An exceptional island-hopping adventure from one palm-fringed tropical island to another, culminating in Coron to snorkel or dive on a fleet of Japanese shipwrecks, and to kayak around spectacular, towering limestone islands.

Northern Laos especially presents many great trekking opportunities. Not only is the terrain very mountainous and largely swathed in forest, it is also home to a dazzling array of highly colourful minority tribal people who still pursue the traditional slash and burn (swidden) farming methods, unchanged for a thousand years.

Mai Chau is located 135 km south-west of Hanoi in the Northern province of Hoa Binh which is bordered by Son La in the West, Phu Tho and Ha Tay in the North, Ha Nam and Ninh Binh in the East, and Thanh Hoa in the South.

Cycle Southern Laos travels from the southern Laos lowlands of Pakse to the former colonial outpost of Champasak, then to the tranquil presence of Si Phan Don and the lush coffee plantations of the Bolovens Plateau.