Cycling Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Cycling Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Cycling Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
11 Days Starting in Chiang Mai and ending in Luang Prabang
Visiting: Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, Fang District, Tha Ton, Chiang Rai, Lanjia Lodge, Pak Beng, Chiang Khong District, Oudomxay Province, Muang Khua, Nong Khiaw, Luang Prabang
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MCT-MCL
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
Min age:18
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
, SpanishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Luang Prabang, Laos, were once the centers of powerful kingdoms in the highlands of Southeast Asia. Today, these two cities—steeped in rich cultural heritage—are must-sees on any travel itinerary to the region. Connecting them by bike takes you off the beaten path, through jungle-clad mountains, along meandering rivers, past glimmering Buddhist temples, and into remote ethnic villages. Over the course of 11 exhilarating days, we travel by road, trail, and boat to explore the north’s picturesque landscapes and captivating cultures.Starting from bustling Chiang Mai, we warm up in the flat plains surrounding the Ping River before venturing deeper into the hilly terrain of northern Thailand. We ride along forest trails and backcountry roads, visit the sacred Chiang Dao Caves, and unwind at a riverside hotel by the Mae Kok River. Next, we weave through hilltribe country to reach the city of Chiang Rai before heading to the famed Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos converge at the confluence of the Mekong River. This mighty river becomes our home for a couple of hours as we cruise by slow boat from the Laos border to the village of Pakbeng. Following this, we embark on a series of leg-testing days on remote national roads, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, and overnight in quaint riverside towns. One more scenic boat journey takes us to Nong Khiaw along the Nam Ou River, followed by a final long and winding ride into the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang. This enchanting city is renowned for its classic temples, colonial architecture, and Old World charm. The tour concludes in Luang Prabang.Join us on this beautiful highland journey between northern Thailand and Laos!
Highlights
What's Included
-
Accommodation
-
Fully Guided
Experienced local English-speaking guide on this tour.
-
Meals
As detailed in itinerary.
-
SpiceRoads jersey
-
Water bottle
-
Support vehicle
-
Snacks and drinks
What's Not Included
-
Additional Services
Tips service are not included.
-
Airport Transfers at Destination
Airport pick up and drop off service are not included.
-
International Travel
International flights are not included.
-
Visa fees
-
Alcohol
Bike Hire
Mountain Bike: US$ 250
Single Supplement
US$ 400
Mode of Transport
Bikes
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are Trek mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.
Bike Repairs
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Check out our Q&As
-
Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
-
Are flights included in this tour?
Domestic and International flights are not included.
-
Do you require a visa for this holiday?
All nationalities require a visa for Laos. You have two options to get a single-entry tourist visa (max 30 days): 1) E-Visa or 2) Visa on Arrival. Both are very straightforward processes, though we suggest procuring an E-Visa in advance as it will save you time on arrival in Laos. Apply via this website. If you prefer to do a Visa On Arrival, make sure you have the required documents prepared (including 2 passport-sized photographs and the exact amount for the visa fee in USD). See here for more information.
Please Note: While E-Visa and Visa on Arrival are available for all international airports and major land borders, some border posts do not yet accept them. Therefore, if your tour crosses into Laos from Vietnam through a more remote border post, obtaining your visa through a Laotian Embassy or Consulate in advance may be required. If that is the case, we will let you know at the time of booking. -
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport pick up and drop off are not included.
-
What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This tour is classed as HARD. Off-the-beaten-track destinations don’t come easy, and our Hard trips explore mountainous, remote, and high altitude destinations by bike. Confident cyclists looking for a consistently challenging trip will find it, with many daily distances of over 75 kilometers and frequently steep, hilly terrain. Road surfaces are often rough with potential to go off-road entirely. Cycling experience, including off-road, and regular training are highly recommended for our Hard trips. You should be comfortable with long rides and long climbs. Aim to ride three times a week, with a longer, more challenging ride on the weekends. Climbing preparation is key- go for rides in hillier areas or take a spin class if you live in a mostly flat area. Get some experience riding off-road or on trails - have fun with it!
-
Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in itinerary.
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, Local English speaking guide on this tour.
-
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is US$ 400.
-
What is the maximum group size?
The max group size is 16 peoples.
-
Do I need to have travel insurance?
