Multi-sport Vietnam. Adventure junkies will revel in this trip to a country that offers some of the best playscapes in South East Asia.
Our adventure kicks off in Hanoi, where we meander on foot and rickshaw around the bustling old quarter.We spend a few days on mountain bikes snaking along dirt roads that carve around steep mountains, through remote villages and alongside fertile meadows. To add a burst of cultural flavor we trek into the Giang Ta Chai to see the colourful Dzao hill tribe. The wow factor continues when we slip into sea kayaks and paddle amongst rugged limestone cliffs that rise out of the turquoise sea on Halong Bay. This 12-day ramble is loaded with culture, nature and adventure and is sure to satisfy your adventure cravings. (tour code BH)
2012 Departure Dates & Costs
2012: February 8, March 14, April 4, May 2, September 26
Price per person based on twin share $ 2,699 USD from Hanoi
CUSTOMIZED TRIPS TO VIETNAM AVAILABLE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH MINIMUM 2 PERSONS
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi
Upon arrival into the Hanoi airport you will be met and transferred to a comfortable hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you'll likely have free time to relax, get adjusted and explore a bit of Hanoi's bustling Old Quarter. In the evening you'll meet your guide and enjoy a savory spread of Vietnamese dishes followed by a visit the Water Puppet Theatre for a presentation on this traditional form art form. (D)
Day 2: Hanoi (Hiking and Rickshaw Riding)
After a hearty breakfast we'll set off to explore some of Hanoi's historic sites, such as The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, The Ethnology Museum, One Pillar Pagoda and the 11th century Temple of Literature. After lunch, we'll ride in rickshaws , touring the historic 36th Street Old Quarter--it's a shoppers and photographers delight as the streets are alive with shops and vendors making and selling everything imaginable. You'll have free time to dine on your own and prepare for this evening's 9:30 pm night train to Lao Cai. The air-conditioned sleeping berths have 4 beds. (B,L)
Day 3: Lao Cai - Bao Nhai-Trung Do (Mountain Biking)
Our train pulls into Lao Cai between 6 & 6:30 am. We'll stop at a nearby restaurant to refuel with a hearty breakfast then gear up and cycle 46 kms (25 miles) from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai. The winding road is paved with slight to moderate elevation changes. This is a very colorful ride, bursting with cultural encounters. We'll pedal alongside commuting locals doubling up on banana seat bicycles. Afterwards we'll board a longtail boat for relaxing float up the Chay River. This is a good opportunity to observe life along the river. We'll break for a picnic lunch in the 'Fairy Cave' then head back down river to the sleepy hamlet of Trung Do where we'll meet the Tay hill tribe people. They'll host us for dinner and overnight with warm and gracious hospitality. The accommodation here is basic, but the cultural expereince is worth every moment. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Trung Do-Coc Ly - Bac Ha (Mountain Biking)
We begin early with breakfast in the village then time to wander around the village meeting the locals and photographing the mountainous and fertile landscape. From here we'll transfer by vehicle to the weekly market in Black Dzao Village. This experience is a burst of color and culture as the Flower H'mong, Black Dzao, Tay and Nung Hill Tribes all gather for this important social and economic event. Once we've had our share of the market we transfer to our biking launch pad and pedal 18 kms (10 miles) on a snaking rocky road. Our support vehicle follows closely for weary riders on the steep glute burning stretches. The hearty in the lot can attempt the ascent all the way to the top of the high pass of Bac La or catch a lift. Midday we reach our hotel in Bac La and break for lunch. Afterwards we'll hop back on our bikes and ride 8 kms (5 miles) around town with a stop in Ban Pho Village to have tea with an ethnic family. Finally it's a single track stretch that winds through plum gardens and rice fields and past the mud homes of the local inhabitants. We return to Bac Ha for dinner and overnight at a comfortable hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Bac Ha - Lao Cai - Sapa (Mountain Biking)
After breakfast we ride out of town for the long glide down the stunning Bac Ha pass to Bao Nhai, taking in the incredible vista views scattered with local villages and verdant plum orchards. After lunch in a local house in Bao Nhai, we continue pedaling back to Lao Cai where our support vehicle awaits to take us up to Sapa. The evening is free to relax and explore Sapa and its market. Overnight in a comfortable hotel. (B,L)
Day 6: Sapa - Ta Van (Trekking)
You'll welcome this relaxed morning to recover from your cycling and take in the stunning scenery of the towering Hoang Lien Mountains. Your guide will meet you late morning and take you for a typical Vietnamese lunch. Afterwards we'll embark on a 3-hour trek down this stunning valley to Ta Van Village. We'll be well taken care of by the hospitable Dzay people, where we overnight in their traditional stilt home. (L,D)
Day 7: Ta Van - Sapa (Trekking)
After breakfast and a farewell to our Day hosts, we set off for a trek to Giang Ta Chai to see the colourful Dzao hill tribe. We thread through the spongy valley, stop for a picnic lunch then continue trekking to Seo Trung Ho. Our driver and vehicle will meet us here and transfer us us back up to Sapa. We pick up our gear from the hotel then drive back down the mountain to Lao Cai. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to relax and enjoy dinner in Lao Cai before taking the night train back to Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 8: Free Day in Hanoi
Our train reaches Hanoi approximately 5:30 am. We'll be greeted at the station and transferred to a cozy hotel with time to catch up on sleep and rest from memorable northern excursion. This is a free day to explore Hanoi, take in some of its many parks and lakes, galleries and museums, and lots of time for shopping in the bustling markets. Overnight in a comfortable hotel.
Day 9: Halong Bay (Sea Kayaking)
We have an early departure this morning, departing at 5:30 am and driving 2 hours to the sea port of Hai Phong. We stop for breakfast in a restaurant then board the express boat to Cat Ba Island (8:20 am), arriving in Cat Ba Island at 10:00am. We transfer across the island to the doc and board a small boat for a short 20-minute ride to our private base camp. Settle into your beach hut then enjoy a swim in the sea or a walk along the whitesand beach. Lunch on the coast is a delicious spread of savory, fresh local seafood. After lunch our guide will give full instruction on gear and safety, demonstrate the basic paddle strokes and outline our paddling route. We'll slip into our sleek kayaks and set out for an afternoon of paddling. We return to base camp for a fresh water shower and a great dinner before retiring to our cozy huts for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Halong Bay (Sea Kayaking)
Today is a full day of paddling, exploring the bay at a leisurely pace, and time to take a closer look at the amazing karsts. We'll explore the labyrinth of caves that lead to stunning lagoons, paddle to floating villages to see this unique way of life, and stop to chill out at one of the many beaches here. We'll be met by a support boat, which we'll board for lunch, then return to the sea spend the remainder of the afternoon paddling. The support boat will pick us up late afternoon to motor us back to the base camp for dinner. Overnight at our cozy base camp. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Halong Bay - Hanoi (Sea Kayaking)
Early risers can revitalize with a morning dip in the ocean before breakfast. You can enjoy a last paddle of the bay or merely hang on the beach and chill in a hammock with a good book. The paddlers return to base camp in time for lunch, then we all cruise back to Cat Ba Island, passing floating villages and market along the way. We take the express boat back to Hai Phong then bus back to Hanoi, arriving in Hanoi at 7.30 pm. Overnight in a comfortable hotel. (B,L)
Day 12: Departure
We'll pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your journey home. (B)
Additional Information
Treks are also offered in Thailand & Laos. Please call us: 1 (800) 690.7887.
