CYCLING IN LAOS & NORTHERN VIETNAM

Laos, the land of a million elephants, is now the land of a million smiles, with stunning mountainous landscape and a laid back atmosphere, the result of a long isolation from its neighbours. Our route takes us through some spectacular scenery, from narrow roads shaded by jungle vines to shimmering rice paddies and mountains which are home to a mix of ethnic groups. Out of the saddle, we walk through villages and bamboo forest and visit Luang Prabang, one of Asia's most attractive towns, with colonial buildings, tree-lined avenues and colourful temples. The Plain of Jars is one of Southeast Asia's most important archaeological sites, but one with more questions than answers. Located in one the most heavily bombed places on earth it is steeped in wartime history. We also visit the Vietnamese capital Hanoi and finish our trip in bustling Bangkok. The cycling is demanding at times, but our reward is to have roads almost to ourselves in SE Asia's friendliest and least known country.