Region Overviews: Asia Travel Guide: Overview
Comprised of 48 countries and nearly 60 percent of the world’s population, Asia boasts a dizzying assortment of natural wonders, rich history and cultural feats.
Biking
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Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour
Cycle & Sail along the Mighty Mekong
Bike through a land of intriguing contrasts: exotic silks and down-to-earth rice farmers. Bustling cities and ancient temples. Mornings observing monks' rituals unchanged for centuries, evenings spent enjoying modern comforts on the river. Explore daily life in the atmospheric world of the delta, its local markets, small paths along canals, and endless fields of rice. Let the Mekong be your guide to this mysterious part of Southeast Asia.
THIS ITINERARY: 9 days, 8 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere Hotels & Ship
FROM:
$7,299 - $7,749 pp dbl occ
Plus $450 internal air
($1,500 for sgl occ)
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos River Cruise Bike Tour Map
Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos
Start Luang Prabang, Laos / End Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Sail and bike your way along the captivating and mighty Mekong River, one of the world's richest in biodiversity
- Pedal peaceful roads past bucolic villages, colorful markets, emerald green rice paddies and temple ruins
- Engage your senses with the exotic sights, sounds and flavors of three distinct countries and cultures
- Marvel at Indochina's beauty, from the Khmer carvings at Angkor Wat to river life along the Mekong Delta
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Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
9 Days Premiere Hotels & Ship
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-2
Behold the charms of Luang Prabang, a World Heritage site | Cycle to quiet neighboring villages and explore a colorful artisan market | Float down the Mekong 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.
Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao
Luang Prabang
| Premiere Hotel Surrounded by lush mountains, this elegant French colonial hotel invites you to unwind at its peaceful spa and in its infinity pool overlooking the jungle. (pool, spa)
Days 3-4
Observe local Buddhists giving alms to monks who walk through the streets in morning procession | Tour a local market where you can taste the regional flavors | 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.
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Siem Reap
| 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)
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.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal
Phnom Penh
| 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)
Days 6-9
Board our luxury river ship to start our Mekong River cruise | Float across the Cambodian border into vibrant Vietnam | Cruise to Tan Chau, where we hop on bikes for a riverside spin | Enjoy the views as you sail along the Mekong | Witness the buzz of activity on the busy docks of Sa Dec as you explore a local market | Savor 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.
Heritage Line Ship
Mekong River
Blending the very best of old-world Europe and Indochina in its sophisticated décor, superb cuisine and top-notch service, this ship exudes bygone elegance. (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
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Activity Level: 1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do. LEARN MORE.
Note: Mostly flat with a mix of country roads, rough pavement, gravel sections, dirt and small village paths.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Titanium Mountain Bike
Rigid Mountain Bike
This custom-built titanium mountain bike is ideal for all adventures from dirt roads to rough terrain. Equipped with a rigid front fork and wide, low-pressure tires to absorb most of the bumps that come your way.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations, Group Size & Meals
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.
Itinerary Flexibility: Going with the Flow
Our daily itinerary while cruising on the Mekong is based on scheduled sailing times and as a result some days have more opportunities for exploring on land while other days have more sailing time. Every river has its own unique temperament and for centuries water levels have shifted due to rain, temperature and agriculture. Should any unforeseen change due to low or high water happen during your river cruise, we will work closely with Heritage Line's captain and staff, who are very experienced in going with the flow. Depending on the situation, our leaders may adjust the rides and activities as necessary.
Stateroom Categories
In contrast to our land-based hotels, which have similar room categories, the Heritage Line ships offer two stateroom categories: Superior and Deluxe.
Biking in an Emerging World
Your journey through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos will probably be unlike any other travel experience. The people you'll meet and places you'll visit will likely stay with you for a very long time. As wonderfully fulfilling as travel is in this region, it's not always easy. These are developing countries and even something as simple as crossing the road can be a challenge. 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 serving cold drinks. Our itineraries and Trip Leaders remove as many obstacles and inconveniences as possible, making your next extraordinary encounter always within reach. Of course, we can't remove haze and noise from the air, or replace a poorly maintained road. But if you can be flexible and approach the region with an open mind, you'll enjoy your trip to the fullest!
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.
Flights
On this trip we travel by plane to reach the exclusive hotels and activities this destination has to offer. We'll be flying commercially aboard narrow-body jets that seat 236 passengers and aboard turboprop planes that seat 72 passengers.
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