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Can anyone recommend any rides or companies that run rides in sth est asia? Ive looked at many companies on the net but am after as much guidance as possible. We are a group of 5 experienced riders that r looking for some challenging riding with scenic and cultural experiences. We are looking to spend about a month in total. Any help would be fantastic

Sven.   A number of companies do rides through SE Asia. Send me your email address and I will give you more detail.
Phil R.
   

 ::)

Do you say anything or just keep quiet?

Sven

For Laos try Green Discovery with offices in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. They hire their bikes from a French expat in Vientiane, well maintained XR 250's. They have good guides if you want to do the Ho Chi Minh Trail (literally 100's of possible trails heading north/south close to Vietnam)and they also hire GPS' but it's difficult as the trails change and the maps are typically out of date French or better German ones. Most trails are not shown on any maps. The best riding I found to be pretty much all over Laos. Bike hire is around US$25/day. Australian license is sufficient.

In Cambodia try Christian who owns the Rusty Keyhole in Kampot. He can handle bike hire and act as tour guide. I highly recommend the Cardoman Mountains, but often the rivers can make it impassable. The north and NE is also quite nice and easier riding than the Cardomans. You will need a Cambodian license(US$40/year but a 28 day wait and also no local license no insurance in case of an accident) or just don't stop for the police, which is the normal practice there. Don't hire any trail bikes from New New or Lucky Lucky in Phnom Penh, they won't last the distance. Bikes are typically XR 250's but you can also get CRM 250's and newer DR's also. Trail Bike hire from US$13/day to US$25/day for the better maintained/newer ones. Moped hire from US$3/day.

In Thailand I hired my bikes from Mr.Beer in Chiang Mai. Brand new KTM 250's. About US$9/day. The best riding I found was in the NW and NE of Chiang Mai. Thailand is not a country I would head to to do any sort of trail bike riding.

In Vietnam your only real choice of bike is the Russian Minsk. These can be easily hired but prices vary quite a lot as do the condition of the bike but they are typically guaranteed to break down regardless, but just about everyone in the country knows how to get them going again, to the next mechanic anyway.

China, don't bother. Too much hassle.

I haven't used a tour company in any of those countries instead wanting the freedom to explore at my own pace but if short on time it's a great idea. I also suggest riding in the dry season as the risk of setting off an UXO (unexploded ordinance) is far less. It's advisable to read up on those risks.

Cheers

Devon

One more thing Sven, do not try to take your bike across borders in the countries I have mentioned. I strongly suggest you travel between countries by other means and hire or buy in the next country. If you wish to discuss this please send me a personal message and we can go from there.

I have no idea idea of where you want to go, so that would also help

Cheers

Devon

Hopefully u say something!!!!

Thank you for the message Devon. My names Kris, sven is a professional name ;) , It sounds like your quite experienced in the region. Ive travelled through vietnam, cambodge, laos and thailand as a back packer and now its time to ride it! Ive found a company that does a ride through cambodge and laos which i thought would be great but not so sure now. Laos and cambodia r the 2 countries we are leaning towards. We'd love to do the whole region but with just a month to spare do u think its better to stick to one country or????? If thats the case then i think laos is probably the one for us. We are a group of 5, 32year olds so we're looking for some party as well

That comment was in regard to Phil asking for your Email address :)

If you are chasing the email address of anyone on this website it's a matter of clicking on their username when it appears (to see there profile) and the info is in there.

If you can't see it you - can send them a PM.

There plenty of opportunities for electronic econtact.


Great work Devon. Thanks for sharing that with Kris. Maybe we should get you to head up the Asian Motorcycle Trail Risers Association..  ;D


Phil will be busy enough setting up the American and African ones !

Kris, I to would also lean more toward Laos for sure, both for partying and riding. But the number one site is Ankor Wat.

On the party scene, Laos has 3 places to put your heals up.

The first is Vang Vien (spelling is probably wrong but the partying is definitely wrong!) I spent a week there and had more fun than I deserved. The place is known for tubing down the river and along the way there are many bars, each has the worlds biggest slide, flying fox, swing etc.. There is a good chance you will die there as a result of an accident, and a better chance you will meet someone there by accident. It's quite hedonistic and a lot of fun. To top it off it is set on a river surrounded by limestone karsts. Worth doing the rafting more than once!

The others in Laos is either Vientiane or Luang Prabang (Id lean more to the latter). Ever tried 10 pin bowling whilst smoking an opium laced joint? (I have never tried that because it would be unprofessional and irresponsible of me) Well if you want to, Luang Prabang is the place. A most amazing euphoric drug, with no donwer, just a euphorial feeling of well being and peace throughout I am told.

I have photos on my facebook of some of my travels in Laos including the opium fields along and inside the chinese border (an opium manufacturing facility, no chinese visa required), hill and valley ethnic minority tribes throughout Laos, and film through the jungles on single track. Many jungles are completely remote and have tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, numerous monkeys and other unheard of animals in them. The ethnic minorities can be a mixed bag regarding a welcome, but most are fantastic and will bend over backwards to ensure you feel welcome and often offer you a place to stay for the night, even if it is against the governments rules. It is worth reading up on the Nixon secret war. The busiest airport in the world was in Laos and it was in the east bordering Vietnam and the USA used H'mon (spelling) to operate it.

I did the trip on my own on a hired xr250 and found myself mostly lost. This was by far the most amazing experience of my trail bike riding life. I spent 4 weeks on the bike.

The most difficult and rewarding riding I encountered in Cambodia was in the Cardoman Mountains . It took me 4 days to travel about 200km. I slept in a hammock with a built in mosquito net slung between 2 trees. I did it on a hired xr250. It is thick overgrown jungle where the Khmer Rouge had hidden out throughout the 1990's, even though the Vietnamese over-through them in 1979. Land mines are a danger and you may see them washed up at river crossings after a heavy rain. One creek crossing consists of a single moss covered tree spanning 10mtrs with a 5 mtr drop below. The creek walls are vertical so riding across is not an option. Hairy stuff. You are cut off from the world here and there is nothing but jungle, no people, no food, no fuel, nothing. Your on your own. The rivers can be in flood when the rest of the country has not seen a drop of rain in months. The area has its own climate.

Laos is the place for an extended trip if trail bike riding is the aim with fun on the side. I think I will do it again soon. Cambodia has great trail bike riding, but putting it together will would be hard I feel (its not that big a country), it's mostly flat and riding between rice fields is fun, but only for a couple of hours, not a couple of weeks. Cambodia on a trail bike, in my view, can be covered in under 2 weeks.

Cheers

Devon

Ah Vang Vien... What a place! Went there for 2 nights and stayed a week! Ive indulged in all she had to offer and would happily do it again... Didn't make it to luang prabang unfortunately ran out of time due to the delights of vang vien.
Thanks for the insights Devon, its been gret for some help
Kris