Vientiane Residency
Hotel
Day 1
Thakhek loop — 8 days (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Nakai, Phou Hin Boun & Konglor)
Eight days on the emptiest riding in Southeast Asia. Eight days with the bike, a mechanic, a support vehicle and the Konglor boat included.
The Carburettor Club
Runs this trip
Bike expedition
Eight days on the emptiest riding in Southeast Asia
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Pha That LuangEight days on the Thakhek loop and up to Vang Vieng — limestone karst, a seven-kilometre river cave, and the emptiest riding in… Route 13The expressway would do it in half the time and shows you nothing. Tham Phu KhamVang Vieng spent a decade as a byword for tubing and drink, and the bars were closed in 2012 after a run of deaths. MekongNine hours and no way round it — the loop starts at Thakhek and Thakhek is a long way south.
Itinerary
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 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Bike handover
- Day 2Fuel
- Day 2Riverside guesthouse
- Day 3Fuel and entries
- Day 3Guesthouse night
- Day 4Riverside guesthouse at Thakhek
- Day 5Guesthouse at Nakai
- Day 6Boat and headlamps
- Day 6Village guesthouse
- Day 8Bike handback
- Day 1 · 1 nightVientiane Residency
- Day 2 · 2 nightsVang Vieng Courtyard
- Day 4 · 1 nightThakhek Lodge
- Day 5 · 1 nightNakai Inn
- Day 6 · 1 nightKonglor House
- Day 7 · 1 nightThakhek Lodge
- Day 1Vientiane to VientianeTransfer, handover and the riverside at dusk
- Day 2Vientiane to Vang Vieng8:00 AM — north on the old road, not the expressway
- Day 4Vang Vieng to Thakhek6:30 AM — south past Vientiane on route 13
- Day 5Thakhek to Nakai7:30 AM — east into the karst, then up onto the plateau
- Day 6Nakai to Konglor7:30 AM — north round the loop to the cave village
- Day 7Konglor to Thakhek8:00 AM — south-west and back to the river
- Day 8Thakhek to Vientiane6:30 AM — the run north
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Vang Vieng Courtyard
Hotel
Days 2, 3
Thakhek Lodge
Lodge
Days 4, 7
Nakai Inn
Hotel
Day 5
Konglor House
Hotel
Day 6
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this ride. See all 2 side by side →