Thai-Laos Border Tour January 2020
- Date: January 10-17, 2020 (tbc)
- Duration: 8 Days, 6 Stages
- Total Distance: 875 km (125-185 km per day)
- Total Climb: 13,500 m (600 m – 3,000 m per day)
- Included Hotel Overnights: 7
- Size: 2+ Participants
- Price: TBC
If you love remote nature and like to ride in the mountains and high passes, there is no better tour_
Loei, where we start our tour, is located 550 km North of Bangkok, in Central Northern Thailand, close to the Laotian Border. It may be reached by domestic flights from Don Mueang Airport.
In 6 stages, we ride along the Thai-Laotian Border, through very remote and pristine areas. We will climb and descent countless virtually traffic-free mountain roads.
Our overnights on the way will mainly be very basic, as there are no others. In Loei, Nan and Chiang Rai however, we will look for something a bit more comfortable.
Day 1
Day 1: Arrival in Loei
Arrival by air from Don Mueang Airport
Recommended Flight: Air Asia FD 3548, 16:10 – 17:35
Transfer to the Loei Palace Hotel
Walk across town and dinner @ Night Market
Day 2
Stage 1: Loei – Phu Ruea National Park – Sri Song Rak
(150 km – 2,000 hm)
Our first longer climb is a 10 km with mainly steady 5%. After a steep downhill we head further North until we reach the Mekhong River, which we will follow upstream for about 25 km. We will then turn South again and ride along the Phu Ruea National Park. The last few kilometers to Sri Song Rak (Ban Dan Sai) roll easily on the main road. We will find a very simple yet very clean hotel room and decent food nearby.
Day 3
Stage 2: Dan Sai – Phu San Sai National Park – Ban Huai Mun
(125km – 2,450 hm)
Scenic ride on deserted yet mostly perfectly well paved roads. Thailand at its most authentic.
Day 4
Stage 3: Ban Huai Mun – Nan
(185 km – about 2,350 hm)
Another highlight of our tour. The entire day we will roll through wonderful authentic Thai nature. The only major climb of the day is the “Si Nan National Park East-West Climb” (8.8 km @ 7%) so the total climb won’t be an issue.
Nan is a beautiful town, with nice architecture, good restaurants and nice people. It would also be a good location for a rest day. But not this time.
Day 5
Stage 4: Nan – Chaloem Phra Khiat
(160 km – 3,150 m)
Queen stage of our tour. However, I tried to make it somewhat easier by skipping the meanest climbs of the first part of the day from our first tour in November 2016, thus cutting short the stage distance by about 20 km and hopefully by about 1,500 m climb.
Day 6
Stage 5: Chaloem Phra Kiat – Pu Lanka Resort
(128 km – 2.950 m)
A last day of climbing, yet again very beautiful and with a great reward in the end.
After the first 20 km of repeated small climbs we come back down the valley and may enjoy about 40 flat kms. Then we will have to cross two mountain ranges and do a final climb to the Pu Lanka Resort.
Day 7
Stage 6: Pu Lanka Resort – Chiang Rai
(125 km, 600 m)
After all the climbing of the previous days, this ride will seem flat as a pancake. However, we try to stay off the main roads and find some nice options on the way to Chiang Rai.
In Chiang Rai, we will spend another night in an upmarket hotel and enjoy Chiang Rai’s great variety of Restaurants.
Day 8
Day 8: Flight back to Bangkok
If we get a later flight that day, I would love to show you guys the “Singha Park”, just a 12 km spin from downtown Chiang Rai.
Tour Map
FAQ content here
฿50.00 – ฿200.00
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