Vibrant Northern Vietnam Mountain Bike Tour

Duration: 12 Days (9 days cycling)
Start & Finish: Hanoi
Skill Level:
Support: Support vehicle, guide, bike trailer & bike mechanic
Group Size: min 3 / max 10
Best Time: October to May

A 12 Day MTB tour through the breathtakingly beautiful regions of northern Vietnam and then relaxing in the tranquil beauty of Halong Bay.

Through lush hillsides and great mountain ranges – the northern Vietnam cycling adventure promises to be a mountain biker’s paradise. Experience the cultural diversity as you mountain bike through remote villages interacting with the local tribes as you become absorbed in this magnificent country. This mtb trip into the hills of Northern Vietnam is full of delights – challenging rides, spectacular scenery and finishing off in the tranquil beauty of Halong Bay. This is one opportunity you cannot afford to miss out on... mountain biking bliss.

Most travellers to Vietnam are attracted by the country's wonderful natural beauty. From green rice fields dotted with the conical hats of workers in Vietnam's north stretching to the fascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south. Welcome to a world where the colours are more vivid, where the landscapes are bolder, the coastline more dramatic, where the history is more compelling, where the tastes are more divine, where life is lived in the fast lane. This world is Vietnam, the latest Asian dragon to awake from its..slumber.

Nature has blessed Vietnam with a bountiful harvest of soaring mountains, a killer coastline and radiant rice fields, Vietnam is a cracker. Inland, peasant women in conical hats still tend to their fields, children ride buffalos along country paths and minority people scratch out a living from impossible gradients.

Our tour focuses on the northern part of Vietnam, off the main beaten track of the general tourist rush where a rider will experience the dramatic natural beauty of this awesome country. Interactions with remote mountain tribes serves to highlight the fabulous cultural experiences each person will absorb in this magnificent country.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival (B)
Day 2: Hanoi- Nghia Lo (B-L-D)
Day 3: Nghia Lo- Than Uyen (B-L-D)
Day 4: High road to Sapa (B-L-D)
Day 5: Sapa- Ban Ho valley- Sapa (B-L)
Day 6: Sapa - Ban Khoang - Bac Ha (B-L-D)
Day 7: Bac Ha (B-L-D)
Day 8: Bac Ha. Night train to Hanoi (B-L-D)
Day 9: Hanoi – Halong (B-L-D)
Day 10: Kayaking (B-L-D)
Day 11: Halong- Hanoi (B-L-D)
Day 12: Departure (B)

TOUR COST
The cost of this tour is dependent on group size and is quoted in South African Rand for South African clients and in USD for foreign clients per person sharing.

Single supplement will be an additional USD = $222 per person

*Please note :

• A group size less than 3 persons OR greater than 10 persons will be quoted separately
• Quotes will be supplied for personally customized tours and additional activities not included in the tour price
• Tour prices are subject to change due to international exchange rates

Day 1: Arrival (B)
On arrival to Hanoi airport and after clearing the Immigration formalities, you are transferred to the city for check-in at your hotel. In the afternoon you will go on a tour of the City including a visit to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi's old quarter. In the evening after dinner, you will be treated to a traditional water puppet show.
Overnight in Maison D'Hanoi – ROH room.

Day 2: Hanoi- Nghia Lo (B-L-D)
Morning drive to Ba Khe (180km/4hrs+). Warm up cycling to Nghia Lo (84km), getting to see the Thay hill tribe and the beautiful landscape of the northern countryside. Nghia Lo is one of the four famous rice baskets of Northwest Vietnam which, inhabited by the Thai people. On on arrival in Nghia Lo, you will be able to cycle to the surrounding area to visit the Thay villages.
Overnight in a simple hotel in Nghia Lo – Mien Tay hotel – Standard room.

Day 3: Nghia Lo- Than Uyen (B-L-D)
Single trails for 2hrs. Drive onto Mu Cang Chai for lunch. Cycle to Than Uyen (90km). This is a great day out with full view of mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, jungle, and tiered paddy fields rising and falling as far as the eye can see. Today you will see the HMong, Dzao and Tay hill tribes.
Overnight in a simple hotel in Than Uyen – Hoan Quan hotel – Standard room.

Day 4: High road to Sapa (B-L-D)
Single track ride around Than Uyen, then drive a to Than Thuoc for lunch. Drive to T-junction for the BIG climb to the Tram Ton pass (highest pass in Vietnam of 1900m). You will be travelling between 1000m-3000m high mountains, ending up on the great descend to Sapa (1600m). The deeper in you$ go, the more hill tribes you see - wearing amazingly elaborate and colourful costumes - with huge earrings. These are people who have been living in the hills for over a thousand years and their ways of life have changed very little from generation to generation.
Overnight in Bamboo hotel in Sapa – Superior room.

