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We depart from Vientiane following the road No 13 toward south. The ride is comfortable to flat. Lunch is served in a local restaurant at Pak Ngum. We arrive in Paksan for overnight, a former road stop in the journey from Vientiane to Thakhek overlooking the Mekong. Diner in a restaurant on the Mekong will refresh us after the first day ride.
Accommodation: Paksan Hotel.
Approximately: 145 km on road, flat
It is time for a little off road! The first 40 kilometers is gradually going to uphill to the town named Borikhan. The road winds along Nam Xan River. We stop at Borikhan for a local Laos meal. After lunch, we continue with a little ownhill and then flat to Muang Huang where we stay overnight.
Accommodation: Camping
Approximately: 60 km off road, elevation change
After coffee at local restaurant in the early morning, we continue our off road ride for the second day. The narrow road goes up and downhill through Hmong and Khmu minority villages. There is time to visit the village. We’ll also pass through to the jungle and bamboo forest. We stop at Hatdiat for a simple picnic lunch.
After lunch, we cycle uphill that offers good view of Nam Ngiap River and its valley down below. We eventually reach Thathom for the night.
Accommodation: Thathom Guesthouse
Approximately: 80 km off road, elevation change
Another early start is recommended today. The first leg is a fairly easy cycling through bamboo forest and rice field. Once we get to Tha Vieng, after another 20km easy ride, we start going up hill. We’ll prepare a picnic lunch with us. Many Hmong villages can be seen along the way. We reach Muong Khun in late afternoon.
Accommodation: Local Guesthouse.
Approximately: 80 km off road, elevation change
We can start a bit late today after 4 days cycling. We can explore the town. Muong Khoun was once the capital of Xieng Khoang Province. There is time to visit temples such as Wat Chom Phet and Wat That Phoun which were built the same time as That Luang in Vientiane. We can also visit some colonial building and old Lao Military Base that was seriously damaged by American bombs.
Depending on the time, we may visit Sites 1, 2 and 3 of Plain of Jars. Lunch will be served at Site 3. Plain of Jars (Thong Hai Hin) is an undulating plateau covering an area of around 1000 square kilometers, at an altitude of 1000 metres. It gets its name from the hundreds of stone jars scattered across the landscape, ranging in site from 1-2.5 metres in height. There is considerable speculation as to the origin of the jars.
Afterward, we cycle to Phonsavan is the main town of Xieng Khousang Province, surrounded by huge mountains, the highest of which is Phu Bia. The town has a ‘wild west’ character but won’t win any beauty contests.
Accommodation: Phoupadeng Resort.
Approximately: 60 km on and off road, flat
Following breakfast, we cycle to Muang Kham. The road is well paved winding along the pine tree hill. It goes up and down hill, but not much elevation change. Picnic lunch is served nearby Tad Kha Waterfall. The bicycle team gets more excited to peddle to one of the cave has an interesting story to tell us about.
Tham Piew is a cave, which was used by local people during the war as a bomb shelter. The story says that there were 400 hundreds people killed in a US bombing raid.
Accommodation: Local Guesthouse.
Approximately: 52 km on road, elevation change
A big day awaits! Road become narrow, well paved but very curve with a lot of elevation change. The road offers some amazing open views to its both sides. We cycle on the top of the mountain under old tree’s shade. We can stop and refresh in the shade and stop for lunch. The night is spent nearby a Khmu village. We set up our camps and retire for the night.
Accommodation: Camping
Approximately: 60 km on road, elevation change
The scenery of today cycling is as nice as the day before. But there are more villages can be seen along the way. We stop at Nam Neun for lunch. After lunch we continue to Houa Muang. Open view to the valley deserves our hard ride. The night is spent nearby a Hmong village, a nice camping spot.
Accommodation: Camping
Approximately: 60 km on road, elevation change
We get closer to our last destination by a last stop at Sam Nuea. There are 2 interesting places to stop today. Hin Tang (Standing Stone) is an archeological site which remains its secret of unknown story. Some people believe that the sites somehow relates to the Plain of Jars. Our second stop is made at Saleuy weaving village, where you may find a nice handicraft for souvenir.
The night is spent in Sam Nuea, the small capital of Hua Phan Province, set against a backdrop of picturesque mountains, forested hills and rice fields. It is a staging post for the road to Vieng Xay caves. The original town was obliterated by US bombing.
Accommodation: Local guest house.
Approximately: 65 km on road, elevation change
We don’t have to wait any longer to visit the Hidden Caves City. The very scenic ride toward Laos – Vietnam border leads us to the former Pathet Lao Revolutionary headquarters with its famous hundred limestone cliffs and caves from the Indochina War. The journey from Sam Nuea is possibly one of the most picturesque in Laos, passing rice terraces, pagodas, charcoal and copper-coloured karst formations, misty mountain peaks emerging from dense jungle. Vieng Xay is in a stunning setting, similar to Vang Vieng, but without the river.
We’ll visit Khayson Phonvihan Cave, Red Pine Souphanouvong Cave, Nouhak Cave. We stop for lunch at Thavyxay restaurant,
After lunch visit Soldier Cave, Friendship Hospital Cave. We spend the night at Vieng Xai.
Accommodation: Local Guesthouse.
Approximately: 27 km on road, elevation change
After breakfast, we go back to Sam Neua to catch the fly back to Vientiane.
Optional: From Vieng Xai, you can continue onward to Vietnam. We offer the trek in Phu Luang Natural Reserve in the adjacent province over the border (Thanh Hoa Province). Please contact us for more details or visit our package offers.
Note: Sam Neua fly to Vientaine, there are only two flights depart every Monday and Saturday, depart 15:20 pm & arrive 16:40 pm
| Price per person - VT-C-01 |
| 1 person |
3,130 US$ |
| 2 persons |
1,803 US$ |
| 3 persons |
1,414 US$ |
| 4 persons |
1,179 US$ |
| 5 persons |
1,105 US$ |
| 6 persons |
912 US$ |
| 7 persons |
868 US$ |
| 8 up |
815 US$ |
| Additional flight charge Sam Nue to Vientiane |
71 US$ |
| Additional charge for private songtaew to Na Meo border |
98 US$ |
• English Speaking Guide
• Meals as stated
• Accommodation as stated
• Entrance fee
• Support vehicle
• Drinking water
• Mountain bike |
• Insurance
• Domestic airfare
• Transfer to Na Meo border
• Soft drink and other drink
• Laundry
• Visa
• Others not stated above
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For cyclists who look for real mountain bike adventure, Mountain Bike Expedition to Hidden Caves City is an absolute answer. This combination of on and off road though some isolate areas of Laos which is still at its very best brings us to some very interesting spots of Laos such as Plain of Jars, Tham Piew, Hin Tang Standing Stone and most of all the Hidden Cave City. There are many chances to stop and visit local villages. The trip also bring you to the most impact area of Laos PDR during the Second Indochina War, where remnant of war still can be seen even though it ended long time ago.
