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Code: |
VNBKTD98 |
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Routes: |
Hanoi - Hang Kia - Son La
- Lai Chau - Lai Chau - Tam Duong - Sapa
- Bac Ha - Xin Man - Bac Me - Ba Be -
Cao Bang - Quang Hoa - Ban Gioc - Mau
Son - Hanoi |
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Duration: |
15 Days |
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Hang Kia. ~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.
Day 2: Hang Kia - Son La. ~200 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 a 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: Lai Chau (Boating).
After breakfast, we take the boat from Lai Chau
to Nam Ma village (40 km from Lai Chau ~2h) with
stopover at Pa Po waterfall (20 km from Lai Chau
~1h). Beautiful waterfall! Arrive in Nam Ma,
walk to Hoi Ca village (White Thai people), and
have lunch in our captain's house. This region
is totally ignored by mass tourism and the
welcome is exceptional. After lunch, boating
upstream back to Lai Chau in 3 hours.
Day 5: Lai Chau - Tam Duong. ~150 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 karts. 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. ~100 km
Tam Duong market in the morning. There are
colourful Montagnard 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. ~120 km
The ride from Sapa to Bac Ha takes ~4 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 of
Flower H'mong people. Stay overnight in Bac Ha.
Day 8: Bac Ha - Xin Man. ~50 km
Minor roads and tracks, lost in the mountain.
Flower H'mong savagely impose their bright
colours in these wild vastnesses. This road
allows us to have time to stop and admire the
footpaths going through wild bushes. We envisage
going to the market of Can Cau located at the
heart of a mountainous circus, very close to the
Chinese border, where the ethnic groups on each
side of the border meet every Saturday morning.
It is one moment very moving which we have no
idea about time.
Day 9: Xin Man - Bac Me. ~180 km.
Long ride, but easy road from Xin Man to Bao
Lac.
Day 10: Bac Me - Ba Be. ~120 km
Minor road, bumpy and wild will take us through
the jungle. The last 50 km, you follow the river
and end by a waterfall, which means that the
road suddenly goes up as high as the waterfall.
Then you find yourself in Mr. Pirate's house at
the top of Dau Dang waterfall. It is adventurous
but very tough. We spend the night in the
Forestry Guesthouse.
Day 11: Ba Be - Cao Bang. ~150 km
A boat is waiting to takes us and our bikes
across Ba Be lake in 3 hours.
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. We stay in Cao Bang town.
Day 12: Cao Bang - Quang Hoa. ~40 km
Ride in 1 hour and half to reach the beautiful
village of Quang Hoa, in the middle of a
mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung
An people.
Na Tau is a completely unknown area that we
propose to discover it by boat and motorbike.
Rivers and waterfalls everywhere are extremely
beautiful and wild. It is only 15 km from Quang
Hoa.
Spend the night in our friend's house.
Day 13: 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 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 - Hanoi. ~180 km
Promenade around Mau Son in the morning. Ride
down to Lang Son to have lunch. The road is
asphalted all the way and it takes 3 and half
hours to drive back to Hanoi.
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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