Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
9 days
8 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels & Ship
2027: Jan, Mar
From $10,349 - $10,549 /person
Includes $950 internal air
Cycle & Sail along the Mighty Mekong
Bike through a land of intriguing contrasts: delicate silks and down-to-earth rice farmers. Vibrant cities and ancient temples. Here the modern and ancient are in perfect harmony.
Highlights
- Sail and bike your way along the captivating and mighty Mekong River, one of the world’s richest in biodiversity
- Ride peaceful roads past bucolic villages, colorful markets, emerald green rice paddies and temple ruins
- Engage your senses with the sights, sounds and flavors of three distinct countries and cultures
- Marvel at Southeast Asia’s beauty, from the Khmer carvings at Angkor Wat to rural river life along the Mekong Delta
- Behold Luang Prabang’s iconic Kuang Si waterfall, with its cascade of turquoise tiers creating a truly majestic sight!
StartLuang Prabang, Laos
EndHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Discover the charms of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site • Our bike tour brings you to quiet neighboring villages and a colorful artisan market • Float down the Mekong River on a misty morning to three-tiered Kuang Si falls • Visit impressive 16th-century Wat Xieng Thong, a former royal temple considered one of the most important Buddhist sites in Laos.
Nights 1-2
Surrounded by lush mountains on the edge of town, this elegant French colonial hotel invites you to unwind at its peaceful spa and in its infinity pool. (pool, spa)
Days 3-4
Observe local Buddhists giving alms to monks who walk through the streets in morning procession • Tour a market where you can taste the regional flavors and interact with friendly locals • Fly to Cambodia, then discover Angkor as you bike among iconic stone monuments • Receive a water blessing from a monk—a traditional ritual to bring good luck and happiness that’s been performed since ancient times • Explore richly decorated temples like Bayon and Ta Prohm.
Nights 3-4
Described by Andrew Harper as a "stylish and beautifully restored landmark resort-hotel surrounded by a 15-acre park, less than five miles from Angkor Wat." (pool, spa)
Day 5
Greet the sunrise over Angkor Wat—a magical experience • Cycle past spectacular temple ruins illuminated by the soft light of morning • Travel by air from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, a sprawling capital city known for its French colonial architecture.
Night 5
With a distinguished blend of Khmer, art deco and French colonial architecture, this iconic hotel has offered unmatched luxury since 1929. (pool, spa)
Days 6-9
Board our luxury ship to start our Mekong River cruise • Float across the Cambodian border into vibrant Vietnam • Sail to Tan Chau, where we hop on bikes for a riverside spin • Witness the buzz of activity on the busy docks of Sa Dec while exploring a local market • Enjoy a final ride along the Mekong as it widens into a vast delta • Savor a Vietnamese lunch at our friend's home • Journey to modern Ho Chi Minh City.
Nights 6-8
Blending the very best of old-world Europe and Indochina in its sophisticated décor and top-notch service, this ship exudes bygone elegance. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
For three nights, the Heritage Line ship is your floating luxury hotel, taking you into a remote region rarely explored by bicycle! We've limited our Backroads group size to 26, but just like any hotel, we'll be sharing the ship with other guests. These 52-passenger ships are custom-designed with a variety of inviting common spaces so you'll have plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing with other guests. All dinners are prepared by the ship's classically trained chefs and are served on board in the ship's dining rooms.
In contrast to our land-based hotels, which have similar room categories, the Heritage Line ships offer two stateroom categories: Superior and Deluxe.
As wonderfully fulfilling as travel is in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it's not always easy. These are developing countries and even something as simple as crossing the road can be a challenge (watch out for that scooter!). In the countryside, our routes have manageable traffic, but are remote enough that they also lack most of the usual roadside comforts, like bathrooms or cafés.
Our itineraries and Trip Leaders remove as many obstacles and inconveniences as possible, but we can't remove haze and noise from the air, or replace a poorly maintained road—its all part of the experience here! Due to the varied road conditions on our routes, we have specially fitted our bikes in each of the three countries to maximize your comfort and control. All Backroads bikes on this trip come with upright handlebars, as the terrain includes some rough roads with dirt and sand sections. Upright handlebars are safer and more comfortable over these mixed-surface roads.
