023, the Cycle Laos adventure is hosted by local cycling legend and guru, Phout. With a smile that stretches from ear to ear and a ‘nothing is too much trouble’ attitude, Social Cycles is proud to have Phout donning the SC uniform. Phout is particularly passionate about highlighting the many features of Laos. He will grab the menu and order a feast, ensuring you get to try the best of Lao cuisine, make sure your bike is in top condition at all times, and be there in the van ready to give you a lift when you need it most.

Location

The tour will take place in Laos and Vietnam.

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Food

You will be served daily meals as per the daily itinerary included in the price.

What is the food like in Laos?

Sticky rice, fresh vegetables, mountains of fresh herbs, fish and meat, fish sauce, chili, spices, fruit, and more sticky rice. One of the wonderful features of the Lao diet is the almost complete absence of processed foods. Ironically, it is the poor economic status of this small, landlocked Southeast Asian country that has kept its cuisine fresh, vibrant, and healthy for hundreds of years.

Lao’s culinary offering includes universal hits, like steamed fish in banana leaf and pork laap salad, alongside options for the adventurous eater, such as duck’s blood salad. At dinners, Social Cycles orders a variety of local specials and eat ‘family style’, ensuring everybody gets to try as much as possible.

Vegetarians and vegans

Not into the idea of duck’s blood salad? That is no problem. There is a huge variety of vegetarian local specialties available and there will always be vegetarian dishes on the table at every meal. If the majority of the group is vegetarian, it will be reflected in the food on the table.

Dietary requirements

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please indicate on the online form you will fill out once you have paid a deposit and booked your place. Social Cycles will cater to all dietary requirements as best as possible. Please get in touch with them if you have life-threatening allergies.

Alcohol

There are plenty of beers around Laos and Vietnam. And a cold beer after a hard day on the bike is pretty inviting. They are quite cheap too, with some places selling draft beers for as little as 50c. Wine is a little harder to find (good wine anyway) and is closer to Western prices. Cocktails on the other hand are excellent, well made, and inexpensive (5 to 6 USD).

Just be wary that the weather can be a little warm and a couple too many beers or cocktails will knock you about a bit more than usual the next day. Dehydration will have a huge effect and it does not take much to have a hangover. To be honest, most of the time, you are in bed by 9:00 p.m.

The following drinks are included:

Water

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Vegan
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Shopping

Laos is not known as a shopping mecca and compared to many countries around the world, well, frankly, it just is not. That is not to say that there are not things to buy and bring back home though, especially if you need to pick up a few gifts. All the bigger towns and cities have a night market, which is great to stroll through and browse an always impressive display of locally made handicrafts and jewelry.

The go-to take-home item is always locally grown coffee beans, but there are a plethora of great finds including wood carvings (which can be difficult to get back into Australia and New Zealand customs though), silks, arts, homewares, and quality textiles. Many stores operate on fair-trade principles - proceeds go back to the artisan who created your purchase, which helps preserve ancient methods such as weaving and hand-dying. Vientiane also has a few markets, where you will find fresh produce and cheap street food, as well as a handful of souvenir stalls close to the Mekong River.

What's included

Multiple field trips to villages and communities
All boat rides as per the itinerary
11 nights accommodation
Most meals as per the daily itinerary
Airport pick-up
Full bicycle hire
Full support vehicle for the ride with water and fruit
200 AUD donation to the NGO of your choice (refundable on request)
Local guides, support van driver, and mechanic
NGO presentations with local staff across Laos
Entry to attractions as per the itinerary
Train (sleeper cabin) from Sapa to Hanoi

What's not included

International flights
Tips and gratuities (up to 100 USD per person)
Drinks with meals
Airport drop-off (8 - 10 USD)
Travel insurance
Visa (if required)
Personal expense
E-bikes (20 USD per day)
Single supplement fee (250 USD)
Other meals

How to get there

Recommended Airports

LPQ

Luang Prabang International Airport

2 km

Transfer included

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Social Cycles will pick you up from the airport. Visas for Laos can be obtained on arrival at the airport. Follow the signs once you arrive to get this. You will need to pay in cash, and USD is best for this so it is worth having some handy before you arrive. The price is anywhere from 30 to 42 USD depending on your nationality. Then proceed downstairs to collect your luggage before exiting to the arrivals hall.

After collecting baggage, you may be asked by customs officials to screen your luggage in a machine before exiting and/or check your luggage tags against the corresponding labels that you were given when checking in, to make sure you have taken the correct bags. On clearing customs and collecting your luggage, please look for a sign with your name on it. Please do not leave the arrivals hall. If it is crowded, it may take you time to locate the sign. You will be transferred to your accommodation. You can exchange money at the airport but it is better to exchange a small amount as the exchange rates are better in the city.

You can also get a SIM card at the airport. This is probably the easiest and most convenient place to get a sim. Somebody will be there to meet you. If your flight has arrived early, the transfer driver may not yet have arrived. Please just take a seat and wait a little while longer. You may be approached by someone offering you a taxi - do not take it, just wait until you see someone with a sign. You will be provided with a phone number to call once you have booked. If you arrive prior to the tour date, they can assist you with your hotel booking for the same hotel as the tour.

In this case, your arrival transfer is still valid. Should you choose to stay in a different hotel or book independently of Social Cycles, then you are responsible for arranging your own transfer. On departure, check-in two hours prior to flight time is ample for all international flights. There is no departure tax to pay (all taxes are included in ticket prices). Fill in a departure card and hand it in at passport control counters after going through security. There are shops and cafes in the departure area near the gates. Boarding announcements are made in English for all flights.

Airport: Luang Prabang International Airport Airport transfer included: Luang Prabang International Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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