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Code: |
VNBKTD94 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Yen
Binh - Vu Linh - Ba Be - Quang Hoa - Na
Tau - Ban Gioc - Mau Son - Bai Chay -
Halong - Cat Ba. Boating - Hanoi |
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Duration: |
12 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 - Yen Binh. ~200 km
A long but beautiful drive from Mai Chau to Yen
Binh, we will go up, north direction along the
Da (Black) river until Yen Binh where we spend
the night. Yen Binh is a small town quite near
Thac Ba lake.
Day 3: Yen Binh - Vu Linh. ~100 km
A boat is waiting for us in Xuan Long to bring
us to Vu Linh, at our Dao friends' village. You
will cross all the lake (~3 hours) and we
estimate that we will reach the village at about
18:00. The welcome is exceptional at Dao village
of Vu Linh.
Day 4: Vu Linh - Ba Be. ~250 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 5: Ba Be. Boating.
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 - Na Tau - Quang Hoa. ~30 km
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. On the return, we invite you for the
aperitif at the village of Phuc Sen, artisan
village Nung An, the owner is the brother of our
host.
Day 8: Quang Hoa - Ban Gioc - Quang Hoa. ~100
km
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 9: Quang Hoa - Mau Son. ~180 km
We slowly leave the region of the karsts to find
the forest. Then descending by famous colonial
road N. 4 until the frontier city of Lang Son.
We then climb Mau Son mount (1.541 m) to spend
the night at its top from where we dominate all
the area to which China is near.
Stay in a hotel in a former French atmosphere,
which is recently restored.
Day 10: Mau Son - Bai Chay. ~180 km
We have a long ride mainly on secondary road,
passing many coalmines along the road. The road
goes down towards the plains. Some sections are
in bad conditions.
Arrive in Bai Chay. Check in.
Day 11: Bai Chay - Halong - Cat Ba. Boating.
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. It is 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 nothing special
beside the fact that there is nobody except
monkeys and one family who takes care of their
security.
We propose to sleep on the boat near Cat Dua
Islet.
Day 12: Cat Ba - Bai Chay - Hanoi. ~170 km
After breakfast, we take another 4-hour boat
cruise to see the East part of Halong Bay (Bai
Tu Long) which was beautifully framed in the
French film Indochina starred by Catherine
Deneuve. Lunch at Hai Ninh restaurant before
driving back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at ~5 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 10 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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