Off-road Northern Laos Motorbike Tour from Luang Prabang to Pak Xeng – 8 Days

Today’s destination is Xieng Hone, a mountainous region of Laos with full of caves and waterfalls. There are many attractive places in Xieng Hone, the most prominent of which is the Plain of Jars. Despite the devastation of the disaster, there still remains about 2,000 stone jars on the field, half of them were cracked or broken. No one knows when these stone jars appeared. Laotians believe that more than 2,000 years ago, people made these jars to store rice wine or to keep the dead. Offering majestic scenery and tremendous archaeological value, visiting the Plain of Jars is a must when visiting Xieng Hone.

To get to Xieng Hone from Luang Prabang, we first follow Route No.1A on the muddy and bumpy dirt road. Our crew will then take a ferry across the Mekong River to reach Sayabury province, where lunch is served. The next 95 km ride requires you to have an excellent driving skill because we will have to conquer some of the most challenging roads in Laos to explore the Laotian jungle wilderness. On the way to Hongsa, we will admire a spectacular natural scenery with majestic mountains. It is famous for producing agricultural products such as rice, cotton, corn, oranges, etc. Teak forests cover most of the province and have an elephant festival in February. After arriving at Xieng Hone in the late afternoon, we will take a break, have dinner and spend the night in a local guesthouse.

We will continue the 8-day tour by conquering the 180 km long road to Houai Say, the capital of Bokeo province in Laos. While most tourists consider Houai Say to be a stopover to other destinations, the town offers a beautiful landscape and plenty of fun outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, or biking. Its laid-back scenery is attractive enough for anyone who wants to try some local beers, relax on the banks of the Mekong River, and enjoy authentic Laotian dishes.

First, we ride more than 90 km along the Thai border to reach the Mekong River, where we will take a boat and enjoy the trip to Houai Say. In case you are lucky, you can meet local Mahouts (elephant trainers, riders, or keepers) and see the elephants. Our motorbike team will arrive Houai Say in the late afternoon and then end the 2nd day of the trip with a delicious dinner and a good night’s sleep at a charming guesthouse in this beautiful border town.

Golden Triangle is a mysterious area for most Indochina tours, and today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the heart of this region. Located at the junction of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos on the banks of the Mekong River, Golden Triangle attracts tourists with lush jungle, hill tribe villages, mist-covered mountains, and tranquil scenery of vast rice fields. If you are fascinated by the intersection of culture, Sop Ruak is really worth a visit. Situated in the official center of the Golden Triangle, right where Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand meet, Sop Ruak is the village of Akha people. In the past, Sop Ruak was an important place to trade opium. After exploring Sop Ruak, at the end of the trail, our crew will take a single road along the Mekong River to Muang Meung. Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse in the heart of this peaceful village to regain energy for the next ride.

Our destination today is Luang Namtha, the largest city in the northwest of Laos, as well as a popular stopover for anyone traveling over the border between Laos and China. Start our trip today by riding along the Mekong. Get up early, have breakfast, and we will have an early departure to admire the beautiful sunrise on the river. Keep driving until we reach Xieng Kok. This road is stunning and easy to ride, but you need to pay attention to the cows and chickens who wander freely around the area. They can suddenly rush out and cause danger if you are not really adept at riding a motorbike. Enjoy lunch at a roadside restaurant with traditional local dishes – sticky rice and beef jerky.

After taking a short rest, we will continue to grab the gear and ride through the beautiful rainforest to get Luang Namtha. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to visit peaceful villages and learn about the unique cultures of Lao ethnic minorities such as Akha, Hmong, Tai Dam, and Lu. Overnight at a guesthouse in Luang Namtha.

There are no long rides today. We will spend this entire 5th day to relax, refresh ourselves, and explore Luang Namtha. Massage is a must-try experience in Luang Namtha. Like most other destinations in Laos, this province is famous for its soothing herbal saunas. These are usually heated by the central stove and divided into two parts for men and women. Once inside, you will enjoy the steam created by the stove and burnt medicinal herbs to cleanse your body. Do not forget to have a full body massage at the end of the sauna.

Then, let’s take a visit to Nam Ha National Park, one of the most famous nature reserves in Laos. It is home to many rare animals such as tigers, leopards, birds, etc. The park is covered in lush forests and forests, and there are also some local villages of the Khamu, Akha, and Lao Huay ethnic minorities here. Overnight at a hotel in Luang Namtha.

It is a challenging ride today since we will have to conquer many different road surfaces, and none of them are flat and smooth. To be honest, the road conditions are not too bad, but there are lots of potholes and blind curves that force you to slow down to ensure safety. Most of the time today, we will ride a motorbike through primeval forest-covered mountains and primitive hill tribes, where women still go topless roaming around. Keep driving to the town of Boun Tai, and we will spend some time exploring the remnants of an old French Legionnaire fortress, which was severely damaged by war and natural disasters. Overnight at a local hotel to regain energy for the next ride.

Today’s highlight is that we will take a 4-hour boat tour to Nong Khiaw. In the past, tourists did not pay much attention to this town, but now, it has become an ideal place to visit if you want to escape the noisy cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Today, our team will get up early to enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the morning market in Boun Tai, where you can find lots of local products. Then we return to the hotel, pack the backpack and start conquering 70 km of bumpy roads. We will ride through many Lao Thung villages – home to the midland ethnic groups before embarking on a 4-hour boat trip to Nong Khiaw. It offers a great chance to admire the stunning scenery and explore the natural lifestyle along the river banks. Finish the 7th day of the trip with a good night’s sleep at a local hotel on the Nam Ou River.

After having breakfast and relaxing with the wonderful scenery just outside the hotel, we will grab the motorbike and return to the mountain roads in Laos. The last ride is our way back to Luang Prabang. It is a long ride today with 100 km being tarmac and the rest an easy 130 km on the dirt, which meander through some of the best landscapes in Laos, with many peaceful villages of local people. Our trip ends in the world heritage town of Luang Prabang, where Beerlao – the best beer in Laos is waiting for you to taste. Then, we return the motorbike and take a tuk-tuk heading back to the hotel. Our 8-day Discover Northern Laos By Motorbike completes with full of fun and new experiences. Tour Ends.