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Code: |
VNBKTD99 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Son La
- Lai Chau - Boating on the Black river
- Tam Duong - Sapa - Bac Ha - Market -
Luc Yen - Vu Linh - Ba Be - Quang Hoa -
Mau Son - Bai Chay - Halong - Hanoi |
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Duration: |
16 Days |
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. ~170
km
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims
with traditional farming activity, we pass
through limestone monoliths and into foothills
populated by Muong people. We head straight at
the main range before breaching a high and
beautiful forested pass, which descends into the
hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the
night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt
house in a Thai village.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Son La. ~185 km
On good road looking high over distant mountains
we head up into a forested region populated by
H'mong people before descending into a
mountainous tea-growing region. Soon after we
follow a long valley floor covered in a sea of
rice surrounded by Black Thai villages all the
way to Son La with its bargain-filled market.
Sleep in Hoa Dao Hotel.
Day 3: Son La - Lai Chau. ~200 km
15 passes. Very nice road and stunning
landscape. Probably the most beautiful journey
of the whole trip even the road is in poor
condition. Sleep in Lan Anh Hotel.
Day 4: Boating on the Black river. ~6 h
boating
Lai Chau is where the Da river and Nam Na river
meet. The occasion to go downstream to meet
local people. We propose a picnic to have one
complete day of relaxation and to discover this
wild area.
Day 5: Lai Chau - Tam Duong. ~120 km
The most demanding and remote section of the
drive takes us upstream along the left side of a
Black River tributary through forest on a bumpy
dirt road past isolated pockets of Tay, Thai,
H'mong and Man peoples before breaching a pass
to enter the Tam Duong plain, which is covered
in shark's teeth like limestone karst.
We would visit a Mang village near Sin Ho, the
guide will buy some food to give to the head of
the village, and he later distributes our
donations to the villagers. We stay O/N at
Phuong Thanh Hotel.
Day 6: Tam Duong - Sapa. ~90 km
Tam Duong market in the morning. There are
colourful Montargnard groups living in Tam
Duong: Black H'mong and Dzao. ~10 am: beautiful
ride at slow pace on bumpy road to Sapa. We will
have a big breakfast because there is nothing to
eat on the way, just us with the wildness. We
stay O/N in Cat Cat Hotel.
Day 7: Sapa - Bac Ha. ~90 km
The ride from Sapa to Bac Ha takes ~3 hours,
down from Sapa to Lao Cai (34 km) and up to Bac
Ha (70 km) with stunning landscape. We check in
Dang Khoa Hotel and have lunch. In the
afternoon, we trek to Lung Phinh village. Stay
overnight in Bac Ha.
Day 8: Bac Ha - Market - Bac Ha. ~120 km
Market of Bac Ha: true riot of colour where
flower H'mong carry out the dance. It is a
superb and merry show but which becomes
oppressive about 10-11h with the massive arrival
of the tourists. It is time to leave!
Day 9: Bac Ha - Luc Yen - Vu Linh. ~150 km
We start the day by strolling around Bac Ha to
meet with many ethnic villages in this area. We
then move towards the lake Thac Ba. From Bac Ha
to Luc Yen, the road is easy and sealed all the
way. After Luc Yen, we take a small dirt track
bordered by palm trees, in the middle of the
karsts. A boat is waiting to take us across the
lake of Thac Ba while skirting northern bank (3
hours). We arrive at Vu Linh, a traditional
village of Dao where we sleep in the family of
our friends. The welcome is exceptional.
Day 10: Vu Linh - Ba Be. ~180 km.
Quite a long drive but easy (early departure is
better) from Vu Linh to Ba Be (~250 km). Ba Be
is a nice stop and it is good to arrive the
first day to have a full day (of the second) day
there. However, if you feel like resting before,
it is all the time possible to stop 50 km before
Ba Be. The place before Ba Be is Na Khan, a
village of Tay people lost in the forest.
Day 11: Ba Be.
Easy boating on the lake and river. Go to market
(if it is the day you arrive). Stop at
waterfall, beautiful swim…Ong pirate, the chef
of Dau Dang waterfall where we enjoy dinner.
Down the waterfall, we could visit the village
and a small school (only few pupils during the
summer). We propose to stay in the stilt house
of forest guards.
Day 12: Ba Be - Quang Hoa. ~170 km
Cross Ba Be lake to come back to our captain's
house. Beautiful ride up to Cao Bang province.
Few passes from where you can dominate the area.
The road is easy but many curves. We can stop a
lot. All together, stop for drinks and food it
should be an 8-hour journey. Then ride 1 more
hour to reach the beautiful village of Quang
Hoa, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is
the territory of Nung An people. Spend the night
in our friend's house.
Day 13: Quang Hoa. ~30 km
Option 1
Na Tau is a completely unknown area that we
propose to discover it by raft and motorbike.
Rivers and waterfalls everywhere are extremely
beautiful and wild. It is only 15 km from Quang
Hoa.
Option 2
Having obtained permission from the border
police, we make our way through spectacular
scenery to Vietnam's most impressive waterfalls.
Weather permitting we can swim right up to where
the 50 m high falls hit the river.
Day 14: Quang Hoa - Mau Son. ~180 km
Ride from Quang Hoa to Lang Son. Continue
driving toward the border from Lang Son to Mau
Son. Mau Son is 30 km away from Lang Son, 1.541m
above sea level. Quite cool in the evening!
Night in the guesthouse of Mau Son Resort.
Day 15: Mau Son - Bai Chay. ~180 km
We have a long ride mainly on secondary road,
passing many coalmines along the road. We hope
you are not covered in coal dust when we arrive
in Halong City.
Day 16: Bai Chay - Halong - Hanoi. ~180 km
A boat is waiting to take us to discover the
Halong Bay. We first visit Then Cung cave, then
a fishing village through myriads of limestone.
We have lunch on boat before coming back to Bai
Chay and take the bus to Hanoi. We arrive in
Hanoi around 4 pm.
Included
* English Speaking tour leader (other languages
upon requests)
*All accommodations base on twin-share at hotel,
guesthouse and Home stay.etc…
* Meals detailed in the itinerary (B = Breakfast
, L = Lunches ,D = Dinners)
* A/C transfers and transportation.
* Boat trip mention in itinerary
* Mountain bicycle 24 or 27Speed (LA bike or
Trek bike. etc…)
* Sightseeing excursions as outlined in
itinerary
* Pump, bike tools, spares tubes.
* Spare bike
* Cold water box, small fresh towel.
* Mineral water drinking.
* Seasonal fruits.
* Snacks
Excluded:
* International airfares
* Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)
* Items of a personal nature
* Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
* Mineral water beyond that supplied
* Optional excursions
* Additional transport required due to any
emergency situation
* Personal expenses such as telephone and
laundry bills
* Visa fees
* Departure taxes
* Tipping for guiding
Note
This itinerary allows for 15 field days on the
cycling section. You will be able to decide for
yourself at any time during each of these days
how far you want to cycle. Average daily cycling
distances are approximately 60 -100 km. These
distances may vary according to weather, road
conditions and group fitness and preferences.
This is a sightseeing cycle tour, not a marathon
or time trial.
What to bring:
1. Bike Helmet
2. Small backpack
3. Shoes and shorts for cycling
4. Sunglasses
5. Gloves
6. Professional Pedal
7. Sun block
8. Camera + Film
9. Insect repellent
10. Original Passport
11. Wide brim hat
12. Bike water bottle (if you don't want to use
Green Trail Tours bottle)
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