Will, Charles, Kristi and Sara in Southeast Asia, 2015: Laos and Thakhek motorbike loop

We're in beautiful Laos! And the infamous Thahkhek motorbike loop!

Yesterday we took a noon flight to DMK and rushed to make a connecting flight to Nakhon Phanom. Sara pulled off this epic surprise and joined us - yay! Once in Nakhon, we took a taxi to the bus station, met up with an international bus (they run every hour) which took across the Mekong river/border bridge into Laos at dusk. Easy-peasy and fast. We continued into Thakhek bus terminal, got a thongsaw (sp?), quick stop at an ATM, continued to the Inthira hotel - which conveniently we discovered later, was just doors down from Mad Monkey tours. We lucked out - easy going crossing and transfers. We visited with Mad Monkey "D.C." and checked out the bikes and scooters first thing, then dinner.

And now - we're ready to start on "the Loop" (a 4-5 day Thakhek motorbike loop). Trading in lovely hotels - with wifi, hot water showers and breakfast buffets - and venturing into the unknown in southwestern Laos. :) We'll be checking out waterfalls, temples, caves and rivers along the way. :)) D.C. marked up a map: guesthouses, cool stops, gas stations, and even ATMs are along the way. It's all one big throw of the dice on this EDventure! We'll see what we get.

During the loop, we were able to upload these photos (slow internet) - from about a zillion we were taking! Here are some highlights, starting with Day 1:

Starting the loop right outside/west of Thahkhek town

A beautiful stretch

Turning north (on the southeast end of the loop)

Climbing, climbing road. (We were looking for a lake turned out to be at the top of this mountain)

Sara getting some map directions

Day 2 started off mellow with a river trip to a village, lunch on a river beach (very close to Vietnam border) and then an attempted hike to a waterfall (which we bailed on since we all had sandals on). After we got back, we decided to continue in the late afternoon through the construction and onto Lak Sao town.

Boat ride up river

Walking though a riverside village. Sara next to solar powered huts

Beach lunch on the river Namxot

Beginning of hike to waterfall

Back on the bikes! Beginning of construction zone - out come the buffs and bandanas

Coming down into Lak Sao town (last light on these cliffs)

Post-construction look. (Arriving Lak Sao right before dark, yikes!)

Day 3: From Lak Sao we headed due west toward Konglor cave. It was a misty/foggy morning so we had a late start. (I'm so glad we did the construction in the late afternoon day before!). AND a bonus: we were able to see the clouds lifting on some beautiful peaks. Wowwwza!

Morning breakfast spot

Fruit lady

Fog lifting...wow

Sara picked this cold spring to explore - awesome! (treacherous road construction but worth it)

A holiday in Laos, many young people came to the spring to swim and hang out...

Yahhhh

Checking the map

Overlook of valley

Roadside bike fix

Bridges - and steady crossing with the bikes

Continuing on, we wanted to make it Konglor cave which was the major destination and half-way point. After fixing Sara's bike chain issue and having a late lunch, we made it to Konglor cave to tour JUST in time! :)

Konglor cave

Cave exit

Motorboat ride through the cave and up river

Buying a hand-made scarf/wrap

Boat trip after motoring through the river

Long tail motorboat through Konglor and up river

Our hotel near Konglor cave

Paul's birthday dinner and 'cake'

Sunrise near Konglor cave

Bob

View from our room

Day 4: From Konglor cave to Phosy Thalang. We stopped at a waterfall, for lunch and decided in Lak Sao to continue though the 2-hour construction slog so we could take showers, stay near the lake and get an early start next day back to Thakhek.

Bike maintenance - oiling the chain every day

Waterfall trail

Roadside fish soup - near Nam Theun river

Nam Theun river view and the 'bomb boats'

Side road bridge

Sunscreen application

Heavy load

Dusted out but arrived at Phosy guesthouse!

DAY 5: From Phosy Thalang to Thakhkek. Beautiful sunrise and breakfast (egg sandwich!). Then, we each headed out on our own this day. This was a cool stop at the climbers swim cave.