From Udon Thani via South-Laos to Ubon Ratchathani
Secluded East Thailand and southern Laos, with as lifeblood the Mekong: this route is the ultimate combination of pleasant effort and soothing relaxation.
Distance:
1260 km
Level:
2
Stages:
20
Travel time:
4 to 4,5 weeks
Best travel period
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
8 / 10
8 / 10
Highlights:
2 The Bolaven plateau with its waterfalls and coffee plantations
3 Pha Taem National Park
4 Wat Phou, a ruin of a Khmer temple complex (UNESCO)
Explore the freedom!
A gorgeous route that starts in Udon Thani, a city located 560 km northeast of Bangkok. The area you will cycle through is called the Isaan. Time here seems to have stood still, with hardly any tourists around. You reach the Mekong, one of the ten largest rivers in the world, after the first cycling stage.






During this cycle route, you often follow this legendary water stream. Although the road doesn’t always go along the river, you will often come across the Mekong. En route, you will see rubber plantations, temples and rice fields. The cycling route is stunning, we have tried to guide the route as much as possible on small roads and through gorgeous nature. In the evenings you will be able to enjoy the sunset over the Mekong in fine accommodation.
After this, you will cross the border to Laos, where modern towns and authentic villages alternate. Relax on a terrace by the Mekong River. Or have a baguette in Savannakhet, a city with a colonial past. Perhaps you will visit one of the many caves in its vicinity. Cycling peacefully on quiet and unpaved roads, the locals will receive you friendly and with open arms.
You will continue to cycle towards the Bolaven plateau, an extraordinary area with many waterfalls and famous coffee plantations. You reach the highest point of this cycle route at an altitude of 1310 meters. After a spectacular descent, you will arrive in Pakse, the second city of Laos.
Our cycle route will continue to guide you along beautiful little roads, with small villages along the way, to Si Phan Don, or as it is also called; the 4000 islands, in the far south of Laos. Here you can visit spectacular waterfalls or take a boat trip to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins.
The final stages will take you back to Thailand, where you can take a trip to the beautiful Pha Taem National Park. This cycle route partly leads you through unpaved roads where you barely encounter anyone. The majority of the roads are paved and quiet or sometimes moderately busy. The route is almost flat until the climb to the Bolaven plateau. This climb starts gradually, with a steep climb of around 5 km at the end. After the descent, the route will mostly be flat again. The last stages in Thailand are slightly hilly.