Ho Chi Minh Trail Laos
10 Day Hardcore Dirtbike Adventure Down the Original Ho Chi Minh Trail
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Tour Highlights
Conquer the Infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail
Tour Description
Laos motorcycle tour
Location
southern Laos
Duration
10 days, 11 nights
Total Distance
2,150 km
Motorcycle
Honda CRF 250
Pillion
unsuitable for pillion riders
Difficulty
off-road experience essential
Tour Itinerary
Loop from Vientiane
Day 1: Vientiane – Lak Sao
- 330 km
- motel
- stunning riding through Karst mountains
- A day to cover some ground blasting on tarmac south along the Mekong River before cutting east through dramatic karst wilderness to the border town of Lak Sao.
Day 2: Lak Sao – Bualapha
- 200 km
- motel
- Mu Gia Pass and Ban Phanop Valley
- A day that starts with lovely tarmac cruising through dramatic karst limestone peaks leading to the base of the Mu Gia Pass. We'll explore Ban Phanop village and valley, which was absolutely smashed by USA bombing. There are so many craters that the entire area looks like the moon when seen from above.
Day 3: Bualapha – Sepon
- 210 km
- hotel
- Ban Laboy Crossing, Ban Karai border pass with Vietnam, Route 20, The Chokes and caves filled with NVA war material
- A challenging day to tackle single tracks in the jungle and explore the cobblestoned trails and caves near the infamous Ban Laboy Crossing, a route the Vietnamese used to enter Laos. This area was also smashed by relentless bombing and is the real deal.
Day 4: Sepon
- 150 km
- hotel
- tunnel HQ of the NVA leadership that controlled the Trail and a cave with a 500,000-litre NVA petrol tank
- We’ll strike up into the hills above Sepon and explore the former HQ of the 559 Corps, a tunnel complex hidden in the forest. Then head towards the Vietnamese border to discover a supply cave that houses enormous petrol tanks.
Day 5: Sepon – Sekong
- 220 km
- motel
- military museum at Ban Dong, a 200-metre long bamboo bridge, challenging single tracks, the infamous Oscar 8 battle site and the mighty Sekong River
- An early start is imperative because we have some excellent cobblestones to ride in the morning before riding across an impressive 200-metre-long bamboo bridge. If the group is strong enough, we’ll take on the challenge of riding a deteriorated section of the Trail before hitting the tarmac and settling down in the riverside town of Sekong.
Day 6: Sekong – Attepeu
- 200 km
- riverside hotel
- ruined tanks and SAAM missiles
- Tackle small cobblestone trails through dry, sandy pine forests, past ruined tanks, surface-to-air missiles, and very remote hill tribe communities. We’ll end our day swimming in the Sekong River as the sun goes down.
Day 7: Attepeu – Saravan
- 150 km
- hotel
- an easy morning by the river
- We deserve some time off the bikes, so we'll take it easy in the morning, enjoying brunch by the Sekong River. An afternoon ride on easy tarmac gets us to Saravan, where we'll take it easy and explore an enormous market and enjoy a BBQ feast.
Day 8: Saravan – Villabury
- 180 km
- motel
- forest trails and the ruins of the Tad Hai Bridge
- Time to head northwards up former French Colonial Route 13 on sandy forest trails, past the ruins of the Tad Hai Bridge, before heading up another dirt trail used by the NVA during the war.
Day 9: Villabury – Thaket
- 130 km
- riverside hotel
- heavily bombed Chokes area of the Trail, lovely karst scenery and the former colonial town of Thaket
- An easy, delightful day up through the infamous ‘Chokes’, a series of interdiction points ruthlessly bombed during the war, past villages that still contain many war relics. Then we’ll ride past beautiful karst mountains. Before we know it, we’ll be sitting comfortably by the banks of the Mekong River, enjoying the afternoon in the former colonial town of Thaket, which boasts beautiful old French architecture.
Day 10: Thaket – Vientiane
- 340 km
- hotel
- getting back!
- Time to push out some kilometres so that we get back to Vientiane in time to toast our successful ride down the Trail by the banks of the Mekong River.
Tour Video
The Experience
The Motorcycle
Honda CRF 250
Engine
Engine Type
liquid cooled, single cylinder, 4-stroke
Displacement
249 cc
Bore X Stroke
79 x 50.9
Ignition
computer-controlled digital transistorised with electronic advance
Fuel System
PGM-FI fuel injection
Compression Ratio
13.9:1
Transmission
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5 speed
Dimensions and Weight
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
875 mm
Ground Clearance
332 mm
Kerb Weight
145 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.7 litres
Dimensions
2195 mm (L) x 815 mm (W) x 1195 mm (H)
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes
Suspension Front
49 mm leading-axle inverted, 12.2 inch travel
Suspension Rear
single shock with spring preload, 12.3 inch travel
Brakes Front
single 260 mm disc
Brakes Rear
single 240 mm disc
Tyres Front
80/100 21
Tyres Rear
100/90 19
Pricing Options
Per Rider
Inclusions and Extras
All-Inclusive Laos motorcycle tour
Motorcycle Hire
Support Vehicle
Accommodation
Meals
Western Guide and Local Guide/Mechanic
Petrol, Personal Expenses and Alcohol
Travel and Medical Insurance
Damage to the Motorcycle
Reviews
20+ Years On the Road
We rode through Laos on the Ho Chi Minh trail
Digby's knowledge of the area & the conflict is immense!
Not forgetting Kai his brilliant 'wingman ' !
Best motorcycle trip ever!
The tour was one of the best I've ever experienced. The people , the staff , the food , the accommodation was brilliant.
The trip was organised, stressless .
