Lab Rat Run Laos

Despite pockets of the country seeing much economic development over the last two decades, Laos remains a country somewhat lost in time. It is a mountainous and tranquil land, where for much of the time the only sound heard by travellers is that of bird song.

This cycling tour is an adventurous loop through the north of the nation, passing through ancient jungle where tigers roam, agricultural land that is home to minority groups, past mysterious prehistoric archaeological sites, and the craters and bombshells of a more modern era that bring home the stark horrors of war. The byways on which we ride are quiet, winding, hilly, and tranquil, and the towns at which we stay vary from the back of beyond to tourist comfort.

The classic cycling tour of Laos was for many years a brilliant ride. From Vientiane north on highway 13, which, despite being the nation's main north/south artery was always blissfully quiet, the ride took in stunning scenery and some great stops along the way. Alas, the ravages of development have seen this route go from wonderfully peaceful, deserted, and friendly, to a busier nosier affair where passing cyclists are no longer the novelty they once were.

Highlights include the nation’s capital Vientiane, The Plain of Jars at Phonsavan, laidback Nong Kiaw, a river cruise on the Mekong, and the wonderful World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. But above all of this is the challenging cycling through a region that modernity has mostly passed by. Some long days in the saddle and long challenging climbs are rewarded with long descents and ever-friendly greetings from the local people of Laos - all as we cycle through some of Asia's most glorious scenery.