LAOS – MUDDY SPOKES VILLAGE EXPLORER – 4D3N
An adventurous bike ride featuring mountain scenery, ethnic culture, Village homestay, shaman, sticky rice and roads definitely less-travelled . . . all on your bike.
Tour overview: Luang Prabang => Ban Long Lao => Nong Khouay => Fai => Luang Prabang
Distance: 95km
As Luang Prabang grows and rapidly becomes a ‘Must See’ in SE Asia, it becomes increasingly harder to discover the real communities. This tour is a mixture of trekking, dirt road cycling and cultural experiences and is designed to whisk you off the tourist trail and immerse you in the peace, serenity and pure natural beauty of Luang Prabang. We can escape the bucket bars and night buses and travel at our own pace and discover a quiet, simple, yet challenging way of life that could soon disappear forever. We will visit 3 communities and stay with host families who will welcome us with open hearts and share everything with us.
By taking part in this tour you are aiding these communities. Helping them to diversify from subsistence farming. As more visitors come to Luang Prabang, the cost of goods and services steadily rises, those people outside of the tourist belt need to find extra money to improve infrastructure, water supply and schooling facilities. Funds generated form this tour goes straight to the families and the village fund receives a donation to aid with such projects.
The tour covers short distances which gives us time to relax and learn about village life and culture. Get ready for thrilling cycling rides, jungle treks, home cooked local food and warm friendly smiles.
Highlights:
- UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang
- Villages and waterfalls
- Live with the Locals
- Dirt Road Cycling
- Community Based Tourism / Sustainable Tourism
- Baci Ceremony
- Laos Buffalo Dairy
Day 1:
Luang Prabang– Kuang Si Waterfalls – Long Lao Mai (lunch and dinner)
We depart early from Luang Prabang and cycle the mountain road to the beautiful Kuang-Si Falls, and a refreshing swim in the azure blue waters. After exploring the fall and a Laos style BBQ lunch, we begin a 9km trek through the jungle to the serenity of Ban Long lao Mai.
Ban long Laos Village offers a unique glimpse of 3 dominate ethnicities living side by side, This Khmu village has grown since the end of the Civil war and the government resettled Hmong Mountain people into the same area, it was hard at first for the two vastly different cultures to get to know each other, it took a visit from a wild Tiger in 1981 to fully unite the people. After the trek and dinner with our Homestay families we can toast some marshmallows and gaze at the starry sky.
Cycle 30km (tarmac) Trek 9km
Transportation: Biking and hiking
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Guide: English speaking tour guide
Day 2:
Long Lao Mai – Nong Khouay (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Village life starts early with breakfast served at 7am. Today we have a 3-hour jungle trek through the valley to Nong Khouay. You can leave your devices in your backpack as the village is totally ‘Off the Grid’ the small central store is the meeting place and friendly villagers will be keen to meet you learn about your home over a coffee or cold beer. That evening we can share thoughts and examine the experience and perhaps hear a story from ‘Grandpa’ a wise a witty village elder who loves making new friends.
Trek 9km
Transportation: Hiking
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Guide: English speaking tour guide
Day 3:
Nong Khouay – Houay Fai (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Back on the bikes Today for a thrilling dirt road ride! The brake screeching descent from Nong Khouay is the perfect wake up, then we continue on dirt roads through the farmland and jungle to the community of Houay Fai and another new family to befriend, this evening we have received a traditional ‘Baci’ Ceremony, a village blessing which is given to say farewell to new friends and family.
Cycle 30km (Dirt Road)
Transportation: Biking
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay
Guide: English speaking tour guide
Day 4:
Houay Fai – Luang Prabang (breakfast)
Time to say goodbye to village life. More Dirt road thrills this morning as we make our way back to looping around the river valley before joining the main road back to Luang Prabang in time for lunch. We finish the tour.
Kayaking is an option for today.
Cycle 35km (Dirt Road)
Transportation: Biking
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
Guide: English speaking tour guide
- All sightseeing as described in program above
- Quality mountain bikes
- Overnights at the homestay
- English speaking guide
- Admission fees if applicable
- Meals where indicated in itineraries (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
- Lao PDR government tax and service charge
- Luggage handing
- Other (alcoholic) beverages in the evening, personal expenses and tips
- All services and items not mentioned specifically in the list above
- Travel insurance
Preparation:
- Try to travel as light as possible so a daypack with your necessities for a basic overnight stay is advised
- Booking voucher from us
- Valid Passport with valid visa
- Cash for personal expense
Specific food requests
Please let us know if you have specific eating restrictions, allergic for certain things or if you are vegetarian, we can take that into account during the trips.
Get Up And Go Vietnam does everything to make your trip an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, we have no control over weather conditions. Our apologies for that!
An adventurous bike ride featuring mountain scenery, ethnic culture, Village homestay, shaman, sticky rice and roads definitely less-travelled . . . all on your bike.
Tour overview: Luang Prabang => Ban Long Lao => Nong Khouay => Houay Fai => Luang Prabang
Distance: 95km
As Luang Prabang grows and rapidly becomes a ‘Must See’ in SE Asia, it becomes increasingly harder to discover the real communities. This tour is a mixture of trekking, dirt road cycling and cultural experiences and is designed to whisk you off the tourist trail and immerse you in the peace, serenity and pure natural beauty of Luang Prabang. We can escape the bucket bars and night buses and travel at our own pace and discover a quiet, simple, yet challenging way of life that could soon disappear forever. We will visit 3 communities and stay with host families who will welcome us with open hearts and share everything with us.
By taking part in this tour you are aiding these communities. Helping them to diversify from subsistence farming. As more visitors come to Luang Prabang, the cost of goods and services steadily rises, those people outside of the tourist belt need to find extra money to improve infrastructure, water supply and schooling facilities. Funds generated form this tour goes straight to the families and the village fund receives a donation to aid with such projects.
The tour covers short distances which gives us time to relax and learn about village life and culture. Get ready for thrilling cycling rides, jungle treks, home cooked local food and warm friendly smiles.
Highlights:
- UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang
- Villages and waterfalls
- Live with the Locals
- Dirt Road Cycling
- Community Based Tourism / Sustainable Tourism
- Baci Ceremony
- Laos Buffalo Dairy