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As part of a longer trip to S.E. Asia my wife and I spent 5 days riding to the ancient city of Luang Prabang and back. I rented an XR 250 from Jules Classic Rental in Vientiane for 25$ per day. The bike was in very good condition and well worth the money.
Jules Classic Rental, Rent bikes and Car in Laos - Louez motos et voitures au Laos
Five days gear strapped to the back didn't leave much room for rider and pillion.
Rode away down one-way street. Turned left at first juction onto dual carriageway to be faced with three lanes of oncoming traffic. Oops. Must remember to ride on right hand side
Out of the city and picked up Route 10 to Talat. Nice road through rice-fields and for part of the way alongside the Nam Lik. This was the first ferry of this type we saw.
At Talat we turned off the highway to visit the Nam Ngum dam and saw the massive lake it had created. One of the many islands left high and dry contains a prison for political dissidents.
After joining route 13 the road started to climb and pretty soon we were faced with amazing views around every bend. (The wife was looking at something in the grass NOT throwing up)
First nights stop was in Vang Vieng, a must visit stop on the backpacker itinery. A real party town with plenty of bars and tubing trips down the river. We were blown away by the limestone karst scenery.
Clock the cable anchors on this suspension bridge. The number of bombs dropped on a small underdeveloped country like Laos during Vietnam war was astronomical. At least some of them have been put to good use.
Next day was 260 km to Luang Prabang and very little of it was straight or flat. Hundreds of bends with steep cambers. Fantastic to start with but dare I say it, after 5 hours it had lost its novelty. Route 13 carries all the traffic to the North of Laos and into China. At one time we passed 8 artics carrying timber. Air-con tour buses also use the route. Overtaking was always risky but the XR was suitably nippy and the suspension coped well with the pot-holes and crumbly stuff on the edge of the road.
We passed these ladies (the ones with the loads of firewood) about a km below the village. We stopped for a drink and they walked past us. Back on the bike we passed them further up the road, still going strong. Who knows how far they carried that wood.
Two lasting images of Luang Prabang. Temples and motor-cycle taxis (very slow and noisy)
Lucky to find a bar with a new brew (Namkhong) on special offer. Fifty pence a pint!!
Visit to Tat Sai waterfalls south of Luang Prabang. Opportunities to swim were few and far between so made the most of it.
Where ever we went the XR attracted attention, mostly because of the exhaust which made a fantastic noise. This mini-bus load looked surprised to see it at the high point on the road.
Sitting on top of the world.
Plenty of these along the side of the road, along with pigs and goats. Slow down. Let them know you're there (XR exhaust did that more than adequately) and pass slowly.
All the way we were mobbed by kids along the side of the road. We seemed to hit villages just as schools were coming out. This lad was on his own. Off sick or playing truant? Notice the alternative use for armco.
These two were delighted because we'de just handed out the sweeties.
Another village and an opportunity to get off and get some circulation going again. Notice the towel, a rather pathetic attempt to improve the comfort of the XR seat.
Finally back to Vientiane. Best part of 1000km covered in 5 days. Next time I want to get off the tarmac and onto the extensive network of dirt roads. Laos is a fantastic country with wonderful people and stunning scenery
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love the photos !!!! anything to brighten up bleak weather here in Europe
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