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SOUTHERN LAOS
Southern Laos tour is a sojourn through the Southern Lowlands from Pakse to the former colonial outpost of Champasak, the serene beauty of Si Phan Don and the rich fertile lands of the coffee growing Bolevan Plateau.
From amazing waterfalls to the rare Irrawaddy dolphins; this tour explores the great natural attractions the remote Land of a Million Elephants has to offer. Cycling along quiet back roads and lush vegetation, you will feel the bracing serenity of this beautiful country.
Starting in Ubon Ratchatani, we cross the border at Chongmek and ride to the ancient site of pre-angkorian temples, Wat Phu, the 4000 Islands or Si Phan Don and then finally onto the Bolevan Plateau known worldwide for it's exquisite coffee.
Along the way the scenery is constantly changing: we go from arid scrub land to jungle and lush green valleys. The views at some of the places we stay are absolutely amazing and this combined with the changing scenery make this tour a feast for the eyes.
TRIP PROFILE
We cover nearly 500 kilometers in 7 cycling days and much of the terrain is quite flat except for the days up onto the plateau. The road surfaces are mixed: most days we ride on reasonably good quality asphalt roads, but there are enough rides on very badly broken or dirt tracks to mean you will need a mountain bike not a road bike and preferably one with front shocks.
There is nothing technical involved on this tour and anyone, assuming they are fit enough, will be able to join no matter how little cycling experience they have. The trip is fully supported by a six wheeled Chinese truck.
| ITINERARY (7 Days/6 nights starting and finishing in Ubon Ratchitani.) | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly / Train to Ubon Ratchitani, transfer to border and ride to Wat Phu & Champasak. |
| Day 2 | Ride down to Si Phan Don and stay on Don Khong Island. |
| Day 3 | Ride to Khan Phapeng and Leepi water falls and go dolphin spotting. Boat trip back to Don Khong Island. |
| Day 4 | Ride up into the Bolevans Plateau and stay at Tad Fane Resort. |
| Day 5 | Ride on the plateau and then downhill to Tad Lo Resort. |
| Day 6 | Free day or optional hike/bike around and explore the area. |
| Day 7 | Ride back to Pake and cross border into Thailand. Transfer to Ubon Ratchitani for our flight back to Bangkok or transfer to Vientiane for Northern Laos tour. |
| FACTS & FIGURES | |
|---|---|
| Tour Cost | USD $950 Single supplement: USD $100 |
| Bike Rental | USD $95 |
| Total Distance | 480 Kilometres |
| Number of Days | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Number of cycling days | Five full days and two half-days. |
| Road Surface | This tour follows a mix of good asphalt roads and vehicle-width dirt trails, which may be smooth, gritty, stony, rocky, rutted, loose or hard-packed. |
| Support | Aircon vehicle with space for tired bikers, bikes and luggage. |
| Group Size | Minimum 4. Maximum 12 |
| Staff | SpiceRoads cycling leader (for groups of 8 or more), plus a local cycling guide plus drivers and assistants for all groups. Groups of 4-7 will be led by our local guide and support team. |
| Accommodation | All nights at 3 star hotels or resort resorts. All hotels have en suite facilities with hot shower and a/c. Whenever possible we try to use hotels with charm and local character. |
| Food | All meals are included from Lunch on Day 1 to Dinner on Day 7. |
| Biking Grade |
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| Cultural Interest |
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John and Chit were great tour guides, and the support staff was wonderful.
Your tours are so well planned and have been so enjoyable that we are going to look at Yunnan for late March-early April and possibly Central VN for October, as scheduled.
~Maren Smith & Family
Southern Laos Tour, November 2007
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