Plenty of support with the machines, which were classic Russian Urals and surprisingly reliable.
Digby's knowledge of Vietnam and the war was exceptional and really enjoyable to be a part of .
His lovely wife Thuy completed the tour with wonderful hospitality and friendship.
My confidence after that tour was complete and I therefore organised a bunch of Kiwi mates and rode the Himalayas with Digby and his Indian crew . It was a 14 day ride leaving Delhi riding the mountain roads up to Ladakh . Nothing short of "Epic" and I would ride it again in a New York minute .
On this trip we rode Royal Enfield Bullet 500 single bangers which were inbreakable .
team and crew support was excellent . Food and accommodation above par .
Explore Indochina is an experienced company who bring an artisan professional experience to those wanting an authentic ride through 2 amazing countries.
Definitely batting a 1000 .
Would I do it again ? Shit yeah !!
The cultural side of the Ho Chi Min trail was an experience in itself, and brought to light the extreme difficulties and conditions the Laos people experienced during the Vietnam war.
Stringing together the off road riding and the cultural side of things is a true masterpiece, that only an experienced guide like Digby could achieve.
I feel truly honoured to have had this unique experience and would highly recommend it to anybody with a curious and sporty mind.
I will definitely do another bike trip with him as his knowledge and understanding of Vietnam is excellent and he is exactly the sort of person you need leading a trip there.
Highly recommended!!
Don
Learn More
Laos motorcycle tour FAQ
What makes the Ho Chi Minh Trail unique for a motorcycle tour?
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was the cornerstone of North Vietnam’s victory over the USA and South Vietnam. Many sections of the Ho Chi Minh trail still have the original cobblestones used during the war, where you ride through ‘tunnels’ in the overgrown jungle. When you ride down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, you will enjoy an insight into how the Vietnam War was won by North Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail motorcycle tour is soaked in history, and your guide will regale you with tales of the fierce battles that occurred when the Vietnamese trucks braved a relentless bombing campaign. You will tour the secret underground North Vietnam Trail HQ tunnel, as well as caves with Vietnamese soldiers’ graffiti and enormous petrol tanks. You’ll see ruined tanks, APCs, surface-to-air missiles, bomb craters in their thousands, bombs, mine clearance teams, and plane crash sites.
We are very passionate about the history of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and have compiled a 100-page booklet packed with fascinating anecdotes and information, which we’ll give to each rider. Every day, we’ll discuss the significant events that occurred on the ground that we ride past. Please look at our website’s ‘Before and After’ photo montage and get ready to learn how North Vietnam really won the Vietnam War.
How should I prepare for this Laos motorcycle tour?
You need to be fit and well-equipped before heading off on a motorbike tour down the original Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. The Ho Chi Minh motorbike tour is a challenging one, so you need the strength, stamina and offroad motorbike skills to take on the challenge of small dirt trails and sandy tracks.
What type of skills do I need to ride on the Ho Chi Minh Trail tour?
The Ho Chi Minh Trail is a challenging Laos motorbike tour designed for experienced offroad riders who enjoy riding rock, mud and sandy tracks and trails. Aside from being appropriately attired, you need to be confident riding in all kinds of offroad conditions.
What other tours do you offer?
Aside from motorcycle tours down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, we also offer off-road motorbike adventures in Mongolia, where we tour the sprawling steppes and enjoy complete freedom to ride where we want. One of our most popular rides takes you on an incredible tour of the Himalayas in India, where you will tour some of the highest roads on the planet. We also offer motorbike tours into the beautiful mountains of far north Vietnam.
How will the group ride together?
Most of this adventure is on single tracks in forest and jungle. It is a trials ride, not an enduro or motocross race, because local people use these small trails to go about their daily work. There are children at play, young boys racing their scooters, drunk gents wandering home from weddings and local laddies carrying water to their homes. There will always be a lead rider and a sweep rider. We will use the corner man system to ensure everyone stays on the right track. We don’t like bunched-up packs, preferring instead a group to be spread out over a kilometre or so.
Do I need a visa for Laos?
Yes, you need to make one in advance. All you have to do is go to this link and arrange one before you arrive. The process is simple and fast.
What is the internet reception like in Laos?
There is reasonable Wi-Fi at some of the motels we stay at. As there is a pretty good cell phone network, we recommend you organise a roaming service from your home provider or buy a Laotian SIM card from UNITEL at the airport in Vientiane. It’s cheap and easy to set up.
How will my luggage be carried?
A support truck follows the ride with plenty of room for bags and food. Please use soft bags for ease of packing. The support truck can’t follow us for much of the ride, so it’s very important to have a small bag strapped to the bike or a rucksack to carry rain gear, extra water, and small items like cameras and sunblock cream.
What kind of licensing documents do I need to carry?
You must bring your home motorcycle license and an International Driving Permit (IDP). These two documents will ensure your insurance covers you in case of an accident.
Is there a danger of unexploded ordinance (UXO)?
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was hit by over two million tonnes of munitions, including 250 million cluster bombs. We will ride on extremely remote trails through areas uncleared of UXO. Therefore, we must exercise common sense, stick to well-trodden trails, and never wander into the jungle. Fortunately, the war ended over 50 years ago, the munitions have corroded, and local people have been working in the areas we will ride. Common sense will keep us safe.
How much money will I need to carry?
You only need local Laotian Kip for petrol, alcohol and souvenirs. There are plenty of ATMs in country towns if you want some local currency. Bank on needing around US$100, give or take.
Do I need to take any vaccinations for Laos?
Have a look at this link for health advice concerning Laos.
What electricity plugs are used in Laos?
Laotian electrical wall outlets look like this.