Day 5: Sapa- Ban Ho valley- Sapa (B-L)
This is a day trip with a mixture of dirt road, single trails, trekking with the bike and steep down hills. You will be walking and cycling from one village to another, sometimes the trails ending up running through a local house's backyard. (Don't worry, those guys do not mind). If you are the first rider into a village, their jaws literally drop to the ground in amazement - but by the time the last rider goes through, everyone has come out of theirhouses and are jumping up and down with excitement. A really great chance to interact more with the locals.
Overnight in Bamboo hotel in Sapa – Superior room.

Day 6: Sapa - Ban Khoang - Bac Ha (B-L-D)
Today we drive the first part of the journey for about 20km before you get out of the vehicle and start to ride the hidden high country road along the Chinese border with just deep blue skies and fluffy white clouds, winding your way up higher and higher into the mountains. You will be cycling at high altitudes for half the day between 1400-1600m then descending to Lao Cai to take a drive to Bac Ha.
Overnight in Bac Ha – Cong Fu hotel – Deluxe room.

Day 7: Bac Ha (B-L-D)
Sunday market !! A great chance to have a good look at local life style, rich in colour and traditional arts and crafts. At 10am, you depart on a 4 hrs trail through villages with stunning scenery of mountain and vegetation. People will suddenly appear from the hills. Most of the tribes you will see are the Flower HMong, the most colourful tribe in Vietnam.
Overnight in Bac Ha – Cong Fu hotel – Deluxe room.

Day 8: Bac Ha. Night train to Hanoi (B-L-D)
Three hours of single track on the west side of Bac Ha. Lunch at the hotel then you head out on an a spectacular ride of 20km+ down to the Chay river. Transfer to Lao Cai for dinner then catch the night train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on the train.

Day 9: Hanoi – Halong (B-L-D)
Upon arrival in Hanoi, you'll transferred to the Tamarind café for a light breakfast and refreshments before leaving Hanoi for Ha Long city through the Red River Delta stopping along on the way. You arrive at Halong City at about 12h30 and then will start cruising towards Bai Tu Long Bay while you check into your cabin. A fresh local seafood lunch will be served on board (vegetarians catered for) while you embark on a cruise into the Holy bay to see the incredible karst formations. After learning the basic paddle strokes and information about your paddling route, it's time to start exploring the amazing limestone karst formations. Fresh seafood dinner is served on board and then its an overnight experience aboard the boat.

Day 10: Kayaking (B-L-D)
The whole day is spent paddling and exploring the Bay at your leisure. Have a closer look at the amazing karsts. There are plenty of deserted beaches out there just for you. Cruise to overnight spot for one more night in Halong bay.

Day 11: Halong- Hanoi (B-L-D)
Early risers can have a swim or enjoy a morning view of the Bay's landscape with a cup of tea or coffee, fresh fruits and cake. Sitting on the upper deck, you can enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the Bay, then explore Sung Sot (Amazing) cave, swimming and relaxing at Soi Sim beach. As the junk cruises back to Ha Long City, brunch will be served. Check out is at 11:35 with the boat arriving back at the harbour by 12:00. Drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 4pm.
Overnight in Maison D'Hanoi – ROH room

Day 12: Departure (B)
Breakfast, then take the bus to the airport to catch the flight home. Please be informed that check-out time is by 12.00.

SCUBA DIVING in Vietnam – Optional Extra
Many people are literally blown away by the sensational SCUBA diving that Vietnam has to offer. Maybe you would like to consider a few days away on Phu Quoc Island experiencing for yourself firsthand the magnificent diving on offer on this magnificent tropical Island in the Gulf of Thailand. Please let us know if this is something for you and we will provide a quote.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

• Local English speaking guide as per program
• Private transportation with air-con
• Accommodation with daily breakfast (or similar)
• Train ticket Lao Cai- Hanoi (soft sleeper- 4 people sharing one cabin)
• Mountain bike and gears (currently use Trek 4500 bikes)
• Kayaks and gears
• Meals as indicated (B- Breakfast, L- lunch, D- dinner)
• Entrance fees, permits and water puppet tickets
• Private boat trip in Halong bay with Huong Hai Deluxe Junk
• Drinking water and snack

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?

• International flights to Hanoi
• Airport taxes
• Travel insurance
• Other meals
• Tips
• Drinks
• Single room supplement
• Personal expenses
• Visa
• Any optional additional tours or activities during free time
• Late check out from the hotels
• Any other things not mentioned in the above list

Please email us to book this trip.