Yes! SpiceRoads insists that all clients must take out good travel insurance before joining one of our tours. There are inherent risks involved in cycling and mountain biking and we will not be liable for your medical expenses or evacuation in case of an accident. This insurance must include adequate coverage for any personal accident, medical expenses, injury, death and repatriation. Insurance should also provide coverage for cancellations or curtailment of the holiday. Clients should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for any dangerous or unusual activities that might be included in their tour. If you join the tour without adequate insurance you may be disallowed from continuing on the tour without the right of refund. Clients are solely responsible for arranging their insurance and they should ensure that they are covered for the full duration of their tour. Your tour leader will ask for copies of your insurance before allowing you to join the tour. This protects both you and us.
-
Is the trip guaranteed to depart and does it require a minimum number of people?
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please contact us.
-
Why hire a bike from SpiceRoads?
SpiceRoads bikes are never just "fit for duty" but a key component of our riders’ tour experience and satisfaction. For tours with bike hire option, renting one of our bikes saves hassle, not to mention precious luggage allowance. All SpiceRoads tours use well-known makes of mountain, hybrid or road bikes (depending on the tour) with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes or disc brakes and Shimano components. Mountain bikes all have front suspension. We renew bikes in our fleet every two seasons. When in use, our bikes are well-cared for, including full service before each trip and daily cleaning while on tour. SpiceRoads tour support vehicles carry plenty of spares and extra tubes for every emergency.
-
Do you have E-Bikes?
Electric "pedal assist" e-bikes are available on select tours. E-bikes can help manage long distances and climbing terrain through the use of a pedal-activated electric motor. Unlike other e-bikes, "pedal assistedr" e-bikes feel more natural to the rider. We recommend e-bikes for riders interested in tours that might normally be too challenging for them, or for groups of riders with mixed ability. E-bikes provide assistance for long distance or more challenging terrain, but they can’t do all the work for you! Always chose a tour within the range of your own abilities to ensure your own enjoyment when exploring a new destination. Contact us for a complete list of e-bike available tours.
-
What do I need to bring if I rent a SpiceRoads bike?
Bikes rented for tours always come with a helmet, a single water bottle cage, and a standard saddle. If you prefer to bring your own saddle (just the saddle, not the seat post), additional water bottle cage, or SPD pedals, we will fit them to your bike for the tour. Don’t forgot to bring your shoes and cleats if you bring SPD pedals! Women specific seats are recommended for longer tours. We have a limited supply of gel seat covers to soften the ride, and of strap-on toe cages. Please enquire about adding these during your booking.
-
Do you have details of the SpiceRoads fleet?
In Thailand we have a fleet of Verve city bikes, TREK 4300 and X-Caliber 7 mountain bikes, TREK 7.2 X, FX 3 and 7200 hybrid bikes and Trek 2.1 C, Domane 2.0, Lexa SL and carbon Émonda S5 road bikes. We also carry Giant 2019 Explore E+ 3 e-bikes. Our bicycles are available in sizes ranging from 13 inches to 22 1/2 inches or 47 cm to 62 cm. Please note that a certain frame model is not guaranteed. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, baby seats, tag-alongs, and child bikes for children are available. In Bangkok the single-wheeled tag-along bike attach to the seat-post of an adult bike, allowing a child to pedal along behind the adult. There's no age limit to the tag-along bike, but there is a 36 kg weight limit. Bike hire is include in the tour price for short tours, while longer tours offer bike hire as a supplement, as many riders opt to bring their own bike for our cycling tours. Depending on the destination, length of tour, and type of bike, hire costs vary.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Wednesday
Jan 05, 2025 - Jan 15, 2025Sunday - Wednesday
Feb 16, 2025 - Feb 26, 2025Sunday - Wednesday
Jul 13, 2025 - Jul 23, 2025Sunday - Wednesday
Nov 09, 2025 - Nov 19, 2025Saturday - Tuesday
Dec 20, 2025 - Dec 30, 2025Sunday - Wednesday
Jan 04, 2026 - Jan 14, 2026Sunday - Wednesday
Feb 15, 2026 - Feb 25, 2026Sunday - Wednesday
Jul 12, 2026 - Jul 22, 2026Sunday - Wednesday
Nov 08, 2026 - Nov 18, 2026Saturday - Tuesday
Dec 19, 2026 - Dec 29, 2026Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
SpiceRoads Cycling allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform spiceroads cycling, 40 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
SpiceRoads Cycling requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of spiceroads cycling charges.
At 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 0% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.