Thread: Motorbike Trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang Feb 12.

I recognise quite a few of those pictures! I did a similar trip in January 2011, I don't know what's happened to the road from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as you say it is only 40 to 50% Paved? When I rode it I would say it was around 70 to 80% paved from Vientiane to Vang Vieng...

It did take us quite a while from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as well however this was probably due to the fact that we were riding Honda Waves two's up with bags, I'd say it took us about 7 to 8 hours!

You are right about Luang Prabang, it is rather boring hey! Having said that some of the waterfalls are really nice! I usually find them a little boring but the fact that you can swim in some of them makes it much better hey!

Nice pictures, sounds like you had a good time!

One thing I certainly wouldn't be doing is wearing shorts on a ride like that though! You'll be amazed at how quickly the road wears away skin!

Luang Prabang boring? You are kidding me!

^
Agreed, I've never found it boring. Anyway fantastic trip and that road from V to LP would be quite a ride with all those turns and nasty buses bolting around.

Sore arse I bet.

Excellent post. Thanks for the photos

Beautiful pics and thanks for posting.
Charley.

Quite enjoyed the shops ... thanks for posting ... cheers

Nice thread and great pictures. Takes some prople agaes to work out how to post pictures on here but you seem to have had no problem

Thanks for sharing

That,s something I want to do in the future,get a good taste from your photos thanks!

Oh just out of interest,how much for the puncture repairs?
Like the way the bikes just dropped on the swing arm!.

Great photos.

Thank You.

There was a lot of road construction/repairs on the VT-VV road in Feb last year so yeah hopefully the road is now much improved. The bikes came with one tool kit so the first puncture repair was effectively free (with the generous help of some locals 20km south of VV) and the second in VV was a few quid at most.

I said that some people found LP boring... not me I thought it was an amazing place, plenty of waterfalls to visit, caves, trips on the Mekong etc. etc. Well worth the trip and the freedom of the motorbikes.

@terry57 - yes definitely a sore arse after the second ride - around 165km.

Cheers,

frazerHX

GF & I took a bus from Vientiane to LP in 2010. Jez was my neck sore for a few days. Next time I'd fly or take a M/C like you did. Luang Prabhang is one of my favorite places. I love the temples & cruising on the Kong River. Flew in for a visit in 1972; but was pinned down by M/G firing on the old Bailey Bridge. Continuous gunfire in surrounding hills all nite. A rocket hit a house 100m from where I was staying. Scared the bejesus out of my hippy ass. Para Military Police told us to clear out of town. Didn't need a 2nd warning. Back to Airport and caught a C-46 to Ban Houysai. No one told me there was a full scale war in progress!

Really enjoyed your report, thanks.

Great pics, thanks for taking the time, i was in vang vieng a few weeks ago, seems to have changed heaps since my last visit, no more bars on the river

ive been rummaging around my computer and found a few luang prabang pics and some of vang vieng, not trying to hijack your thread but i hope you dont mind if i post them i will do a pic thread myself when ive a bit more time , just on the lunch break now

Tourists respecting Lao culture?




LOL fair enough make the odd cultural blunder myself sometimes

I read over here in LaosForums that insurance is not that expensive when renting a vehicle in Laos. Can I ask just how much you paid?

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Nice thread and great pictures. Takes some prople agaes to work out how to post pictures on here but you seem to have had no problem

Thanks for sharing

Yep, I have a few bike trips but can't be arsed for that very reason!

Nice pics OP

laosTraveller - the Honda Baja bikes were $35 a day with third party insurance.

Nice pics

Kudos to you guys for doing it. I want to try a long bike excursion around Thailand. Any advice on what you would or wouldn't do next time? Overall, were you happy with the bikes?

38special - you'll find the roads in better shape in Thailand. Yeah the bikes were OK - one had a dodgy side stand, another had a knackered speedo but these are just minor inconveniences - all the essentials worked fine . I'd take more time next trip - 160km in a day is certainly do-able but better to break up the journey and stop along the way - take your time. A toolkit for changing punctured tyres was damn handy. Avoid riding at night if possible.