Cycling vacations in Southeast Asia

Cycling in Indochina is about as close as you can get to traveling like a local. No windows, no doors, no barriers – other than ill-fitting Lycra – just you, your bike and the open road. Joining a small group of 18 people max is definitely the safest and most rewarding way to follow the quieter Tarmac routes in between the hilltop villages and riverside towns of Southeast Asia.

Cycling with a support vehicle and staying in tried and tested accommodation is an important part of traveling by bike with the added advantage of luggage transfers aiding an enjoyable and pleasurable ride rather than an uphill, head down, slog.

Choosing a suitable itinerary can be as simple as deciding where and what you’d like to see and do. Of course, fitness will come into it. These aren’t pedalling through the park routes. The route from southern China into northern Thailand, for instance, is quite a challenge whereas the route from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City is much more achievable for casual cyclists.

The general routes that we’ve detailed below have been designed to get cyclists as close to local life as possible. You might find yourself being welcomed by school kids on the banks of the Mekong or cycling between the temples around Angkor Wat. Rural villages are dotted throughout the jungles, plantations and mountains. Stopping overnight to rest and refuel as well as exploring out of the saddle is what makes cycling in Indochina much more of a cultural and interactive experience rather than being just about The Ride.

Road surfaces are usually Tarmac and rural routes incorporate lesser-visited locations as well as avoiding busier main roads. Some dirt tracks feature in Thailand and Vietnam although they’re flat and fairly forgiving, despite the odd pothole. Wooden-built mountain villages, hill tribe communities and noisy border towns make for a fascinating cultural contrast whilst fields of bananas, pineapples and rice supply totally tropical cycling scenery.

Cycling in the morning and getting orientated in the afternoon is the best way to enjoy Indochina on and off the bike. You’ll also avoid the midday heat and humidity. You can also swap saddles for seats as you board a river boat cruise boat for a couple of days. Vehicle transfers will often take you to the start of a trail head with daily distances ranging from 50km to 100km depending on which type of itinerary you choose.

Best advice is to put in plenty of practise and get as fit as you possibly can. However, you will not be left behind and you can always duck out of a challenging climb or steep ascent by jumping into the support vehicle. Basically, if you’re happy to cycle in hot and humid conditions for three hours at a time on consecutive days – with breaks – then you’re more than ready to undertake a cycling vacation in Indochina.