Has anyone done the bike ride from Luang Prabang to Vientiene?
How are the first two days in terms of the hills? How long dose it take for a slow rider to get over them? I need to try scehdual my start and finish times so i get to the village before dark.
I need to carry about 12-15 kg as well.
Edited by: onthewayjules
Last year we met a cycling couple in Luang Prabang -- and became good friends! Part of this was because of their amazing round-the-world stories, and part was because of my envy..... if I had my bike handy, I would've joined 'em.
Anyway, they were headed south to Vientiane and then through Thailand. I can't answer your question specifically, but here's their website: www.gut-gelaufen.com (it's in German). If their blog doesn't fill in the details of their ride through Laos, I'm sure you could ask them in email.
We (my wife and I) didn't cycle between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. But we did go on bus -- one of the most spectacular mountain trips we've ever been on. Cycling it will definitely be tough. There are enough villages along the route that you shouldn't be stranded at night. But my guess -- as a cycle tourist -- is that it would take 5-8 days.
Good luck,
-- Mark
I would say 5 none-too-strenuous days. I am a long term cycle tourist too so know the difference between 100km along the coast and 100km in the Himalayas! I rode Luang Namtha to Vientiane a couple of years ago and took 5 days between LP and Vientiane:
Day 1 LP-Phoukhoun (big day)
Day 2 Phoukhoun-Kasi (hilly but shorter than day 1)
Day 3" Kasi - VV (easier)
Day 4 VV- KM62 (easy)
Day 5 KM62-Vientiane (easiest)
KM62 is a Hmong resettlement town, a flat 62km north of Vientiane.
You could always stop in VV for a day to get some energy back.