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Essential Information - Laos - Luang Prabang to Vientiane
From golden temples to the Mekong
Holiday Status
Before booking your holiday with us, please check the status of your chosen tour. We strongly advise against booking any flights or making other travel arrangements until the tour is marked as Guaranteed.
To confirm your place, simply pay the deposit. This deposit can be refunded at any time until the tour status changes to "Guaranteed". Your final balance will be due 56 days before the tour start date.
When you book, you are agreeing to our booking conditions – please take a moment to read them in full.
Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. As bookings come in, the status will update from Available, to 2 More to Guarantee, and finally to Guaranteed once the minimum is met. You can always check the current status on the ‘Dates and Prices’ section of the tour page.
Tour status definitions:
✅ Guaranteed – The tour is confirmed and open for booking.
✅ Guaranteed – Limited – Confirmed to run, but only a few spaces left.
⏳ Available – 2 More to Guarantee – Tour is open but needs just 2 more bookings to confirm.
🟢 Available – Open for booking but not yet confirmed to run.
📩 Contact – Please get in touch if you're interested in this tour.
❌ Fully Booked – This tour is no longer available.
Once a tour is marked Guaranteed, you can confidently go ahead with booking your flights and making travel plans. We don’t cancel trips once they reach guaranteed status, except in very rare and exceptional circumstances.
🚐 Support Vehicle – Full vehicle support throughout the tour
🏨 Accommodation – Comfortable local stays each night
🍽️ Meals – Most meals included (see Trip Notes for details)
🚰 Snacks & Water – Refreshments provided during cycling days
✈️ Airport Transfers – Provided on the first and last day of the tour
🧑🏫 Local Guides – Experienced, English-speaking professional guides
✈️ International flights
🍷 Alcoholic drinks
🍽️ Meals not stated on the itinerary
🛂 Visa fees
🛡️ Travel insurance
💰 Tips for guide(s) and support staff
🚴 Bike hire (available if required)
The tour starts in Luang Prabang and ends in Vientiane.
You will need to arrive on Day 1 of your itinerary. Your flight departure at the end of the trip should be booked for the final day of the itinerary. We appreciate that people join redspokes tours from all over the world. Whatever time you arrive at the airport on the trip start date, you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel. Please bear in mind that if you arrive before midday, you may need to wait for your room to be made available. If you decide to arrive early or stay on after the tour, Redspokes can assist you in booking extra accommodation and airport transfers at an additional cost.
Our tour price does not include your international flight.
The tour ends in Vientiane on Day 10. You will be transferred, along with your luggage, to Wattay International Airport (VTE).
We recommend booking an open-jaw flight: arriving in Luang Prabang on Day 1 at Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) and departing from Wattay International Airport (VTE) on Day 10 (the final day) of the tour.
Websites such as www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk are useful for checking flight times and prices.
💱 Currency Exchange
Laotian Currency
The official currency in Laos is the Lao Kip (LAK). All purchases—whether in shops, restaurants, or markets—must be made in Kip. Foreign currencies like USD or Thai Baht may be accepted in limited tourist spots, but Kip is essential throughout the tour.
What to Bring
A Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for ATM withdrawals.
Travellers from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand should bring USD or Thai Baht, which are easier to exchange in Laos
Ensure notes are clean and undamaged—torn bills may be refused
Bring plenty of small denominations for rural purchases
Where to Exchange
Currency exchange counters and ATMs are available in the arrivals area
✅ Exchange a small amount (e.g. 400,000–600,000 LAK / £20–£30) to cover your first day
❌ Airport rates are usually less favourable—better exchange rates are found in city exchange offices or banks
✔ Your redspokes guide will help you locate the best ATMs and money changers during the tour
💸 Spending Money
We suggest budgeting around £180–£220 / $230–$280 for the 10-day tour, depending on how much you spend on drinks, souvenirs, and optional extras.
Typical Costs in Laos
| Item | Price in LAK | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| 🍽️ Mid-range meal (for one) | 60,000–240,000 LAK | £2.25–£9.00 |
| 🥤 Soft drink (can) | 6,000–10,000 LAK | £0.25–£0.40 |
| 💧 Bottled water (1.5L) | 5,000–8,000 LAK | £0.20–£0.30 |
| 🍺 Local beer (large bottle) | 10,000–20,000 LAK | £0.40–£0.80 |
| 🍺 Imported beer (small) | 15,000–60,000 LAK | £0.60–£2.40 |
🧭 Helpful Tips
Cash is king, especially in rural villages
ATMs are common in towns but can be unreliable—withdraw enough when available
Notify your bank of travel plans to avoid card blocks
Carry small Kip notes for local markets and tips
Avoid changing large sums at airports or hotels
💁♂️ Staff Tipping
Tipping is a respectful way to show appreciation for the redspokes guides and support crew.
