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Code: |
BIRD13 |
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Routes: |
Ha Noi -
Tam Dao - Sapa - Fansipan - Cuc Phuong -
Ha Long Bay - Kayaking Tour |
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Duration: |
19 Days |
Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi - Tam Dao
Day 2: Tam Dao
Day 3
:
Tam Dao
Day 4: Tam Dao - Ha Noi - Cuc Phuong
Day 5
:
Cuc Phuong
Day 6
:
Cuc Phuong
Day 7
:
Cuc Phuong
Day 8: Cuc Phuong - Ha Noi
Day 9: Hanoi - Sa Pa
Day10: Sapa
Day11: Sa Pa - Fansipan
Day12: Fansipan
Day13: Fansipan
Day14: Fansipan - Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi
Day15: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Day16: Ha Long Bay Kayaking
Day17: Ha Long Bay Kayaking
Day18: Ha Long Bay Kayaking - Hanoi
Day19: Hanoi - Departure
Detail Itinerary
These tours are designed for nature lovers and
birdwatchers. There are many kinds of birds that
you can watch in Vietnam. We give some examples:
Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin,
covers an area of 1500 square km. with more than
a thousand limestone peaks soaring from its
crystalline emerald water. The calm sea provides
an ideal location for sea kayaking as we paddle
through a maze of islets amid dramatic natural
scenery. With our modern kayaking equipment, we
are able to maximize on speed and
maneuverability as we paddle through the open
sea and explore the many hidden lagoons and
stalagmite caves that are difficult to access by
any other means. After a day of paddling, we
unwind on a deserted beach on one of Halong's
many islands and enjoy dinner before retiring to
sleep under a blanket of stars. This tour is
ideal for those people who have very limited
time in their schedule. Combining the best of
sea kayaking and camping it allows the novice
and the experienced kayakers to sample the
delights of this sport in some of Vietnam's most
stunning scenery. Our equipment includes modern
Zebec Kayaks, which are lightweight, stable and
safe with lightweight aluminium paddles. All
passengers and guides are supplied with modern,
international standard buoyancy vests. We also
use lightweight tents, all of which are fitted
with mosquito screens. In keeping with our
philosophies on safety, our guides have been
trained in basic first aid and CPR by an
international medical clinic.
The Fansipan Mt & surrounding in Sapa (300km
Northwest of Hanoi) with the birds of Scaly
Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush,
Red-winged Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Wren
Babbler, Long-billed Wren Babbler,
Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler and Slender-billed
Scimitar Babbler. Some birds are not easy to see
in other places in Vietnam such as Broad-billed
Warbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Rusty-capped
Fulvetta, Red-billed Leiothrix, Golden
Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill,
White-collared Yuhina and Green-tailed Sunbird.
Tam Dao highland (80km North of Hanoi) has the
birds of Blue-naped Pitta, Indochinese Green
Magpie, Green Cochoa, Purple Cochoa, Fujian
Niltava, Chestnut Bulbul, Grey Laughingthrush,
Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Coral-billed
Scimitar-babbler, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler,
Black-chinned Yuhina, Greater Rufous-headed
Parrotbill, and Short-tailed Parrotbill.
Cuc Phuong national park, 25,000sqkm (120km
South of Hanoi) with Chestnut-necklaced
Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Grey Peacock
Pheasant, Red-collared Woodpecker, Red-vented
Barbet, Brown Hornbill, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl,
Pied Falconet,Malayan Night Heron, Bar-bellied
Pitta, Eared Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Rachet-tailed
Treepie, White-winged Magpie, White-tailed
Flycatcher, Spotted Forktail, Limestone Wren
Babbler, Rufous-throated Fulvetta and
Black-browed Fulvetta.
We suggest the following itinerary. According to
your time permission and health state, you can
add or reduce more days ; you can re-arrange the
itinerary or cut off any areas that you’re not
interested in.
Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi - Tam Dao
Arrive in Ha Noi. Greet at the Airport and
transfer directly to Tam Dao hill station.
Overnight in Tam Dao.
Day 2: Tam Dao [B, L, D]
Full day birdwatching. There are several
good trails in the hills above the town, the
Water Tank Trail and the Radio Transmitter Trail
in particular are normally quite productive.
Species to look out for here include the Grey
Laughingthrush, Chestnut Bulbul, Black-chinned
Yuhina and Fork-tailed Sunbird. Overnight in Tam
Dao.
Day 3
:
Tam
Dao [B, L, D]
Another full day to explore the forest above
Tam Dao. Winter visitors that are possible here
include Black-breasted Thrush, Japanese Thrush
and Fujian Niltava. Overnight in Tam Dao.
Day 4: Tam Dao - Ha Noi - Cuc Phuong [B, L, D]
Time for some early morning birding before
meeting up with the driver and transferring by
road to Ha Noi and continuing on to Cuc Phuong
National Park , three hours south of the
capital. Birding on the trails of Cuc Phuong.
The birding is good at Cuc Phuong with over 300
species recorded in the park. Endangered mammals
such as Indochinese Tiger, Clouded Leopard and
the rare Delacour Langur also inhabit the
forests of Cuc Phuong though they are seldom
seen. Other possible bird species include
Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Ruddy Kingfisher,
Silver-breasted Broadbill and White-tailed
Flycatcher. Overnight at Bong Sub-Station Cuc
Phuong
Day 5
:
Cuc
Phuong [B, L, D]
The first national park to be established in
Vietnam , Cuc Phuong is an area of limestone
hills covered with large tracts of primeval
rainforest. Key bird species here include Grey
Peacock-Pheasant, Bar-bellied, Blue-rumped and
Eared Pitta, White-winged Magpie, Limestone
Wren-Babbler, Fujian Niltava and Pied Falconet.
