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Exploring Vientiane by Bicycle

Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane’s flat, tree-lined roads and light traffic make it an ideal city to explore by bicycle. Spend a pleasant half day cycling to some of Vientiane’s most historic sites, including: Wat Sisaket, famous for its cloister wall housing thousands of tiny Buddha images; Wat Phra Keo, built in 1565 as the Lao royal family’s personal chapel with highlights including a magnificent 16^th century lacquered door with Hindu carvings, numerous Khmer stone carvings and a variety of Buddha statues; the 44m (147ft) high gold-covered That Luang, Lao’s most revered monument; and the Patuxai Victory Monument, dedicated to those who fought in Laos’ struggle for independence from France. Notice its unmistakable resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but with Lao motifs.

Duration: 4hrs

Jungle Trekking Around Phou Asa Mountain

Pakse, Laos

Jungle-clad Phou Asa Mountain has long been an enigma, even to seasoned archaeologists. Spend the day uncovering the secrets of this scenic mountain and its enigmatic ruins comprised of 108 stacked stone pillars, each topped by a large flat rock.

Join a village guide to learn more about these mysterious pillars which some think were part of a jungle fort or perhaps an ancient Buddhist monastery to go along with the “Buddha’s footprint” carved into the rock face below. Summit the mountain for outstanding views of southern Laos. Along the way, walk along forest trails while learning how to spot signs of wildlife as well as indigenous medicinal plants. Lunch is included in this adventurous day trek.

Duration: 7hrs

Kuang Si Waterfalls Jungle Trek with Picnic Lunch

Luang Prabang, Laos

One of Luang Prabang’s must-see sights is the incredible Kuang Si Waterfalls, known for their picturesque cascades of vibrant blue water. Approximately 29km (18mi) south of Luang Prabang, the jungle-clad waterfalls make for an excellent day of trekking, swimming and touring.

Climb to the top of the three-tiered falls for spectacular views. Along the way, learn some jungle survival skills from your expert guide as he teaches you how to identify herbs, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and other plants as well as how to fish the local way. Help prepare a traditional Lao jungle meal and enjoy a refreshing swim in one of the many natural pools. Also visit the Asian Bear Rescue Center, home to Sun Bears and Malayan Black Bears that have been rescued from bile farms or wildlife traffickers. 

Duration: 6hrs

Spiritual and Natural Wonders of Koh Samui

Koh Samui, Thailand

Beyond its postcard-pretty palm-fringed beaches, there is much to see on Thailand’s second largest island of Koh Samui. Spend a full day exploring the island’s unspoiled forested interior in a 4×4 off-road Jeep, visiting both natural and spiritual highlights. See the Na Muang Waterfalls, a set of two cascades that empty into a natural pool. At the Tar Nim Waterfall, spend some time at the enchanting Secret Buddha Garden filled with moss-covered statues.

Also visit two religious sites: a Walking Buddha statue built during the Sukhothai era and the Khao Hua Jook Temple, known for its replica of Buddha’s footprint. A climb up to the golden pagoda 90m above sea level is rewarded with sweeping views of Chaweng Beach. The day includes a Thai set lunch served at a mountaintop restaurant with panoramic views over the nearby islands.

Duration: 8hrs

In Search of the Lanna Heritage

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai has a long and storied history, stretching back more than 700 years, making it one of Thailand’s most historic cities. Established as the capital of the kingdom of Lanna or “Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields” in 1296 by King Meng Rai, Chiang Mai reached its peak in the 16^th century, when the Lanna kings ruled territory as far east as present-day Nan Province, south to Sukhothai and north to the present-day Myanmar-China border.

Embrace your role as a historian in an interactive role-playing game, searching for clues based on Chiang Mai’s history to help locate a colleague who mysteriously disappeared. Among others, learn about the 15^th century Wat Chedi Luang, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, as well as the history of the Golden Triangle, while engaging in this fun, educational experience.

Duration: 3.5hrs

Exploring the Scenic Pakerisan Valley

Bali, Indonesia

The Balinese are Indonesia’s most prolific rice growers thanks to a unique combination of soil, water and religion. Spend a full day cycling and trekking through Bali’s lush countryside to gain insight into the history and culture of this magnificent island. Explore the Pakerisan Valley, home to important religious sites and some of the earliest Hindu and Buddhist settlements. Visit Jagasari, Bali’s first Hindu temple dating back to the 8^th century.