💷 Suggested tip: £60–£80 per person
💵 Or $80–$100 equivalent
Tipping is usually pooled at the end of the tour and fairly distributed by the lead guide.
redspokes ensures local staff are paid well—tips are a voluntary thank-you for excellent service.
You’ll have the full support of a back-up vehicle throughout the tour — either a jeep or a bus — providing peace of mind as you ride. The support vehicle will:
Transport your main luggage between overnight stops
Offer a lift if you need a break from cycling
Stop roughly every 12 miles (20 km) to offer assistance and refreshments
Our tour leaders carry a comprehensive tool kit and will assist with common bike issues. All you’ll need to carry is a small daypack for essentials like a camera, snacks, or a light jacket.
If you're bringing your own bike, please make sure it’s in good working condition before the tour. We strongly recommend a full service by a professional bike shop prior to travel, as we can't guarantee we'll have the parts or tools for every possible repair.
Your comfort and safety on the road are our priority — whether you're riding or taking a breather in the van.
🚲 Bike Hire
Prefer not to bring your own bike? No problem — bike hire is available at an additional cost.
🛏️ Single Room Supplement
Traveling solo and want your own space? You can opt for a private room (subject to availability).
🏨 Extra Accommodation
Arriving early or staying on after the tour? We can book additional nights for you.
🚐 Airport Transfers
We can also arrange your airport transfers before or after the trip.
💬 You can add any of these options when booking, or contact us later — we're happy to help.
🚴♂️ Solo Travellers Welcome
We warmly welcome solo travellers on all our tours — in fact, many of our cyclists join on their own, alongside couples and groups of friends.
🛏️ Accommodation
All prices are based on twin-share rooms.
If you're travelling solo, we'll pair you with another rider of the same gender to share a room.
🔒 Prefer your own space?
Single room upgrades are available on most tours for an additional fee — just let us know when booking.
Most meals are included in your trip price, with a few exceptions on non-cycling days. Please refer to the itinerary for full details.
🌱 Special Diets
If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know at the time of booking. Most diets can be catered for — just make sure to advise us in advance.
🇱🇦 Laotian Cuisine
A typical Lao meal features:
🍲 Soup (often light and fragrant)
🥗 Larb (Laap) — minced meat or fish salad with lime, chilli, and fresh herbs (the national dish)
🥬 Vegetables & 🍚 Sticky rice (Khao Niew) — the staple of every meal, eaten by hand
🐟 Grilled river fish or 🍖 meat dishes (usually pork or chicken)
🍌 Dessert of tropical fruit or sticky rice with coconut milk
Freshwater fish and sticky rice are at the heart of Lao cooking, with herbs and spices adding a distinctive balance of flavours. Popular drinks include:
☕ Strong Lao coffee (often served with sweetened condensed milk)
🍺 Beerlao — the country’s most famous drink, refreshing after a day’s cycling
🥤 Lao-Lao (rice whisky) — a fiery local spirit, sometimes shared as a gesture of hospitality
Snacks like grilled skewers, noodle soups, and fried spring rolls are widely available — quick and tasty fuel for cyclists!
It is mandatory that you are well-insured for the full duration of the tour. This must include personal injury, medical expenses, death, repatriation, helicopter or aircraft rescue, loss of luggage or equipment, cancellation or curtailments.
You should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in your tour. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be directed to your insurers. We strongly recommend that you take out insurance at the time of booking your trip to ensure that you are covered in the event of cancellation.
For people within the UK Snowcard Insurance Services specialize in all mountain sports holidays including mountain biking. Follow the link above to obtain full information and a quote.
Our prices are based on sharing a twin room. Should you wish to have a room all to yourself there is a single supplement option. For more information on the additional costs please see dates and prices.
The majority of our accommodations for this trip are in nice hotels or Guest Houses, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay. All the rooms come equipped with en suite facilities and air conditioning, providing a pleasant and relaxing environment throughout the journey.
For this tour we have Trek Marlin bikes and Kaze e-bikes in a range of sizes. Spare parts (tubes, tyre, chains etc.) are included in the price of the bike rental and will be carried in the support vehicle with a tool kit and track pump.
The bikes are equipped with flat pedals. Those who prefer to use spd or clip-in pedals, are welcome to bring these with you, along with your own cycling shoes and cleats. You are also welcome to bring your own saddle.