This trip includes travel on commercial flights so that we can explore the best of your destination. Please note that flight schedules can change with little advance warning, which may require us to adjust our activities on a travel day. Your Trip Leaders will provide more details on any changes should this occur.
Accommodations
The Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy an exciting combination of stylish retreats nestled into stunning landscapes and scenic views from the comfort of a floating hotel.
Accommodations may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Premiere Hotel
Surrounded by lush mountains on the edge of town, this elegant French colonial hotel invites you to unwind at its peaceful spa and in its infinity pool. (pool, spa)
Nights 3-4
Premiere Hotel
Described by Andrew Harper as a "stylish and beautifully restored landmark resort-hotel surrounded by a 15-acre park, less than five miles from Angkor Wat." (pool, spa)
Night 5
Premiere Hotel
With a distinguished blend of Khmer, art deco and French colonial architecture, this iconic hotel has offered unmatched luxury since 1929. (pool, spa)
Nights 6-8
Blending the very best of old-world Europe and Indochina in its sophisticated décor and top-notch service, this ship exudes bygone elegance. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Bikes
Choose Your Perfect Bike
Our bikes are designed and built with specific cyclists and riding styles in mind, so we can always offer you a perfect ride. Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Included in your trip price
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Redesigned for 2024
- Next gen titanium frame with carbon wheels
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop handlebars only
Included in your trip price
- Suited for a wide range of cyclists
- Comfortable ergonomic seat
- Long wheel base adds to the bike's control and stability
- Upright handlebars only
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 8 customers
Phenomenal adventure!
Our lucky #7 Backroads trip to SE Asia was exceptional. The sights and sounds and tastes and smells of this part of the world were amazing. Backroads did a fantastic job of helping us explore and sharing the history and culture of every place we visited. We were so well supported on the challenging rides in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The local guides were outstanding and made us feel so welcome wherever we were. Their insight and personal stories were so special. Our trip leaders, Jenna Smith and Raph Picard, were remarkable in every way - their warmth and humor and passion for the area made this trip even more special. I can't imagine how we could go on a better Backroads trip than this one.....but we can't wait to plan trip #8 and find out!!
A journey for all the senses!
Saw incredible historical sites, learned about complicated contemporary history, ate phenomenal food - all while gently cruising through new landscapes alongside new friends and guided by wonderful leaders.
What a well-run trip thru 3 countries!
We had a great time on our second backroads trip. The leaders were superb; very organized and calm every step of the way. The cycling was exactly as billed with just enough challenge to keep most of us happy. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves exploring the backroads of south east Asia. The Mekong Cruise was a bonus!!
A first class travel experience in every way!
The trip was mainly about seeing the exotic countries of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam up close on a bicycle and it delivered on that in spades. But there was so much more. We were treated to fabulous local food. We stayed in 4 (or 5) star acccommodations. We experienced the cultural, religious, and economic life of the places we visited. We saw the temples of Angkor Wat and bhuddist monks collecting alms, and engaged with the people in a respectful manner. Our trip leaders and local guides were experienced and knowledgeable. And finally, I met the most amazing group of tour participants and got to know them in a range of circumstances. It was really a superlative trip.
Worry Free
All I had to worry about was to show up at meals and get on my bike.
What an amazing adventure
We loved everything about this trip as we explored and navigated Southeast Asia. The leaders, Jenna Smith and Kevin Buddell were true veterans of the region in addition to being wonderful and engaging people. We enjoyed an eclectic, interesting, spirited and engaging group of travelers who enhanced the entire experience. The itinerary, the logistics, the accommodations, the local cuisine were the very best. Although this was our first trip with Backroads, we are definitely coming back!
Amazing experience
My husband and I have travelled extensively. The trip was beyond what we had expected. All the trip leaders were very dedicated, caring, and knowledgable. The food, activities and sightseeing were amazing. We are already planning our next trip :)
As always, another amazing trip
I don't know how they do it, but each Backroads trip just keeps getting better and better. We are now so spoiled that we don't want to travel with anyone else.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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