Over the Hills & Far Away

This challenging section begins with the riders spinning out of sleepy Vientiane and along the Nam Song River to picturesque Vang Vieng. The next 2 days include some serious climbing but cyclists are rewarded with a rest day in Luang Prabang, a city where each morning monks wander the shaded streets in search of alms before returning to one of the town’s 33 sacred temples. The next day’s stage takes the riders along the Nam Ou River and through forests of bamboo and eucalyptus before depositing them in the, oh so lovely, town of Nong Khiaw.

Deserted, winding roads lead to a demanding 14 km climb up to the Vietnamese border but fortunately, it is followed by a long twisting descent into Dien Bien Phu, the site of a decisive battle that marked the beginning of the modern Vietnamese nation. Spinning along small, rural roads through rolling hills and tea plantations, cyclists cross into China, where the route leads them to one of the country’s most stunning sights, the Yuanyang Rice Terraces and on into the provincial capital city of Kunming, marking the end of this beautiful section.

Highlights

• Laid back Vientiane
• Wats and Monks of Luang Prabang
• Mountains of Northern Laos and Vietnam
• Yuanyang Rice Terraces