Vientiane Residency
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Thakhek loop — 8 days
The Carburettor Club
Runs this trip
8 Days · 7 Nights
Fully planned multi-day journey
Accommodation
Vientiane Residency
Fully guided
A guide travels with the group for the whole trip.
Bike expedition
Eight days on the emptiest riding in Southeast Asia
Moderate Intensity
Travelers can expect 4-6 hours of daily trail walking
Group Size 1 - 14
Ages 18+ Welcome
The operator's minimum age for this trip is 18
550 m at the highest point
Where this operator goes
8 days · 16 stopsItinerary
8 days, planned by The Carburettor Club
Eight days on the Thakhek loop and up to Vang Vieng — limestone karst, a seven-kilometre river cave, and the emptiest riding in Southeast Asia.
VientianeHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer, handover and the riverside at dusk
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationVientiane Residency
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
- Bike handover
LANDMARKS Pha That Luang Mekong riverside Patuxai Start point Vientiane, Wattay International Airport (VTE), Vientiane 00:00 - 23:59The expressway would do it in half the time and shows you nothing. Route 13 is the ride.
Vientiane, Vang ViengHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — north on the old road, not the expressway
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationVang Vieng Courtyard
Included Activities
- Fuel
- Riverside guesthouse
LANDMARKS Route 13 Nam Song Vang Vieng karst Vang Vieng spent a decade as a byword for tubing and drink, and the bars were closed in 2012 after a run of deaths. It is a climbing and caving town again now.
Vang ViengHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — the west-bank loop to Tham Phu Kham and the blue lagoon
- 2 hrs4:00 PM — up Nam Xay for the sunset
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationVang Vieng Courtyard
Included Activities
- Fuel and entries
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Tham Phu Kham Blue Lagoon Nam Xay viewpoint Nine hours and no way round it — the loop starts at Thakhek and Thakhek is a long way south. Both operators offer to truck the bikes if the group would rather.
Vang Vieng, Vientiane, ThakhekHow the day runs
- 9 hrs6:30 AM — south past Vientiane on route 13
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationThakhek Lodge
Included Activities
- Fuel
- Riverside guesthouse at Thakhek
LANDMARKS Route 13 Mekong Thakhek The Nakai reservoir flooded a forest in 2008 and the dead trunks still stand out of the water. It displaced over six thousand people.
Thakhek, Nakai, Phou Hin BounHow the day runs
- 5 hrs7:30 AM — east into the karst, then up onto the plateau
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationNakai Inn
Included Activities
- Fuel
- Guesthouse at Nakai
LANDMARKS Nakai plateau Drowned forest Limestone cliffs Tham Xang The river runs straight through the mountain for seven and a half kilometres and you go through it in a longtail with a head torch. It is completely dark for most of it.
Nakai, KonglorHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:30 AM — north round the loop to the cave village
- 2 hrs1:00 PM — through the cave and out the other side
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKonglor House
Included Activities
- Fuel
- Boat and headlamps
- Village guesthouse
LANDMARKS Konglor cave Nam Hin Boun river Karst gorge The western side is the emptier half and the surface is worse. Both operators ride it in daylight only.
Konglor, ThakhekHow the day runs
- 5 hrs8:00 AM — south-west and back to the river
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationThakhek Lodge
Included Activities
- Fuel
- Riverside guesthouse
LANDMARKS Route 8 Karst valleys Thakhek Six hours. An overnight in Vientiane before an international flight is the safer plan and both operators will arrange it.
Thakhek, VientianeHow the day runs
- 6 hrs6:30 AM — the run north
- 1:00 PM — handback and the airport
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Bike handback
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Day 1 · Arrive Vientiane
- Day 2Day 2 · North to Vang Vieng
- Day 3Day 3 · Vang Vieng
- Day 4Day 4 · South to Thakhek
- Day 5Day 5 · The loop: Thakhek to Nakai
- Day 6Day 6 · Konglor cave
- Day 7Day 7 · Close the loop
- Day 8Day 8 · Back to Vientiane, and out
Pickup point
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Meet atVientianeWattay International Airport (VTE), Vientiane
Reporting time00:00 - 23:59
Loading pickup map…
Included in the price
You arrange yourself
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Where you'll stay
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Vang Vieng Courtyard
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Thakhek Lodge
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Nakai Inn
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Konglor House
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
What you'll eat
7 breakfasts and 6 dinners across 8 days, at the lodges you sleep in. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
- BreakfastServed on days 2–8
13 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
Who runs this trip
Operated by
The Carburettor ClubVerified
“Motorcycle expeditions with a mechanic, spares and a luggage vehicle”
Based in Manali Running treks since 2009
- Rating
- 4.5(19 reviews)
- Response time
- —
About The Carburettor Club
Founded by a workshop rather than a travel agency, which is why the mechanic is not an upsell. Every departure carries spares for the bikes it puts on the road.
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 21 days before departure
You might also like
Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.5/5
Based on 19 reviews
Review summary
Food4.1/5
Guide4.4/5
Itinerary4.3/5
Transport3.9/5
Accommodation4.1/5
Tour operator4.2/5
Sort by:Recommended
4
R
Rahul Menon – Chandigarh2026-06-19 · Verified booking
Central Laos on two wheels is the way to see it. No complaints about the organisation. Would book with them again.
Was this helpful?
5
K
Karan Shah – Jaipur2026-06-19 · Verified booking
8 days of proper riding. The support vehicle was never far when someone needed it. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves.
Reply from The Carburettor Club
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
Was this helpful?
5
H
Hannah Lindqvist – Dubai2026-06-19 · Verified booking
8 days of proper riding. The support vehicle was never far when someone needed it. Crew were professional without being stiff about it. Would send friends their way.
Was this helpful?
5
Y
Yuki Tanaka – Zurich2026-06-19 · Verified booking
Central Laos on two wheels is the way to see it. No complaints about the organisation. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Good value for what's included.
Was this helpful?
4
I
Ishita Ghosh – Hyderabad2026-06-19 · Verified booking
Route planning was the strong point — long days, but the stops were in the right places. Recommended.
Was this helpful?
5
R
Rahul Menon – Nagpur2025-09-14 · Verified booking
Route planning was the strong point — long days, but the stops were in the right places. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Solid operator.
Was this helpful?
5
A
Aditi Rao – Mumbai2025-09-14 · Verified booking
Central Laos on two wheels is the way to see it. No complaints about the organisation. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time.
Reply from The Carburettor Club
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
Was this helpful?
5
Y
Yuki Tanaka – Lisbon2025-09-14 · Verified booking
Central Laos on two wheels is the way to see it. No complaints about the organisation. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down. Good value for what's included.
Was this helpful?
Questions people ask
The eastern side is sealed and fine. The western side between Konglor and Thakhek is patchy, with gravel sections and potholes that hide in shade. In the wet season parts of it are mud and the loop is genuinely unpleasant, which is why this runs November to March.
One other operator runs this ride. See all 2 side by side →