If you are able to do a simple repair yourself then you can if you wish take a small repair kit with you as this will avoid the need to wait for assistance should the team or support vehicle be any distance away. The bikes will come with one water bottle cage fitted.
You are required to bring your own cycle helmet as this is not included as part of your bike hire and hire or purchase options cannot be guaranteed. It is mandatory for cycle helmets to be worn at all times when cycling. Failure to wear a cycle helmet is at your own risk and might also affect the validity of your travel insurance.
Trek Marlin
E-Bike - Kaze
Key Features
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Equipped with a mid-drive X300 motor, delivering 240 W at 36 V.
-
Features a Li-ion battery rated at 12.8 Ah / 460.8 Wh. (Spare batteries will be provided)
-
Comes with CST tires (29″ x 2.1″ or 27.5″ x 2.1″) and disc brakes
This tour is suitable for most types of bikes.
We strongly recommend that you have your bike fully serviced before going on the tour:
🔧 Ensure wheel spokes are adjusted
🛢️ Grease all bearings
⚙️ Check gear and brake cables
🔩 Tighten all nuts and bolts
⛓️ Check chain, quick release clamps, and tyres
🔄 Put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims aren't worn
🧰 Recommended Items to Take
🛠️ Multi-tool
🏷️ Tyre levers
⬆️ Pump
🔄 Spare inner tubes
🧷 Spare spokes
🛑 Disc/brake pads (check with your bike shop)
⛓️ A few spare chain links
🧪 Spares for any unique items on your bike (e.g., fluid or bleed kit)
📦 Bike Luggage Information
Your bike must be carried as part of your luggage allowance.
A bike in a cardboard box typically weighs 15–20 kg, so please plan your packing accordingly.
Excess luggage fees may apply, depending on your airline.
Whilst we endeavour to provide correct and relevant information obtained directly from the relevant Embassies, High Commissions and Consulate Generals - this information is subject to frequent changes, without warning and at very short notice. Due to this, we cannot be held liable for any errors in the information provided on this site. We strongly advised you to check all information with the relevant embassy for details on your visa/passport requirements.
You must hold a valid passport in order to travel. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your return date and have at least two blank pages for entry stamps.
Visa and entry requirements can and do change, so we strongly recommend that you consult the government travel website for where your passport was issued.
For UK nationals, please visit the gov.uk website for the most up-to-date entry requirements, vaccination advice, and the option to sign up for travel alerts.
🇱🇦 Laos Visa Information
✅ Who needs a visa?
Most visitors require a visa to enter Laos. A 30-day tourist visa is available via Visa on Arrival (VOA) or online as an e-Visa.
📌 Important notes
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
VOA fee is typically USD 40 (clean, undamaged bills only).
Bring a passport photo, or pay a small fee if taken at arrival.
E-Visa applications should be made at least 5 days before travel.
Keep a printed copy of your e-Visa approval.
🕑 Extensions
Tourist visas can be extended up to twice, allowing a maximum stay of 90 days in total.
💻 Digital Arrival Registration
From September 2025, Laos is introducing an online pre-arrival registration system with QR code, replacing paper forms. This does not replace the visa requirement.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or local Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks before going on your trip for advise on the correct vaccinations required for your trip. Also please refer to advice from National Travel Health Network and Centre .
There are no mandatory vaccinations for this trip, however the following are recommended Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis.
Vaccination requirements can change and we aren't medically qualified to answer your questions regarding vaccinations so please also check again with your health professional before departing for your trip.
Laos is best visited between October and April, when the weather is generally warm and dry, with cooler conditions in the mountains making cycling especially enjoyable.
From May to September, the country enters its green season, bringing higher humidity and tropical showers. Rainfall is often short and sharp, quickly followed by sunshine, leaving the landscapes looking lush, vibrant, and full of life.
Even during the rainy season, travel is very possible — the showers rarely last long enough to prevent you from exploring, and the countryside is at its most beautiful.
This is a flexible guide — please tailor it to your own needs. The weather is typically warm and humid, so lightweight cotton clothing is ideal.
