First a friendly request to the moderators to leave this LAOS trip report in the Motorcycle in Thailand forum and not move it to the new Trips in Thailand sub forum J

December 26-12-2015 to 02-01-2016

Bikes Kawasaki KLX250 and Honda CRF250L

Day 1: Buriram > Vientiane 414 km by van and 40 km on the bikes.

Since it’s not much fun riding 250 off roads bikes on the highway 2 to Nong Khai and my friend owns a van the decision to load up the bikes and take the van to Nong Khai was an easy one, arrived at the border around 5:00PM, there are several guarded parking places on the left side very close to the border at 100 baht a day.

Unloaded the bikes, geared up and the whole process taking the bikes in, getting insurance, Visas for Laos took less than 2 hours, all what is needed is the green book in your name, the order of which booths to go is not always clear but on both sides the officials are friendly and helpful.

After that a short 25 km’s ride to the centre of Vientiane were hotels/guesthouses and restaurants are plenty.

Day 2: Vientiane > Phonsavan 402 km’s

An early departure from Vientiane at 7:00 AM heading out of town taking the 13 which is Laos’s main road and in pretty bad condition, huge potholes, and unpaved sections. We hit some rain (it supposed to be dry in December) but luckily the rain did not last long and by lunch time we arrived in the very touristic town of Vang Vieng were there is plenty of choice for a good brunch.

After Vang Vieng the twisty roads start with amazing views, a couple a km’s before Phou Khoun which is located at 1600 mtr altitude ( intersection road nr 13 and nr 7) there’s a nice viewpoint, but we were a bit unlucky since it was quite cloudy. At the intersection mentioned above we turned right on the 7 which leads to Phonsavan were we arrived around 7:30 PM it was a long day in the saddle.

Day 3 In and Around Phonsavan around 90 km’s

A day in and around Phonsavan, all the various sites of the famous Jars are easy to find and we liked the more remote site 3 the best, we also checked out a waterfall and the so called Spoon village Ban Naphia were they make spoons and other stuff from war scraps.

There’s not much to do in the evenings in Phonsavan then having a meal and a couple of beers, and that’s what we did.

Great pizza in the Laos- Falang restaurant which has a Italian owner and a Spanish cook besides that a working fireplace! Nice ambiance.

Day 4 Phonsavan-Nong Khiaw 395 km

Another long day ahead, early start at 7 am and followed the 7 and the 1c all the way up.

A cold day as well, while ascending reaching the clouds were it was quite chilly, down the road we met an young Italian couple on bicycles who did an Asia tour, interesting talking to them (they “did “Africa before) Arrived in Nong Khiaw around 7:30 PM another arrival in the dark something I do not recommend on those twisty roads, but since we only had a week we had to push it a few times.

Day 5 Around Nong Khiaw 40 km’s

Nong Khiaw is a really nice little town surrounded by limestone mountains, there is a nice hike to a viewpoint,which we did and were rewarded by an awesome view.

In the afternoon followed some dirt roads, to check out some villages, some water crossings great off road fun, but as I found out when things got muddy not much grip from my Pirelli scorpion tyres.

Day 6 Nong Khiaw> Udom Xiaw 302 km’s

The plan was to check out the Chinese border at Boten and then spend new year’s eve in Luang Namtha but things turned out different, we took a wrong turn around 20 km’s after nong khiaw ( we should have turned after 30/35 km’s) and we ended up on a road leading to nowhere, a road to remember when it’s finished since it has awesome scenery but after 50 km’s we ended up in a workers camp and had to turn back, so at new year’s eve we spend at Udum Xia a town with a lot of Chinese influence, were we treated ourselfs with some luxury rooms at a large Chinese hotel.

There was nothing to do in the evening or at least we did not find any new year’s parties, the local club turned empty before midnight and it seemed the Laotians like to celebrate new year throwing their own private parties.

Day 7 Odom Xia > Phou khoum

Sadly already on the way back from Udon Xia on the nice (but partly under construction road 13)

A long lunch next to the Mekong in Luang Prabang and ended the day in Phou Khoun (intersection 13 and 7) at 1600 mtr altitude.

Day 8 Phou Khoun > Nong Khai ( TH)

The last day and quite a fresh start with Phou khoun covered in the clouds, It’s mostly all descending after Phou Khoun Brunch (once more) in Vang Vieng, which is full of tourists.

