Cambodian motorcycle tour company Ride Expeditions is starting escorted trips into neighbouring Laos to ride the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail for the first time.
The historic trail was a surreptitious military supply route for North Vietnam troops and supplies into South Vietnam via the neighbouring countries of Cambodia and Laos during the Vietnam War. 
The US National Security Agency’s Official History of War called it “one of the greatest achievements of military engineering of the 20th Century”.
Fifty years later, the trail still exists as a network of trails, paths and roads over rugged mountains and through triple-canopy jungle.
Now adventure riders can venture along its length thanks to the guys at Ride Expeditions based in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Ride Expeditions managing director Toby Jacobs says old army bases and war remnants are still present on the trail.
He says the trail offers amazing trail riding, authentic Cambodian and Laos culture and a unique insight into the history of the brutal Vietnam War.
Ride Expeditions has recruited experienced and knowledgeable guides to travel with the riders and explain the historical relevance of every location they visit.
The journey starts in Cambodia and ends in northern Laos.
“We’re very excited to be expanding our operations into Laos,” Toby says. “This is a
country we’ve been very eager to explore for a long time and we’re thrilled to have found expert guides that can join our team and help us create these new adventures.
“In a similar way to Cambodia, the history of Laos makes it an incredibly interesting place to travel and the dirt bikes enable us to reach those places that are inaccessible to other tourists.”
The ride will be supported with a western medic, a team of mechanics, a support vehicle carrying a full stock of spare parts and a spare bike.
Riders can choose between a Honda XR 250/400 or a Yamaha WR250.
For the first “scouting trip” into Laos, Ride Expeditions is offering a 25% “Explorers Discount”.