🚴♀️ Cycling Essentials
🪖 Helmet (mandatory — must be worn while cycling)
🕶️ Sunglasses
🚰 Water bottles or CamelBak
👟 Lightweight trekking shoes or cycling footwear
🧤 Fingerless cycling gloves
👖 Padded cycling shorts
🩳 Baggy shorts (required in some areas)
🧥 Waterproof cycling jacket (breathable fabric)
👕 Clothing
👕 T-shirts
👔 Long-sleeved shirt
👖 Long cotton trousers
🩱 Swimwear
🧥 Fleece jacket or pullover
🧢 Sun hat
🧣 Buff / scarf
👗 Modest clothing to cover shoulders and knees (temples & holy sites)
🧰 Personal Gear
🔦 Torch or headlamp (+ spare batteries/bulbs)
🧴 Strong sunscreen / lip balm
🦟 Insect repellent
🧼 Antibacterial hand wash / antiseptic wet wipes
💧 Rehydration salts (e.g. Dioralyte)
🩹 Blister pads & plasters
💊 Painkillers (Paracetamol / Ibuprofen)
💊 Diarrhoea medication (Lomotil / Diacalm)
😷 Throat lozenges
👃 Nasal spray
👁️ Eye drops
👂 Ear plugs
🧴 Antiseptic cream
🍫 Energy & Extras
🍫 Energy bars, gels or snacks
🧃 Energy / recovery drinks
📷 Camera
💡 Note: Our guides carry basic first aid, but bringing your own small kit ensures you’re prepared for minor issues during the ride.
🔌📱 Chargers, Power & Connectivity (Laos)
🔌 Plug Sockets & Power
Laos uses a mix of plug types: Type A, C and E/F
Power supply is 220V
✅ Most modern phone, camera and device chargers work without a voltage converter
🔁 Bring a universal travel adaptor (UK → EU/US-style) to cover all situations
🔋 Charging on Tour
Electricity is available in hotels
In more remote areas, power can occasionally be limited
🔋 A small power bank is useful for phones, GPS devices or cameras
📱 SIM Cards & Mobile Data
Easy to buy a local tourist SIM at Luang Prabang airport or in town
Main networks: Unitel, Lao Telecom, TPLUS
📶 Coverage is good in towns; more limited in remote regions
🛂 Passport required to register a SIM
📲 eSIMs work if your phone supports them, but a local SIM is often simplest
💬 Staying in Touch
WhatsApp works well where signal is available
Your redspokes guide will also assist with local communication if needed
🇱🇦 Laos – Country Profile & Cultural Etiquette
🌍 Country Profile
🏛️ Official Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
🏙️ Capital: Vientiane
👥 Population: 6.7 million
📏 Area: 236,800 km² (91,400 sq miles)
🗣️ Major Languages: Lao, French
🕉️ Major Religion: Buddhism
⚕️ Life Expectancy: 65 years (men), 68 years (women)
💰 Currency: Lao Kip (₭)
🌏 Cultural Advice for Tourists
Laos is a welcoming and peaceful country, but understanding local customs will enhance your experience and help you travel respectfully.
🙏 Respect for Religion
🕌 Buddhism is central to Lao life. Dress modestly when visiting temples (shoulders and knees covered).
👞 Remove shoes and hats before entering temples.
❌ Never point your feet at Buddha images or monks.
👤 Greetings & Behaviour
🙏 Use the traditional “nop” greeting: palms pressed together at chest level with a slight bow.
❌ Avoid public displays of affection.
✋ Never touch someone’s head — it is considered sacred.
🏡 Visiting Homes & Villages
📸 Ask permission before taking photos in villages.
👟 Remove shoes before entering homes.
🙂 Be polite and observant; smiles are always appreciated.
💃 Festivals & Traditions
🎉 Major festivals include Pi Mai (Lao New Year, mid-April) and Boun That Luang.
🧧 Participate respectfully to enjoy authentic cultural experiences.
🥘 Dining Etiquette
🍚 Sticky rice is eaten by hand; meals are often shared.
❌ Avoid wasting food.
🖐️ Use your right hand in formal settings and never blow your nose at the table.
🌿 Environmental & Social Respect
🌱 Respect natural and cultural sites; avoid littering.
💬 Bargaining in markets is common but should always be polite.
If you need assistance or wish to discuss the tour, please feel free to call us on +44 (0) 1463 417707.
Alternatively, you can email us on office@redspokes.co.uk for more information on this adventure holiday.
Key Stats
Challenging
42 miles
2,067ft
Days
Tour Features
- Explore the UNESCO city of Luang Prabang with its golden temples and riverside charm.
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Cycle rolling roads through rice paddies, valleys, and limestone karsts.
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Enjoy a rest day in Vang Vieng beside the Nam Song River.
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Experience authentic Laotian village life off the tourist trail.
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Finish along the Mekong River in the relaxed capital, Vientiane.
Customer Testimonial
"The trip was fantastic. The staff were extremely helpful, the tour was well organised and I would have no hesitation in going on another redspokes trip or in recommending them..."
Michelle Emery
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