TRIP INCLUSIVE:

v      Experienced English speaking guide. ( different guides in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia)

v      Motorbike mechanic.

v      Motorbike hire and helmet (Honda 200/250 CC). You will use different motorbikes in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. We change the motorbike when we arrive at the country’s borders.

v      Motorbike transportation fee ( transfer motorbike to/from starting point in each country)

v      Meals as mentioned in the itinerary. ( B=Breakfast, L=Lunch & D= Dinner)

v      Drinking water and some snacks for motorbiking days as per program.

v      All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.

v      Accommodation in twin shared room in hotel with daily breakfast.

v      Simple First Aid Kit.

v      International flight reconfirmation.

TRIP EXCLUSIVE:

v      International flight to/from Vietnam

v      Vietnam, Laos & Cambodian visa.

v      Travel Insurance. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home.

v      Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)

v      Tips for guide, driver, porters. We recommend 3 USD/person/day for guide, 2 USD/person/day for driver and 2 USD/person/hotel when you check in/out.

v      Beverage and alcoholic drinks.

v      Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau 160km

Morning meeting at your hotel in Hanoi and a visit the Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum, here you can learn about the historic trail which you will be riding on. After the visit we will hop onto our Honda 250cc bikes and spend time getting familiar with them. Our challenge begins with a ride on the winding road to Mai Chau passing through extensive farm lands and rice paddy fields, divided by tree-lined roads and punctuated by limestone karst scenery. Nearer Mai Chau, we stop at Cun Pass, from here we have superb views of Mai Chau, a village of stilt houses surrounded by a green valley. Many minority groups including the Thai ethnic group live in Mai Chau. Spend the afternoon strolling around the village and interacting with the friendly Thai people. Dinner and overnight in a traditional Thai bungalow.

Distance: 160km

Meals: Lunch and dinner  included

Accommodation: Local home ( traditional Thai bungalow)

Day 2: Mai Chau – Ngoc Lac- Yen Cat- Vinh (272 km)

A long and fabulous day awaits us. After breakfast we leave Mai Chau and head south on a winding road which follows the banks of beautiful Ma River. Travelling on undulating quiet roads we eventually hit the new Ho Chi Minh Highway. This newly carved route leads us due south, through remote back country close to the Laos border. Enjoy lunch at a local shop along the way. In the afternoon we travel eastward towards the coast and stay overnight in the peaceful city of Vinh, which is close to the hometown of Ho Chi Minh. Dinner at a local restaurant in town. Overnight in Vinh.

Distance: 272km

Meals: All meals included                                                                                                               

Accommodation: 3 star Saigon Kim Lien Hotel

Day 3: Vinh –Kim Lien- Huong Khe- Phong Nha (315km)

Today is a very long day, so we recommend an early start ( 6.30am) We head inland towards the Laos border, after approx 40 minutes riding we reach the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh in Kim Lien Village. To the Vietnamese people this village is a shrine and visited by few westerners. After paying respects to Uncle Ho, we head to the HCM Highway via Thanh Chuong District. Cross the Lam River on the Ro Bridge and then drive on the beautiful new HCM highway enjoying local food for lunch along the way.

Following lunch, we continue on the quiet highway to Dong Loc Intersection, (historically this was the main junction for supply lines during the war) and is widely regarded by the Vietnamese as the beginning of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We then ride through remote back country, close to the border, as the scenery steadily becomes dominated by karst limestone rock formations.  The route to Phong Khe will pass Khe Ve Intersection and Pheo - the very first branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail into Laos. From here, we continue on tarmac road to Phong Nha, where we spend our third night. Overnight in Phong Nha.

Distance: 315 km

Meals: All meals included

Accommodation: Standard Saigon Phong Nha hotel.

Day 4: Phong Nha- Quang Tri- Khe Sanh (190km)

Rise early for a boat trip to explore Phong Nha Cave. Phong Nha is not only the name of the cave system but also the park, it is famous for its rock formations which have been given names such as the "Lion", the "Fairy Caves", the "Royal Court", and the "Buddha".

After the boat trip, we continue on by motorbike. We ride a further 100km on the Ho Chi Minh highway until we hit Cam Lo and turn west on Highway 9 to Khe Sanh. We will climb into the Truong Son foothills. About 16 km from Khe Sanh is the Dakrong Bridge and the road turns winding and narrow. A bit further, we will come to Huang Hoa, once known as Khe Sanh Base near Laos, which was established as a forward base by General Westmoreland to secure Highway 9. About 3 km from Khe Sanh is Ta Con Airbase.

