Cycling The Road Less Travelled

I bet you’re sitting at your desk right now, wondering what cycling in Laos is like. Is it hard? How’s the scenery? Would I enjoy it? Let’s see if we can help answer some of those questions.

Cycling in Laos, looks a little like this:

And this:

Through scenery like this:

Bring your climbing legs; the hills are long and tough.

Don’t dismay though, you will get more then enough encouragement from the “Saybaidees”, thumbs up and high fives from the smiling faces on the side of the road. Don’t be surprised when the little ones try to run alongside you for awhile.

Pass through hundreds of villages and witness a Laos far away from the tourist buses and backpacker hangouts (particularly on highway 3). Watch people going about their day; doing laundry, cooking, weaving, talking, sitting and playing together…always, always together.

Watch these beautiful children play and marvel at how much fun a bucket or on old tire can be. Remember what it was like to have an unbound imagination.

If you are lucky you may even happen upon a Hmong Festival; music, dancing, games and traditional dress. Don’t hesitate when you’re invited to go watch or join in.

Sometimes the roads are good, sometimes they’re not.

Skip the falang food for awhile and enjoy big bowls of noodle soup or platefuls of laap. Don’t forget to throw in some chilies.

In need of some R&R? Consider a detour to the small riverside villages of Nong Khiaw or Muang Ngoi where you can spend a couple of days soaking up the atmosphere, swinging in a hammock and reading a book.

Lounge for a few days in beautiful Luang Prabang.

Meet other cyclists and share tales from the road.

Cycle Laos and feel like a most welcome guest in a beautiful land.