Appreciate the info boys. Here's hoping we can get our heads around how all this stuff works. I'm assuming it's vital that any map we use should be topographical? Pretty mountainous terrain judging from all the posts and map elevations on here. OSM doesn't seem to have any topography and also lists directions in Thai script rather than English. A lot more to this self guided touring than first meets the eye! One of the boys already has a small Garmin hand held unit so that may be the go? Just need to learn how to upload the relevant maps. Fortunately we have time on our side and can endeavour to get our heads around this stuff well prior to D-Day. We've seen a few of your rides through Northern Laos Brian and the terrain looks like just what we're after. The hope is to get a device and be able to upload your routes so we just have to follow the arrow but that may be pie in the sky??? A lot more research required. Anyway, cheers again for your input, it's appreciated.