Laos Highway 4
 

Hello folks;

Currently in Luang Prabang, ending our mini tour of Laos. I have a question, after hearing the Huay Xai crossing faff (not allowed on the bridge etc etc) we want to use the border south of Pak Beng instead. From Luang Prabang the best route is down the Highway 4 then cross the Mekong at Muang Thadua then go west on 4A. Has anyone done this river crossing? Is it fairly reliable i.e. there will be a boat there right? Is it just little canoes or a slightly bigger vehicle boat? I know the river crossing at Pak Beng is fairly major but going that way is a 300km D-tour from Luang Prabang (Rt 13 and 2W) and I can just cut across this way using route 4 and a minor road heading south out of LP.

Many thanks
Oli

cool.. I found that there is a new-ish bridge. My "recent" Thailand map, nor opensourcemaps, nor google maps showed this so thought I'd better ask around :)

But what about the road conditions on this route (route 4 in Laos), is it paved or just gravel/mud?

Googles map are often not up to date - thats my experience also.....

I will let you know sir :scooter:

Paved, used it last Nov/Dec. Ride safe.

yup, road was all good. Highway 4 had roadworks every now and then to keep things exciting but nothing major. Road 4A (well 4A according to opensourcemaps, or R108 according to google maps, or "thin white line" according to my map) is just as wide as a car and a half and awesomely twisty. Laos standard road with water damage/potholes on every hairpin bend. After Hongsa the road becomes three lanes and very very wide.. its good all the way to the border after this. Hongsa has a big power station so the sudden good road might be explained by that.

Cycling Rte 4 Laos
 

Hi All

I gather you all are riding motorcycles or some other form of motorized transport. I would like some first hand information about this route. I would like to cycle (bicycle) from Kenthao Laos to Luang Prabang. I am interested in the following:

1. road conditions
2. terrain especially mountainous (% grade uphill, uphill distance etc)
3. accommodations along the way

I am an experienced touring cyclist but at 70 with 2 artificial knees I need to be prepared for just about anything along the way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I can not help you all the way but, I have travelled the 4 from Xayaboury to Luang Prabang on a motorcycle in Dec 2014. The road was quite good going but a bit potholed in places, there was also a place where the road had fallen away, but still passable. This was near the bridge over the Mekong
As for terrain yes there are some ups and downs on the route.

I stayed at the Makee Guest House N 19.16078 E101.42769 in Xayaboury, its a bit of a one horse town and most place for food/drink shut early.
and I stayed in the Seng Phet Guesthouse N 19.53340 E102.07946 in Luang Prabang

https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7553/1...b43d231d_c.jpgDay 16 Sayaboury to Luang Prabang1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
This might help

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7574/1...ea709046_c.jpgDay 16 Sayaboury to Luang Prabang by Wayne 66, on Flickr


There are also some photos from the road/day on my RR, page 5, link in signature block

Wayne

Cycling Rte 4 Laos
 

Thanks Lone for your input. The hills are not the real problem as long as they are somewhat gentle in nature. The mountains are my real enemy. I just returned from a trip inside Thailand crossing Chiyaphum province towards Petchabun province. There is a substantial mountain between the 2 provinces with an approximate 8%uphill grade that stretched for about 3.5 - 4.0kms. I was able to handle that even with my loaded bicycle. However, I'm not sure just how many of those kinds of climbs I could handle in a day. I've been able to locate some other data for the same area your speaking about but have nothing from Xayaboury south to the Thai border.

Thanks for the info on accommodations as well.

You're welcome, my partner is from that area, Chum Phae, just to the north of
Chaiyaphum, its a nice area for cycling of any type.
Enjoy the rest of the trip

Wayne