Trek through rice terraces to see how subak, an ancient irrigation system, is still practised. This fascinating cooperative social system channels water through the temples and into the rice fields. Cycle through the verdant landscape to the picturesque village of Laplapan where you will enjoy lunch right in the rice fields.

Duration: 8hrs

Biking to Shan Villages

Heho, Myanmar

Spend a leisurely half day by bike and boat exploring the villages around scenic Inle Lake, home to some 10 different ethnic groups. Cycle along Inle Lake’s perimeter road, taking in pastoral scenes of local life and landscapes. With the help of your guide, interact with the villagers at Tha Le U South and North and Ale Myaung.

Also stop at Red Mountain Estate, one of two vineyards in Myanmar, for spectacular vistas back towards Nyaung Shwe and the lake beyond, a picturesque stop to enjoy a glass of locally-made wine. At Nam Pan Village, board a boat to visit a few craft villages including a floating workshop making cheroot (traditional Myanmar cigars) and a blacksmithery at Sae Kaung.

Duration: 6hrs

Adventure Exploring Rural Bagan

Bagan, Myanmar

Explore rural Bagan on a half-day adventure by bike and boat. Cycle through the Bagan countryside to the 10^th century Kyauk Gu U Min, said to be the entrance to an ancient tunnel leading all the way to the Pindaya caves in Shan State. Explore this atmospheric temple featuring meditation caves hewn from the rock and mural paintings from the 13^th century depicting the armies of Kublai Khan.

Cycle to a thanakha plantation to see how the bark from these trees are ground into a cosmetic paste used as sunblock favoured by Burmese women and children. Trade bicycle for boat and sail down the Ayeyarwady cruising past timeless scenes of river life in the soft glow of sunset.

Duration: 5hrs

Quadbike Riding in Rural Siem Reap

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap is known as the gateway to the magnificent ruins of Angkor Wat. However, beyond its historic temples and lively tourist scene, Siem Reap Province is also home to almost a million people who inhabit the rural countryside, many living off the land.

Break up your temple tours with a refreshing evening quadbike excursion of the little-seen side of Siem Reap with its emerald green rice paddies, quiet dirt roads and shy but friendly villagers. Navigate your quadbike along dusty trails past stilt houses and curious cattle, taking in the sights and sounds of rural Cambodia with a stop among the rice paddies to admire the sunset.

Duration: 2-3hrs

Biking Tour to Angkor Wat

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Depart for an introductory cycle to Angkor Wat, one of the modern wonders of the world. Stroll through the intricately carved hallways that still show hundreds of fine carvings of Apsara and Hindu mythology and discover small shrines still in use today by the local people. Continue cycling around the complex taking in the views of this ancient empire.

Duration: 4hrs

Exploring Monkey Mountain

Danang, Vietnam

Jutting out into the turquoise waters of the East Sea, just 10 km from the centre of Danang, lies Son Tra Peninsula. The heavily forested 4,370 hectares of land protects Danang from winds, waves and storms, all under the benevolent eye of the Goddess of Mercy, an impressive 69m-high statue that has become Danang’s most recognisable landmark.

Spend the day on a 10km trek along steep, forested trails up the Son Tra Mountain, stopping for expansive views of the scenic Danang coastline. Keep an eye out for the rare Red Shanked Doucs, a shy primate species which led American soldiers to dub the area “Monkey Mountain”. At the 696m-high summit, spot the radar domes and the old helicopter pad that once belonged to the American Air Base in Danang.

Duration: 6hrs

Jungle Trek in Bach Ma National Park

Hue, Vietnam

Covering some 40,000 pristine hectares just a 2-hour Jeep ride north of Hue, Bach Ma National Park is one of Central Vietnam’s natural jewels. Developed as a hill station by the French administration in 1932, the park later became a protected area, home to more than 1,400 species of plants and over 130 kinds of mammals, some of which have only been recently discovered. Spend the day with a local forest expert as he unlocks Bach Ma’s natural treasures on a 3-hour trek through sub-tropical forest. Visit the 400m-high Do Quyen Waterfall and the cascading falls at Ngu Ho Lake. Summit the 1,450m-tall Bach Ma Mountain for expansive views of the coast, including Tam Giang Lagoon and Lang Co Beach.

Duration: 8hrs