Distance: 210 km

Meals: All meals included

Accommodation: Standard Thai Ninh hotel

Day 5: Khe Sanh – Lao Bao – Savanaket

Today is a big day in terms of the distance we have to cover. We leave for the Lao Bao border crossing in the morning. We will pass Khe Sanh Base on the way and take a quick visit to Ta Con Airbase reaching Lao Bao about noon. Take a walk to Lao Bao market complete with all theseedy charm of a border-town market, including a range of smuggled goods from Thailand. Don't be afraid to bargain, chances are the merchants will be gouging you for all you're worth.

Bid farewell to Vietnam and enter Savanakhet, the gateway to beautiful southern Laos. Great views of mountains and rivers and wonderful friendly people with radiant smiles.Tonight is our first night in Laos

Distance:  280 km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel with AC and hot water

Day 6: Savanaket – Pakse

Today is shorter day with dramatic scenery. We take National Road 13 to Pakse, the capital city of southern Laos. The quiet winding road is gently hilly throughout, we stop along the way to visit a local villagers’ home.  On arrival  in Pakse, take time to walk around the town and explore. Dinner and overnight in Pakse.  

Distance:  170 km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel with AC and hot water

Day 7: Pakse - Khong Island

This morning we depart for the World Heritage Site of Wat Phou. We will cross the Mekong River on the ferry then drive through the beautiful town of Champasak taking time to visit Wat Phou.  In the afternoon we ride to Siphandon

a huge expanse of the Mekong River. Siphandon means 4000 which indicates the 4000 islands on this part of  the mighty Mekong. Amongst the 4000 islands are Khong and Khon islands popular with travellers. Today we cross the river to Khong Island for dinner and an overnight stay.      

Distance:   km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel with AC and hot water

Day 8: Khon Island

After breakfast we take a boat trip on the Mekong to Khon Island passing hundreds of islands and beautiful villages shrouded with coconut trees. On arrival at Khon island we will check into a guest house and take a walk around the village. A relaxing day to enjoy the quietness.

Dinner and overnight in Khon Island.

Summary:

Boat trip: 1hr

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Guest house with fan and hot water

Day 9: Khon Island – Stung Treng – Karatie 

After breakfast we take a boat trip to the mainland where we rejoin our bikes and head to the border of Cambodia.

Farewell Laos hello Cambodia. From the border we ride to Stung Treng, the first town in Cambodia, then on to Kratie, a larger  town on  the banks of  the mighty Mekong. We will have dinner and spend the night in this town.

Distance: 200km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Standard Ly Hotel

Day 10: Karatie – Kampong Cham

In the early morning we can hire a boat  to see the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong. Breakfast and then head to Kompong Cham. Today we leave the highway and  ride on smaller roads, riding the whole way along the Mekong River. We reach Kampong Cham in the afternoon and check into the hotel with time to explore this very non touristic town. Dinner and overnight in Kampong Cham. 

Distance: 120km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Standard Mekong Hotel

Day 11: Kampong Cham – Siem Reap

Leaving for Siem Riep, we will tackle 60km on small roads and 200km on a highway. The scenery is not particularly interesting but very peaceful. We will have a stop at Kampong Thom town for lunch. After lunch we continue riding

to Siem Riep arriving late afternoon. Check into the hotel and enjoy the night life of this city.  

Distance: 260km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Prumbayon Hotel

Day 12 : Siem Reap – Angkor Wat – Angkor Thom – Siem Reap

Today we have a short but exciting ride as we spend the whole day visiting the great temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and other famous temples. Lunch in local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Siem Riep.  

Distance: 60km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Prumbayon Hotel

Day 13: Siem Reap – Banteay Srei – Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel then ride 30km to the elegant temple of Banteay Srei, this is the best preserved temple in Siem Riep. We continue to Ta Prohm Temple. Lunch in a local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Riep.

Distance: 80km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Prumbayon Hotel

Day 14: Siem Reap – Kampong Chnang

In the morning we ride to Tonle Sap’s pier to take the boat trip (4-6 hr) to Kampong Chnang. On the great lake we cruise past  several  floating  villages.  On arrival in Kampong Chnang, we  will  be transferred to our hotel. Check in and overnight.

