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Code: |
VNBKTD93 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Song
Thao - Luc Yen - Vu Linh - Na Khan - Ba
Be - Quang Hoa - An Chau - Bai Chay -
Halong - Cat Ba - Hai Phong - Hanoi |
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Duration: |
11 Days |
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. ~150
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.
Day 2: Mai Chau - Song Thao. ~180 km
Beautiful landscape. Valley of wax-tree, native
land of lacquer makers in Vietnam.
Song Thao is a very small village lost in the
hills on west bank of Black river. The
particular thing is that this is the place where
we grow lacquer trees to collect the precious
substance called lacquer.
We are welcome in the house of our friends. You
meet Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese). We propose to
stay in the house of the two "uncles", direct
descendant of the ancestor who discovered the
property of this tree and the way to use it,
about four hundreds years ago (quite recently
compared to China who knew about lacquer few
thousands years ago).
Day 3: Song Thao - Luc Yen - Vu Linh. ~150 km
Ride from Song Thao to Vu Linh, we will ride
through limestone and palm trees, on asphalted
road and dirt roads, then reach Thac Ba lake
where a boat will be waiting for us. Then we
will cruise on the lake from west to east, until
the Dao village of Vu Linh. The welcome is
exceptional.
Day 4: Vu Linh - Na Khan. ~250 km
You ride from Vu Linh to Na Khan through Thai
Nguyen (over 200 km). The road is sealed all the
way until Bac Kan and the last part from Bac Kan
to Na Khan is wild and little bumpy. Na Khan is
a Tay village, lost in the middle of the
primitive forest. Mr. Lo, chef of the village
will welcome us in his house.
Day 5: Na Khan - Ba Be. ~50 km
Short drive from Na Khan to Ba Be on bumpy road.
Lunch at our captain's house (Mr. Dang, we call
him Zi Dang). 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 6: 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 7: Quang Hoa. ~100 km
Option 1
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.
Option 2
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.
Day 8: Quang Hoa - An Chau. ~210 km
Ride from Quang Hoa to An Chau. An Chau is an
ecologic zone, 80 km from Lang Son, the road
from the turning to An Chau is bumpy. We propose
to stay overnight in a guesthouse in town.
Day 9: An Chau - Bai Chay - Halong. ~80 km
Ride to Bai Chay in 3 hours on the mountain
road, passing many coalmines along the road. We
hope you are not covered in coal dust when we
arrive in Halong City.
Promenade along the coast in Halong City. A
50-seat boat is waiting to take us and our bikes
to cruise in Halong Bay. Lunch with seafood on
the boat. Boating to Thien Cung cave, fishing
village and then through myriads of limestone to
Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach Fruit Islet). Swimming
and sleep here.
Day 10: Halong Bay - Cat Ba. Boating.
Cruise to Cat Ba. Cat Ba is the far end of
Halong Bay. Cat Ba still live from the resource
that the sea offers. The tourism is developed
and of high quality. The Cat Ba Bay is a
condensed of Halong Bay, its labyrinth of
limestone so dense that it is difficult to
imagine we are on the sea.
We created this itinerary - the floating village
Van Gia. They are our personal friends and the
relation with them is intimate, even knowing
that some companies now also pass through there.
Finally yet importantly, Monkey Island (Cat Dua
Islet) was totally ignored by mass tourism when
we propose to stop there. It has got nothing
special beside the fact that there is nobody
except monkeys and one family who takes care of
their security.
Day 11: Cat Ba - Hai Phong - Hanoi. ~120 km,
~3 h + 2½ h ferry.
Promenade in Cat Ba and ride to Cat Ba National
park (18 km from town). The ferry from Cat Ba to
Hai Phong is at 13.30 and takes 2 and half
hours. Then ride on the nice asphalted road on
Highway 5 to Hanoi. We estimate that you arrive
in Hanoi around 7 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 09 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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