Southern Laos
Cycling Tour Don Det & Don Khone with Lipphi Falls Zipline
Pedal across historic French colonial trails, discover hidden beaches, and zipline over the thundering Mekong River.
Immerse yourself in the laid-back island life of Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) with an active full-day cycling and high-flying adventure. This tour guides you across the connected islands of Don Det and Don Khone, tracing old French colonial railway tracks, stopping at historic ports, relaxing on white sand river beaches, and culminating in a thrilling multi-station zipline over the roaring Lipphi Falls.
Highlights
- Full-day island cycling route using premium mountain bikes
- Crossing the historic French railway bridge connecting the islands
- Exploring the old French Port of Hang Khone and its vintage locomotive
- Swimming and unwinding at the hidden sands of Khone Yai Beach
- 2 hours of adrenaline-pumping ziplining directly over the thundering Mekong rapids
09:30 AM : Tour Take-off from Don Det
Our tour departs from the Paradise View Restaurant on Don Det. We adjust our quality mountain bikes and begin cycling along the scenic trails toward the southern end of Don Det. Pedal past local villages while listening to the distant roar of the rapids and watching the fast, powerful waters of the Mekong rush by.
Starting the cycling path along the Mekong on Don Det
10:00 AM : Historic French Bridge & Khone Pa Soy
We head to the hard-top road to cross the historic French colonial bridge that links Don Det to Don Khone. Cycling north past Don Khone village, we trace a route westward and south to reach the trail leading to Khone Pa Soy Waterfall. We pause safely at the entrance to photograph the rushing falls before continuing down the island's main road.
Crossing the colonial French Bridge to Don Khone
10:40 AM : Old French Port of Hang Khone & Lunch
Enjoy a slow, relaxed 25-to-30-minute ride southward to the old colonial port of Hang Khone. This historic site marked the terminus of the island railway system designed to bypass the impassable cataracts. See an authentic old rusty locomotive on display and view the community memorial dedicated to the Irrawaddy dolphins. We take a 70-to-80-minute lunch break at a local riverside restaurant here (food costs are not included).
Historical French locomotive on display at Hang Khone
12:20 PM : Relaxing at Khone Yai Beach
Hop back on the bicycles for a casual ride toward Khone Yai Beach, navigating a 1 km bumpy dirt trail to reach the sands. While the main section serves as a harbor for local fishermen, we follow a small footpath out to the right for about 100 meters to discover a lovely, secluded little beach stretch. We stop here for a 30-minute break to relax and swim in the calm river waters.
Swimming break at the hidden sands of Khone Yai Beach
13:30 PM : Lipphi Falls Zipline Adventure
Refreshed from the swim, we ride 15 to 20 minutes to the Lipphi Falls Water Park. After parking our bikes near the entrance gates, we walk up to the main viewpoint area to witness the crashing weight of the falls. Following a thorough equipment fitting and safety briefing, we spend two hours flying along ziplines that crisscross directly above the thundering, turbulent cascades of the Mekong River.
Crisscrossing the thundering Mekong on the Lipphi Falls Zipline
16:30 – 17:00 PM : Eastern Island Route to Green Paradise
We head back to our mountain bikes at the gate for the final leg of our island journey. We cross the French Bridge back onto Don Det, turning sharp right to follow the well-paved road along the scenic eastern coastline. The tour safely wraps up at the Green Paradise office at 17:00 PM.
Finishing the island circuit tour by late afternoon
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included: High-quality mountain bike rental, local island tour guide, admission entrance fees to the Lipphi Waterfall complex, and full access/equipment for the Lipphi Zipline canopy tour.
Optional Add-ons: Dedicated English-speaking guide assistance is available for an extra $50 USD per day. (Personal food, lunches, and drinks are excluded).