Off The Beaten Path Northern Laos Motorbike Tour – 10 days

We will start out our journey with a smooth ride on the paved road from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, a small town located north of Vientiane on the Nam Song River. The town is embraced by gorgeous limestone mountains and caves with majestic stalactites. This is also home to monasteries that dated back the 16th and 17th centuries.

This route offers some of the most spectacular roads in Laos. The winding bends and snakes stretching miles create superb riding experience for travelers. The ride on the first day also takes travelers to pass through local villages along the Kasi Pass, where you can see the front door of homes perched right along the edge of the road before the mountains drop off into picturesque valleys below.

On Day 2, we will be heading off-road and pass through one of the most secret places on earth: Long Cheng LS20A which is a military base located in Xaisomboun province which served as a town and airbase during the wartime. In Phonsavanh, we will visit the popular Plains of Jars archeological site, a megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos which is home to thousands of stone vessels as well as huge jars that had been carved out of a single piece of rock. Archaeologists have recently discovered human remains at the Plain of Jars that are estimated to be some 2,500 years old.

Today will be a long riding day on dirt roads as we will be winding up through the mountains located north of Phonsavanh. We will take a quick detour to Lima Site 36, which served as a forward base for American Air Force combat search and rescue helicopters. We stop and relax in the natural hot springs at Vieng Thong before calling it a day.

Vieng Thong, which means ‘Watch Out’ was like a warning for people as this was once the place where tigers roamed. It is now the gateway to the Nam Et-Phou Louey national protected area, one of the last remaining home for tigers in Indochina.

On Day 4, we will have a pleasant ride along the beautiful winding roads to reach the idyllic riverside town of Nong Khiaw, located along the Nam Ou River where tour boats and kayaks travel around. We will also visit small villages of ethnic people on a hilltop near the forested mountains and rice fields.

From the beautiful little villages in Nong Khiav, we head up to Muang Khua in the following morning. This town is located in the Phongsaly province and is home to the Akha people. Living at a high elevation in the mountains of Laos, the Akha ethnic group wears some of the most elaborate and colorful clothes. This route features some thrilling single-track routes for an unforgettable adventure.

Carrying on from the day before, we will ride out to the local Akha village of Boun Tai. Here you will be invited into the home of a local family for an unforgettable homestay experience. The family will prepare traditional meals for breakfast and dinner, and you will gain a deep understanding and insight into the culture and remarkable history of the Akha group.

After enjoying a freshly-prepared breakfast, we will ride the bikes through the scenic countryside to Luang Namtha. This route features some breathtaking scenery and gorgeous landscapes along the way. If you arrive at Luang Namtha early, you can explore through their two bustling markets, or take a boat ride along the Namtha River (price not included). Luang Namtha is the capital city of Luang Namtha Province and lies on the Tha River. It is a popular tourist destination offering a range of activities including trekking and biking to the surrounding hill tribe villages.

Today we will make it to Pakbeng along winding, dirt roads and travel through various remote villages in this region. It will be a long day out on the bike, but the combination of pristine landscapes and off-road rides make it well worth the trip. Pakbeng is a remarkable village with a temple in the hills that dates to the Kingdom of Lanna (Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields). In Pakbeng, travelers can take the slow boat along the Mekong, trek to a local village, try local tipple, take a river cruise or go shopping in local market stalls. Our day concludes in Pakbeng with an overnight stay at a local lodge.

As the sun rises, you will head out from Pakbeng to Sayabouly. Once you arrive at Sayabouly, you will be accommodated at the Elephant Conservation Center. Here you will be able to feed, bathe, and befriend with these gentle giants. A trip to Laos is not complete without getting up close and personal with an elephant. You can also visit their medical center to learn more about Lao elephants.

This is our final day! Enjoy Elephant conservation Center activities in the morning, take some mahout lessons and visit the medical center. We will depart from Saybouly toward Luang Prabang. The terrain will consist of dusty roads along stunning farmlands and fields of teak trees. The tour concludes after we return late in the afternoon in Luang Prabang. The exciting riding experience with dirt roads and off-the-beaten paths along with memories of the peaceful village, fine cuisine and traditional craft of northern Laos make this journey unlike any others and unforgettable for any traveler.