- 9 days

Welcome to the first stage of your journey, as you ready yourself to cycle almost 370km across Laos, from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. From UNESCO heritage listed sites and cities, to UXO land mine NGO learnings, Social Cycles will take you on a journey that will push your physical limits, challenge your ethical values and completely open your mind.

You are about to go on a journey that may well change your life.

And the lives of others. Fast Facts Start: Vientiane, Laos Finish: Luang Prabang, Laos Departures th Group Size: 2-12 7 June, 2020 th Total Distance: 370km / 240mi 19 October, 2020 Bookings th Cycling Days: 6 of 9 16 November, 2020 Deposit: $100 th Difficulty: Moderate 14 December, 2020 Tours guaranteed from 2 people + th Price: US$1330-US$1130 11 January, 2021 Click here for T&C’s th (AU$1950-AU$1650) 15 February, 2021 Click here to book Single Supp: US$200 Custom dates available for 4+ Vientiane Day 1: Arrival Day There’s a feast of exciting activities to sink your teeth into. Spend your day exploring around the many markets, museums and temples. The day is yours to potter, caffeinate and watch the world go by. The group will meet up for dinner at 6pm at the hotel, where we’ll dine at a social enterprise based vocational training restaurant, supporting Friends international. Le Luxe Boutique Hotel Dinner None Private Arrival Transfer Thalat Day 2: Rainforest Cycling In the morning, we’ll visit the local NGO team of Peuan Mit (“Good Friends” in Lao). They are part of the Friends International organisation and operate a holistic program for children, youth and caregivers living on the streets and in marginalized communities in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. From here, we’ll depart Vientiane by van to get out of the city hustle. Our ride will take us from rice fields through to rainforests as we cycle passed the limestone cliffs of Phou Khao Khauy NP. Lunch will be in the small village of Ban Kern on the Nam Ngum river.

Long Ngum View Resort Breakfast, Lunch Friends International | COPE UXO Centre 68km | easy | +560m/-485m Transfer 20km Phou Khao Khuay National Park Day 3: National Parks, river cruises and waterfalls We’ll start the day after breakfast on a boat, making our way through to the village of Longsan, just north of the national park. Our ride takes us straight through the heart of this magnificent natural beauty and through to Tad Leuk waterfall for a well deserved break. We’ll cycle out of the park and transit through to Paksan for the evening.

Sokbounma in Paksan 48km |moderate | +874m/-955m Breakfast, Lunch, dinner 2.5 hour boat | 1 hour drive Day 4: Riding through time

An early start to beat the heat of the day, this ride departs directly from the hotel and travels through remote areas and deep forest, where villages are untouched by modern civilisation. Our lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Ban Thasi, after which, we truck about 2 hours to Muang Khoun where we will visit Old stupa and Buddha sculpture which was bombed during the .

Maly Hotel 81km | moderate | +1,088m/-1,032m Breakfast, Lunch 3 hours Phonsavan Day 5: , UXO ordinance and a local NGO In the morning, we’ll visit a local NGO that works with victims of land mines, still remaining from the Vietnam War. This is an incredible experience to learn about the devastation let behind from the war and the effects that remains to this day. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Plain of Jars site, an archeological landscape consisting of thousands of stone jars scattered throughout the valley. These ‘jars’ are considered to be up to 2000 years old and theorised to potentially be old burial pits.

Maly Hotel None Breakfast Transfer to local attractions

QLA UXO Centre | Lone Buffalo Kasi Day 6: Cycling amongst the views We’ll avoid riding the main road, the climbs and the trucks between Phonsavan and Phou Khoun by transferring in the morning. After lunch, we’ll take the bikes on the much quieter and scenic downhill ride to Kasi. This laid back little river town will be our last stop before riding into Luang Prabang.

Local Guesthouse 45km | easy | +664m/-1,672m Breakfast Transfer 3 hours Luang Prabang Day 7: Cycling the mountains We’ll skip the first 30km of climbing by jumping in the van to the viewpoint. From here we’ll attempt to cycle all the way into Luang Prabang, with twice as much downhill as up in the remaining 95km.There’s no rush and a support van that’s with us the whole way. Once we get into Luang Prabang, we’ll meet up again for dinner at the Friends International restaurant, KhaiPhaen. It’s a social enterprise based restaurant that empowers disadvantaged youth with vocational training amongst other support My Lao Home Boutique Hotel 95km | moderate | +1233m / -2778m Breakfast, Dinner Transfer first 30km Luang Prabang Day 8: Bears, buffalos and waterfalls The relaxed road out of Luang Prabang will take us as far as Kuangsi Falls, one of the most spectacular swimming holes on the continent. Along the way we’ll visit the Lao Buffalo Dairy. Here, you’ll meet Aussie farmer and founder, Suzie, whose initiative provides an insight into the issues surrounding village farmers and water buffalo care. The dairy also provides animal husbandry nutrition programs to the rural communities close to the falls. Before taking a dip in the beautiful Kuangsi Falls, we’ll get a behind the scenes experience with the team from Free the Bears. This sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates sun, moon and sloth bears from bile farms.

My Lao Home Boutique Hotel Optional 30km | easy | +402 m / -291 m Breakfast Transfer from falls | 30km

Free the Bears | Lao Buffalo Dairy Luang Prabang Day 9: Departure Day Congratulations! You’ve cycled Laos, covered almost 340km in the saddle and more than scratched the surface as to what this fantastic country is all about. We’ll enjoy a final breakfast together before we say goodbye. There’s plenty to do in Luang Prabang so just let us know if you’re staying for a few days and we can give you some suggestions.

Additional accommodation on request ($) None Breakfast Airport transfer on request ($) NGOs and the donation element We believe in learning from local experts to create a positive impact by supporting transparent, ethical, sustainable and community based projects. This is your chance to speak to local experts as part of your adventure, as you cycle across the country and gain a true understanding of life outside the tourist bubble. We ask for a A$200 minimum commitment from all riders. The money is given directly to the NGOs that are chosen by you. All Laos of it. No bank fees, no commissions. We’ll discuss what Friends International (Disadvantaged youth) impressed us, confused us and inspired us. As a group, we’ll Quality of Life Association (UXO victims) make a decision as to how we’ll divide the total money. It’s your money and your experience. It can, and will, go to whatever Lone Buffalo (Education) NGO touched you the most. Lao Buffalo Dairy (Agriculture and community) Free the Bears (Animal welfare) We will visit 3 of our NGO Network partners Inclusions and Exclusions Included in tour price: All accommodation (twin share), meals as per itinerary (food only), support van transport, water and fruit whilst cycling, NGO presentations, bike hire, guides, mechanic, entry to all attractions as per the itinerary, boat transport Excluded in tour price: Souvenirs , travel insurance, visas, flights, tips, donations, meals not on the itinerary For more information, please contact:

Brett Seychell Tel/Whatsapp: +61 479 108 222 [email protected] www.social-cycles.com/laos-cycling-holiday/ Click here to book