After Vang Vieng the roads getting more used so they were in a pretty bad shape with several unpaved sections and potholes you will need a ladder to climb out.

A quick photo stop in Luang Prabang and after crossing the bridge back into Thailand which went pretty easy and quick. Loading the bikes back in the Van and into new year’s traffic heading home.

Conclusion: A really great trip, and for sure not my last in Laos ( this was my second bike trip in Laos)

In seven days of riding we covered 1883 km’s we had a couple of long days in the saddle caused by a tight schedule. I find riding in Laos pretty safe as long as you adjust your speed to the road conditions ( which are unpredictable) no crazy driving in Laos the Laotians take things easy, just beware and take it easy and you’ll be good.

The bikes: did fine, they could use a bit more power going uphill, brakes, suspension, handling everything on these 250’s seems to be designed for Laos. The only what is really lacking are the seats way to narrow.

The people: The Laotians are really friendly people, always smiling, saying hello , wanting to practise their English, lots and lots of Children, in all the villages we passed everyone always seems to be doing something, lots of activity around.

Laos: See for your self I recommend it.

Thanks for reading, pics below

Excellent report and some wonderful pictures,looks like it was a great trip.

Awesome post..One of the Better ones I have seen in quite a while

Awesome trip report, thanks for sharing.

Yes lets hope the topic can stay in BIKE FORUM where it belongs.

Topic Moved to Thailand trip reports as per Thai Visa Forum changes.

A link is left in Motorcycles to access from there

Nice report

Nice trip report,DELETED

Edited January 17, 201610 yr by seedy
discuss moderation

Great report DB. Do you think a bigger could tackle the trip ?????

one post Hidden - one Post edited - discuss modertion

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I don't understand this trip report section .. Surely, the best way is to keep bike reports in the bike forum, then curate a selection of links in the sticky at the top of the page so that reports are always there for reference.

When I open the sticky it, it jumps to another link and another link jumps to the visa forum ???

Sorry to pollute the OPs thread .. I'm just a willing but confused contributor.

Edited January 17, 201610 yr by recom273

Great report DB. Do you think a bigger could tackle the trip ?????

Thanks, with bigger you mean a bigger bike? Sure, we did encounter several big adventure bikes, even a kiwi on a Triumph Bonnie ;-) but it seems most people choose a light off road bike, which are much more relaxed to ride on bits of gravel and unpaved, + the added bonus of being able to go and explore the real dirt tracks. If you stick to the tarmac ( which we mainly did) I would say a versys or cb500X kinda bike would be a good compromise.

TV member papa al loves touring Laos on his cbr150 so even on more road orientated bikes such a trip is possible.

My ideal bike for such a trip would something I owned back home: Yamaha XT600 Tenere but then in it latest version,the 660 more power, big tank, more comfortable, but still relative light.

10/10. Enjoyed that, thanks for posting it. Very jealous.

Awesome trip report, thanks for sharing.

Yes lets hope the topic can stay in BIKE FORUM where it belongs.

Stop making sense.

Topic Moved to Thailand trip reports as per Thai Visa Forum changes.

A link is left in Motorcycles to access from there

Does the link keep sliding down the list until it is out of sight?

Most excellent post Dutch guy.

papa just got back from a few weeks there.

Your photos depict the Laotian scene quite well.

Huge tribal/ethnic diversity among the PDRL.

They approach a traveller much more that a rural Thai would.

Fat babies; not too skinny dogs.

Happy people living a very basic life style.

Very fun on a smaller road bike.

Just drive around or jump the pot-holes.

Compliments DB. Next time - 2 weeks instead of 1...

Nothing like a good road trip - excellent post, thanx for sharing.

Post of the year thus far and it will take some beating. My gosh your pictures are amazing.

Laos is such a lovely country, I wish I could have lived and worked there for some time. I always enjoy visiting. One day those pictures will be worth someone or something's weight in gold.

Thanks for sharing, sir, and reminding us of a very special place.

Thanks for sharing.

Re photo # 9; the one after the jars,

depicits a big cut-bank.

Seems they use big excavators to tear through the sedimentary rock.

Striations from the bucket teeth make a nice pattern.

I see you got a chance do do some fording.

The bridge looks pretty narrow.

Which way do local bikes go?