Laos - South to North

redspokes Laos North to South cycling holiday is a bicycle journey through spectacular scenery, offering rich cultural diversity. Laos is a beautiful, mountainous and land-locked country, still relatively untouched by western values. The Laos population is just six million and Laotians have a reputation for being amongst the most welcoming and friendly people in the world. On redspokes Laos South to North cycling holiday you will enjoy some of the most breath-taking landscapes in Asia as you mountain bike from the elegantly colonial capital city Vientiane towards Northern Laos riding rural landscapes and visiting minority communities. What better way could there be to explore this beautiful country?

Our cycling holiday begins in Vientiane, situated on the banks of the Mekong River. We ride through rural areas to Nam Ngum reservoir and continue cycling on through rice paddies and secluded valleys, visiting fishing villages and tackling a few climbs to reach Vang Vieng in a picturesque location on the Nam Song River.  We enter a landscape of stunning limestone karst formations as our journey continues via rolling hills riding our toughest days of the route to reach UNESCO World Heritage town, Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is an ancient, royal city full of exquisite Buddhist temples, where time seems to stand still and is a magical place to explore and to relax on our rest day. We depart Luang Prabang riding on flat road and have the opportunity to visit the holy caves of Pak-Ou home to an ancient collection of precious Buddhist statues. Riding north into the mountains to Oudomxay Province close to the border with China and home to 22 different ethnic minorities mostly Akha, Hmong and Mien.

We cycle on to visit Ban Nalay, a minority village where you will be welcomed with a traditional Basi ceremony this part of redspokes Laos South to North cycling holiday will give you an insight into traditional life and work such as weaving, cotton-producing and the culture of the Tai Lue people. Bidding the villagers goodbye, our cycling adventure continues to the Mekong River. We will enjoy a memorable river trip through glorious scenery back into Luang Prabang. This boat journey gives a fascinating insight into the significance of the Mekong River to the people of Laos. redspokes Laos South to North cycling holiday ends in Luang Prabang.