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Code: |
VNBKTD95 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi - Hang Kia (Moc
Chau) - Gia Phu - Yen Binh - Na Khan -
Ba Be - Quang Hoa - Na Tau - Ban Gioc -
Mau Son - Halong Bay. Boating - Cat Ba.
Boating - Hai Phong - Hanoi |
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Duration: |
13 Days |
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Hang Kia (Moc
Chau). ~200 km
Ride to the direction of the West. We pass
through Hoa Binh town, then along the Laotian
border on our left and Da (Black) river on our
right. We leave the river in the mountainous
cirque of Mai Chau to go up until the plateau of
Mai Chau.
Multiple horizons in range of green and grey.
Before the plateau, we turn right toward the
border until the H'mong village of Hang Kia,
which accommodates us for the night.
The other option is to ride on to Moc Chau and
sleep in a hotel.
Day 2: Hang Kia (Moc Chau) - Gia Phu. ~100 km
We cross the Da river reservoir, then about 30
km dirt road until Gia Phu, a Thai village near
a small river.
You will meet no tourist there, but also
accommodation in Hang Kia and Gia Phu are quite
simple. Welcome is as usual: beautiful.
If you choose this itinerary, you have to be
ready for some hard off-road riding.
Day 3: Gia Phu - Yen Binh. ~120 km
Dirt road ~60 km (technical). This crossing from
South to North, on the west side of Da river is
very wild and beautiful. Many different ethnics
live there and different types of cultivation.
Day 4: Yen Binh - Na Khan. ~200 km
Quite a long ride but easy (early departure is
better) from Yen Binh to Na Khan. Na Khan is a
village of Tay people lost in the primitive
forest. We are welcome in the house of Mister
Lô, the chief of the village.
Day 5: Na Khan - Ba Be. ~60 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 - 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: Halong Bay. Boating.
Promenade along the coast in Halong City. Start
boating at 10 am.
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 12: 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.
Arrive in Cat Ba after lunch. Then we propose to
promenade along the coast or to ride to Cat Ba
National Park.
Day 13: Cat Ba - Hai Phong - Hanoi. ~120 km
Ferry to Hai Phong starts at 1.30 pm and ride
back to Hanoi on Highway 5. Arrive in Hanoi
around 6 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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