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Mountain Bike Tour in Northern Laos

Updated: | Published: by |

There are a lot of activities you can book from Luang Prabang in northern Laos. 

As I planned to do a multi-day hill tribe trek across the border in Thailand, I decided to opt for a mountain biking excursion, which included my first elephant ride.

By the time my guide and I reached the waterfalls and ate lunch, it had started to rain. 

Needless to say, the rest of the way back to town, which included 10 km on the mountain bike, was less than pleasant.

Mountain biking in northern Laos
Mountain biking in northern Laos

Leaving the bikes behind, we take a boat upriver
Leaving the bikes behind, we take a boat upriver

Ominous clouds foreshadow future rains
Ominous clouds foreshadow future rains

Here comes the next elephant
Here comes the next elephant

My boat wasn't the safest looking vessel, but at least I didn't have to bail water out!
My boat wasn't the safest looking vessel, but at least I didn't have to bail water out!

Welcome to TAD SAE Waterfall
Welcome to TAD SAE Waterfall

Elephants are bathed at the waterfalls
Elephants are bathed at the waterfalls

A rickety bridge across the falls
A rickety bridge across the falls

A giant spider hangs around in its web
A giant spider hangs around in its web

Soaking wet and saddle sore back in Luang Prabang
Soaking wet and saddle sore back in Luang Prabang

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Shaun says

    Wow, it looks stunning. Not so keen on the enormous spider. Heading through that area later this year so would love to see more of this.

  2. Anny at BikeHike Adventures says

    Love the picture of the boat! haha

  3. Dave says

    Thanks Shaun. Check out the posts under the Countries/Laos category - I spent 18 days in the country in '08.

  4. Dave says

    Anny - I couldn't believe those boats could stay afloat when they were barely above the water!

  5. Chinamatt says

    That looks amazing. The waterfall looks like a tropical version of Huanglong in China. How long was the whole bike ride?

  6. Dave says

    The whole bike ride part of the trip was about 18-20km, which is the most I think I've ever ridden in such a short time. There were some big hills on the paved road, and plenty of mud on the unpaved part.

  7. Chinamatt says

    I better get in better biking shape for that then. Most I've done is probably 5 miles...and it's pretty flat around here.

  8. Dave says

    I wasn't the fittest person either, but I don't think that matters much unless you intend to do a prolonged bike tour (where you're riding that much for several days or weeks at a time).

  9. foggodyssey says

    Dave- what did it cost do this tour on bike? I bet in Laos it was super cheap. Loving the story telling and photos man, great work and nice post!

  10. Dave says

    Troy - I don't recall offhand, however it was probably around $30 for the full day tour.

  11. jim jones says

    Hi, I have been all through Thailand and Cambodia and taking a look at these photos has made my mind up to finally visit Laos, thank you for tempting me into yet another trip.... I can hear my credit card screaming already...

  12. jim jones says

    Hi, I have been all through Thailand and Cambodia and taking a look at these photos has made my mind up to finally visit Laos, thank you for tempting me into yet another trip.... I can hear my credit card screaming already...

  13. David Smith says

    Thanks for sharing photos.Those who went to Laos they must try bike tour.Everybody say this experience is very nice.