2 friends and I rode through northern Laos last weekend, like this:
Day 1, Friday, Oct 21: Bangkok to LPQ on Bangkok Airways, pickup the bikes by noon, lunch, and in Nong Kiau by Happy Hour.
Day 2, Saturday: Nong Kiau to Phonsavan.
Day 3, Sunday: Phonsavan to Muang Huang, by way of Muang Moc and early, aborted detour towards Long Cheng.
Day 4, Monday: Muang Huang to Vientaine by way of Xiang Mai, arriving about 6:00 PM, 9:45 PM Thai flight back to BKK, in the office Tuesday...
What a stunningly beautiful country. Each day was better than the last, and it started out pretty damn good. Nong Kiau is spectacular, as is much of 1-C to Phonsavan. On Saturday, my friends insisted on making a half-hearted attempt to Long Cheng, but we didn't get far before being turned back by young men with AK47s. The detour led to some excellent trails south of Phonsavan which were a blast to ride. The ride over the mountains from Phonsavan to Muang Moc is out of this world beautiful, as are the valleys, and south of Muang Moc the terrain changes to jungle. Overnighted at the Keomany Guesthouse in Muang Huang and then due west through hills and valleys and on the Vientiane. This last day was the best pure riding of the trip, some great single track, plenty of water, lots of mud, and dragging the bikes overs trees.
Conditions were great! Beautiful clear blue skies, brisk chilly mornings, crisp mountain air, and dry dirt roads (except for 1 section the last day). Can't wait to go back. A few photos:
Map of Trip
Mekong River north of LPQ
Valley of the Lao
Golden Rice
Nong Kiau
Nong Kiau
Northern Road to Long Cheng
Boy in the Valley
Valley on the way to Long Cheng. I made it past the checkpoint, but my friend was stopped down below.
Terraces and village north of Muang Moc
Sala with a View
On the trail, Day 4
Local man in the Jungle
Stream crossing
Ferry
Waiting for the Ferry
Crossing
Broadcast Rice
Rice ready for harvest
Day 1, Friday, Oct 21: Bangkok to LPQ on Bangkok Airways, pickup the bikes by noon, lunch, and in Nong Kiau by Happy Hour.
Day 2, Saturday: Nong Kiau to Phonsavan.
Day 3, Sunday: Phonsavan to Muang Huang, by way of Muang Moc and early, aborted detour towards Long Cheng.
Day 4, Monday: Muang Huang to Vientaine by way of Xiang Mai, arriving about 6:00 PM, 9:45 PM Thai flight back to BKK, in the office Tuesday...
What a stunningly beautiful country. Each day was better than the last, and it started out pretty damn good. Nong Kiau is spectacular, as is much of 1-C to Phonsavan. On Saturday, my friends insisted on making a half-hearted attempt to Long Cheng, but we didn't get far before being turned back by young men with AK47s. The detour led to some excellent trails south of Phonsavan which were a blast to ride. The ride over the mountains from Phonsavan to Muang Moc is out of this world beautiful, as are the valleys, and south of Muang Moc the terrain changes to jungle. Overnighted at the Keomany Guesthouse in Muang Huang and then due west through hills and valleys and on the Vientiane. This last day was the best pure riding of the trip, some great single track, plenty of water, lots of mud, and dragging the bikes overs trees.
Conditions were great! Beautiful clear blue skies, brisk chilly mornings, crisp mountain air, and dry dirt roads (except for 1 section the last day). Can't wait to go back. A few photos:
Map of Trip
Mekong River north of LPQ
Valley of the Lao
Golden Rice
Nong Kiau
Nong Kiau
Northern Road to Long Cheng
Boy in the Valley
Valley on the way to Long Cheng. I made it past the checkpoint, but my friend was stopped down below.
Terraces and village north of Muang Moc
Sala with a View
On the trail, Day 4
Local man in the Jungle
Stream crossing
Ferry
Waiting for the Ferry
Crossing
Broadcast Rice
Rice ready for harvest