Overnight at Bong Sub-Station Cuc Phuong.
Day 6
:
Cuc
Phuong [B, L, D]
Full day birdwatching in Cuc Phuong National
Park . Overnight in Bong Sub-Station 20 km
inside Cuc Phuong.
Day 7
:
Cuc
Phuong [B, L, D]
Full day birdwatching and overnight in Cuc
Phuong National Park .
Day 8: Cuc Phuong - Ha Noi [B, L, D]
A final morning of birding before meeting up
with the driver and heading back to Ha Noi.
Relax or city tour in the afternoon. Overnight
in Ha Noi.
Day 9: Hanoi – Sa Pa
[B,
L, D]
This morning we enjoy a half day city tour,
seeing the the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing
the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi
Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi
Minh’s house on stilts. The complex also
comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins
date back to the foundation of Hanoi. The next
stop of our trip is the impressive Ethnologic
Museum, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic
minorities, some of which we will see on our
forthcoming days. We also visit the Temple of
Literature and the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem
with its sacred temple. The reminder of the day
is free for your own exploration of Ha Noi until
transferring to the rail way station for a night
train to Lao Cai. The train conditions are very
basic however we will travel in soft sleeper
class which is compartment for 4 passengers. O/N
on board .
Day10: Sapa
[B,
L, D]
Arrive in Lao Cai (if you go by a night train).
Transfer to hotel then birdwatching at O Quy Ho
& Tram Ton pass (2000m sea level). O/N in Sapa.
Day11: Sa Pa - Fansipan
[B, L, D]
After shower at the hotel, briefing with Sapa
local guide while having breakfast. We start
head out and the Hmong porter picks up our
baggage and start ahead, along with the cook.
From our altitude of 1500m, we pass through the
market place and leave Sapa, heading for the
bottom of the valley. After a short while we
pass the Hmong village of Cat Cat, where pigs
are scuffling around freely among the wooden
houses, and the children look curiously at these
strange people. In the bottom of the valley
(1200m) we pass the river of Linh Ho, carefully
keep our balance on the fragile bamboo bridge.
We start a long upward, and later of the day
reach the rainforest, which soften your steps
and block our view for a while. Before
nightfall, we pick up the spot in the jungle and
put up our camp in 2200m altitude. Enjoying the
nocturnal sounds of the forest is a perfect back
ground for the smell of good evening meal, being
prepare by the cook.
Day12: Fansipan
[B,
L, D]
We start out very slowly with a minor descend,
before we again move upwards. If we are lucky,
we might see some of the giant butterflies
living around here, reaching a size of 25cm. At
around 2400m the rainforest gradually gives way
to huge, succulent bamboo, passing we reach a
ridge at 2900m, and now have magnificent view
down through the long Spa valley, over the area
we just have passed, to the mountain range on
the other side. At an altitude of 2400m, the
porters put up our camp for the next 02 nights.
There is a fine view from here, and this wills
our base camp, from this we start the final
ascend the next morning.
Day13: Fansipan
[B,
L, D]
After an early breakfast, we set out on the
final ascend. A few steep stretches must be
passed, but nothing insurmountable, and at the
lunchtime, we reach the summit at 3143m. We now
stand at the highest point of Vet Am, and the
view is stunning, to the North in to China as
well as to South and Laos, and the mountainous
area with Dien Bien Phu in between. Time for a
good long break, before we return to our base
camp at 2400m.
Day14: Fansipan - Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi
[B, L, D]
We enjoy our morning-coffee and the sounds of
nature, while the porter take down the camp and
move ahead down the mountain. Trekking back down
across well-known country goes quickly, and we
will reach the Sapa again in the time for a hot
shower, a cold drink, and transfer to Lao Cai
and board the night train back to Hanoi.
Day15: Hanoi - Halong Bay [B, L,
D]
Arrive Hanoi early in the morning. Pick up
and transfer to restaurant for breakfast. Leave
Hanoi for Halong Bay and arrive around noon.
Board a traditional wooden junk and begin your
exploration of magical Halong Bay, one of
Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations.
An excellent, fresh seafood lunch will be served
on the boat while cruise to the most beautiful
areas in Halong for an afternoon paddling.
You‘ll receive instructions and safety
procedures by Easia ‘s guide. 2,5 hours paddling
to Lady Men Temple through giant cave, beaches.
Arrive in late afternoon just in time to relax
and swim on the beach. Dinner and overnight on
comfortable and charming junk.
Day16: Ha Long Bay Kayaking [B, L, D]
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the
aquamarine water of the bay at its best. After
breakfast and early swim, we continue for 2,5
hours paddling visit to the isolated beach,
floating village. Meet the junk again for lunch
while cruising to Cam Pha. Explore 2 km long
cave by kayaks upon arrival. Dinner and over
night on board
Day17: Ha Long Bay Kayaking [B, L, D]
After breakfast, we get on our kayak again
for 3 hours paddling through the most beautiful
limestone formation through Brandon groups. Meet
the boat for lunch. 2 hours easy paddling in the
afternoon through Bai Tu Long and meet our Junk
again in front of Crossing cave. Dinner and
overnight on board.
Day18: Ha Long Bay Kayaking - Hanoi
[B, L, D]
Today, we take the final paddle to the floating
fishing village. Explore the village and lagoons
by kayaks. Lunch with the crew while the boat
cruise back to the harbor. Transfer back to
Hanoi by vehicle. Farewell dinner at a
restaurant in town and overnight at the hotel in
Hanoi.
Day19: Hanoi - Departure [B]
There is a free time for you to relax or further
explore Ha Noi . The trip ends after your
transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure.
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