Activities

We return to our bikes in Wat Mai temple and have a look around this stunning temple. Back on our bikes, we stop at Wat Sensoukharam ວັດແສນສຸຂາຣາມ as we pass, a favourite of many and with a new Beatle car added in 2023. Can you guess what the story is behind this? We reach the end of the peninsula and come back along the Mekong road from where the two rivers meet. On the way we'll cut up a block near the famous L'elephant restaurant outside Wat Nong where you can learn what all those sausages dryng in the sun are. We head to the most famous Lao coffee shop in Luang Prabang where you can witness traditional coffee being made and sit by the Mekong River enjoying coffee and local Lao snacks.

We then cycle to Ban Vieng Xay village, we sit at a local street restaurant and try Naem Khao (a rice noodle crepe, filled with minced meat, mushrooms, and assorted herbs, cut in little pieces, served with a dipping sauce containing minced nuts, lemon, chili, coriander and sweet fish sauce). This is one of the few places you can see food being made as most Lao get up very early and prepare food to sell. Depending on your taste, an egg and / or fresh chili can be added to this meal. It's super delicious and your guide can explain to you what all the soups you will have seen along the way are Khao Soi, Khao Piak, Feu an Khao poon.

Northern Lao cuisine draws some influence from neighboring countries, as well as the ethnic minority groups that originated from Thailand, China and Vietnam. However, there are striking differences. Unlike Thai cuisine, coconut milk is not commonly used, and while beef is heavily favoured in Vietnam, the main meat here is pork and river fish. A distinctive characteristic of Lao noodle soup is what is added by the diner after the bowl is served. Hands down, Laos wins the award for most condiments and herbs.

To burn some calories, we cycle across the “old” bridge to the other side of the Nam Khan River. After passing by the "German Butcher" (they supply restaurants in town), a stop at the scenic meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers for some photos and a quick drink of water is in order to take in a view rarely seen by most tourists. Continuing on, we cycle through Ban Xieng Lek village to quickly check out local weaving and Sa paper handicrafts. 

You cannot be in Laos without drinking Beer Lao, so we head to play Petanque together (approx. 30 mins) at a shaded spot and enjoy some cool beer and snacks that we got earlier at the morning market.

If you have done all this in record time we can look at Wat Pa Phon Phao on the way back.

The tour ends with you returning the bicycles to the Tiger Trail Shop around 12.30 pm.