Cycling Laos
Laos is an incredibly popular cycling destination in southeast Asia.
Its varied and beautiful landscape, laid back people, light traffic and low cost of living all win rave reviews. The UNESCO world heritage city Luang Prabang is the top ‘must see’ destination but the coffee plantations and waterfalls around the Bolaven Plateau and the Si Phan Don islands in the very south of the country also merit a few days.
Keep reading for more information on bike touring in Laos, including specific route details…
- Accommodation
- Budget and shopping
- Food and Water
- Getting a Visa
- Money Matters
- Roads and Maps
- When and Where
Cycle this…
There’s easily enough cycling to keep you busy for a month or six weeks if you want to do a comprehensive tour from north to south. Most cyclists will use buses to hop between the best spots or choose a portion of the country to explore. Two popular options are to ride north from Vientiane to Luang Prabang or across central Laos from Thailand to Vietnam.
It’s hard to find much negative to say about Laos. The hot and humid weather can make cycling uncomfortable if you’re not used to the tropics. Early starts and long lunchbreaks help with this. Rocketing numbers of tourists are also taking their toll on the country and sometimes things aren’t as laidback as older travel reports lead you to believe. You do have to keep an eye on the bill as overcharging is not uncommon, even in small towns.
Riding off the main roads in the wet season (June to September) can also be a muddy affair and you have to do some serious research before heading off the beaten track. What is marked as a main road on your map may be barely more than a forest track! Route 23 running north from Salavan is a case in point, with washed out bridges and a large section that’s just a sandy, rocky trail through the jungle.
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Dear Laos bikers, I am planning a 4 or 6 weeks trip to Laos next year and I am wondering, if it is better to bring my own bike with me from Italy or rather buy one in Laos. Any experience or deliberations on that? Advice? I have not the time for a 3-months tour through Asia – in that case I would of course bring my own for sure.
ciao, Simon
I think you might struggle to find any kind of decent bike in Laos. I could be wrong, but I don’t remember seeing any bike shops in Laos, let alone a half decent one. I’m guessing that finding something better than a “$100 supermarket special” would be tough, but I’m ready for someone to correct me if they have more recent info
thanks, Friedel, so will carry my bike with me – asked only since lonely planet says it is easy to buy a $100 bike. tks again, Si
Well, it’s only our impression, so by all means ask around. You’re welcome to ask on our Facebook group for opinions, if you like:
TravellingTwo Facebook Group
Hi, great in depth review. Does anyone know about route 23 from muang phin to salavan ie how bad it is & in which parts (percentage), what surface, passable or unpasswble and anything else I should know before settin off on my 135 16″ wheels Nouvo? Thanks in advance