Cruise: 4-6hrs

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Sovanapum Hotel

Day 15: Kampong Chnang – Phnom Penh (B,L)

In  the morning we head  to Phnom Penh. The ride  is short but the closer we get to Phnom Penh the busier the traffic is and this will slow us down. In Phnom Penh we check into the hotel then visit the Royal Palace and National Museum.  The evening is free to explore the night life of Phnom Penh.

Distance: 100km

Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16: Departure

At your leisure until transfer to airport for your outbout flight

What type of motorbike you provide?

Vietnam Traffic laws prohibited the use of motorbikes larger than 175cc until May 2007 when Vietnam joined WTO. It took sometimes to have big bikes imported into Vietnam, but it's likely that nobody rents out these bikes as import tax is 90% and VAT is 10% (a bike costs twice as much as in your country!). Motorbikes in Vietnam will not break the sound barrier but they will easily carry two people (locally, even more) down all of Vietnam's roads. They are light, balanced and fun to ride. We also offer Honda SL 230cc or Baja XR 250cc. They are our biggest motorbikes.

When is the best time to ride in northern Vietnam?

In the north there's no best time to ride, as there are four distinct seasons, each with their own unique advantages. Summer runs from April to October, winter from November to March. Hottest months are June and July, coldest month is February. Expect the possibility of passing rain from April to September, while winter months are normally dry. For rides down south in Vietnam, its best to avoid the monsoon season of September through to October, while in Laos, a ride down the original Ho Chi Minh Trail is only possible from November to late April.

I hear the traffic is crazy in Vietnam. Is it safe to ride there?

Traffic in the big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is chaotic to the uninitiated driver. For this reason we always use the easiest roads to get out of town. We can also arrange for riders to be dropped off at the city limits by taxi where the bikes are waiting. Once out in the countryside, the level of traffic drops off remarkably and on some roads it is possible to not pass a single vehicle for the whole day. That said, it must be emphasized that the riding conditions in Vietnam are demanding which means extremely defensive driving is imperative. All riders must be very careful and be fully aware that the purpose of the trip is not to ride performance bikes hard into the bends, but rather to drive along nice and slow and enjoy the sites and sounds of the passing countryside. Motor biking is just the link between so many facets that make up the touring experience with us – people, scenery, markets, food, drink, historical vestiges, rural life. We will send you an extensive document covering all aspects of driver safety particular to the conditions found in Vietnam. This document and constant support from your guide will make your ride as safe as possible.

Do we carry everything on the bike, or can I leave some of my luggage at "base"?

We provide you with spacious saddle bags which can carry a large amount of belongings. It's also possible to strap a further bag or rucksack onto the bike's back rack if required. Any other luggage may be left safely in storage at your hotel in Hanoi waiting for your return.

What type of clothing should I bring?

Vietnamis a developing country and size selection and/or quality products are real issues. Local products are cheap but almost just one size for all or the quality is poor. See our recommended list as below:

- Clothing: helmet, rain gloves, Wellington boots (rubber boots for rainy season from April to September), summer gloves, balaclava, t-shirt, socks & underwear, long sleeved shirt, turtleneck shirt, extra jeans, light jacket, leather chaps, zip-lock bags, riding boots, bandannas, sunglasses and goggles.

- Personal items: basic toiletries, emergency cash, sunscreen and earplugs.

- Emergency items: first aid kit, emergency contact number, list medical conditions, list medications, flashlight, chargers and duct tape.

- Miscellaneous: small towel, bath towel, trash bags, bungee cords, camera and cargo net.

What about medical insurance?

It is advised that travelers should have some form of medical insurance before arriving in Vietnam. Although there are several international medical clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, generally the country still lacks adequate medical care for serious illnesses and injuries, especially in other areas. Therefore, we advise that travelers have sufficient cover for emergency medical care as a precautionary measure.

Is an international license valid in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia?

Despite some press reports to the contrary Vietnam does recognize the validity of international licenses. Whilst some authorities in remote regions may not be able to comprehend a document written in a foreign language they go a long way in smoothing out any potential difficulties should an issue arise. They also take care of any license requirements that you might have in your insurance polices.

I'm concerned about the footwear situation; thinking about leaving walking boots at home to lighten the load, what do you recommend?

It's essential to have strong footwear for the tour to protect your feet whilst driving. Trekking shoes or leather boots are perfect. No driving in open-toed shoes. It is possible to buy a pair of boots (including big sizes) in Hanoi for about US$15.