3 Brits & 2 Septics ride for Laos PART 4

[KTMphil]

3 Brits & 2 Septics ride for Laos PART 4

Route "4B" as its known, starts 6 km east of Honsga. a left turn from the road ESE to Xayabouray. There a 6 water crossings, none more than 1/2 a wheel deep in dry season. It is about 120km from Hongsa to luang Prabang on this road, all hard dirt in dry season.

Route 4B east of Hongsa is shown below, it goes all the way to the Mekong opposite Luang Prabang

Getting some fuel in Hongsa before we leave - only 91 octane is available in Laos

The 1st water crossing 200 meters after the left turn onto 4B, not deep at all

Route 4B to Luang Prabang is full of steep mountain roads and great scenery, all hard packed dirt for 120km

Robert creating some interest at a village school

The next water crossing a small stream

Beautiful views from 4B towards Luang Prabang

Some beautiful people from the villages on 4B towards Luang Prabang

Route 4B to LPQ further east

Next river crossing with a turn to left to exit

2 meter Robert creating a stir again

A lady with tonight's dinner under her arm

A Laos soldier we met at a checkpoint

The next water crossing was a little trickier as the water was murky. I had crossed this 3 months ago, so there was no need to wade across and test it

No trouble for metric man

Some more villagers further east down 4B

One more water crossing Rob checking it out first

Then across

SEE PART 5
http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...128-3-brits-2-septics-ride-laos-part-5-a.html

 

[MustakimQZ]

Phil,

This looks brilliant. Is April still good time to go and do this 4B?

 

[Lone Rider]

Should be no problem in April but it will be very hot and dusty as there will be very little, if any, rain till the start of the rainy season (normally starting in May). Anyway, will be passing there in a week or two and will check the river crossings for your big BMW and will let you know soonest.

 

[MustakimQZ]

That'll be awesome. Looking at these roads, hot and dusty I can take, but I have to say nay if it rains. I'll await and thank you for your feedback on the conditions.

 

[nikhuzlan]

Should be no problem in April but it will be very hot and dusty as there will be very little, if any, rain till the start of the rainy season (normally starting in May). Anyway, will be passing there in a week or two and will check the river crossings for your big BMW and will let you know soonest.

Any update? Moose, and a couple more guys, me included plan to ride the same route so any info will be much appreciated. We have to sacrifice the Chiang Khong - Hwy3 Luang Namtha/Boten to do this road.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lone Rider]

Just did this road about a week ago in my truck. From the border north of Nan to Hongsa the road is unpaved but it is being upgraded. While the road is generally quite good hard packed dirt, there are also a few places with a thick layer of very fine powdery stuff which makes riding on a bike very unpleasant and difficult. From Hongsa to Luang Prbabng the unpaved road is good and the river crossings should pose no problem at all.

Just to give you an indication of how long it will take to travel along this road, it took us in the truck 4 hours from Luang prabang to Hongsa (about 130 km) and from Hongsa to the border about a bit over an hour (about 40 km). We did not stop a lot so, in case you are going to take a lot of pictures, the time will increase considerably.

The picture shows the elevation profile of the road from Luang Prabang to Hongsa - quite steep in places and if it would rain it probably would be very difficult on a road bike.

 

[nikhuzlan]

Thanks for the speedy reply. Really invaluable first person info.
Cheers

 

[alexuk]

thanks for the route map.
I want to do this road too in april or may

 

[KTMphil]

thanks for the route map.
I want to do this road too in april or may

I'll do it again Alex - it's a fabulous road