Non-eco-adventurers beware; this multi-day tour has been designed for cycling enthusiasts, nature lovers, photograph hunters, and intrepid travellers. Footprint has planned this route into Vietnam's most northern provinces, and promises it to be both challenging and off the beaten track. Travel and cycle through the karst limestone landscapes, visiting hill trip villages, beautiful waterfalls, as well as historic Ho Chi Minh sites. Best from September to April.
This adventurous journey northeast begins as we depart from yourHanoihotel around 8:00am. We drive up and pass through the undulating terrain of tea plantations in Thai Nguyen city. We continue on getting our first glimpses of rural Vietnam, setting the tone for the days ahead. We have lunch at Bac Can and unload the bikes for a cycle off highway to a quiet road with great views of small villages of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic minorities along the way. Depending on our speed, we will arrive at Ba Be Lake in the late afternoon. After checking into a basic guest house in Ba Be National Park we have dinner and retire to sleep.
Inclusion:
Transfer, guide, basic guest house, entrances fees, lunch, dinner, mountain bike, helmet, snack, water and fruit.
Inclusion:
Transfer, guide, basic guest house, all meals, local boat, mountain bike, helmet, snack, water and fruit. Biking distance: ~ 15 Km (for fun)
Today, we will spend the whole day visiting the beauty of Ba Be lakes on the local canoes, but first we will head out for a short cycle to the boat docs. We load our bikes on the boat for fun cruise (We may also try a small raft to glide along the river if it is available). A cave visit by boat is also on today's itinerary after which we will have lunch served near a beautiful waterfall. After lunch, we canoe our hearts out navigating into the tranquilly of Ba Be lakes. Following activities include some swimming and short cycling to the main road. Van pick-up then transfer back to our guest house. Dinner, free time to relax, and retire to sleep.
Inclusion:
Transfer, guide, basic guest house, all meals, local boat, mountain bike, helmet, snack, water and fruit. Biking distance: ~ 15 Km (for fun)
We say goodbye to Pac Ngoi village and Ba Be Lakes and by 7:30 am we will make our way to Ha Hieu and start biking on the dirt roads for about 60 km towards Nguyen Binh. There is a challenging climb up Phia Den mountain pass to a level of about 1,200 meters. Picnic lunch en route. Afternoon we cycle on paved roads to Nguyen Binh, then our van picks us up for transfer to Cao Bang. Arrive at late afternoon, check in, and take a short rest before dinner at a local restaurant. Free time to relax. Overnight in Cao Bang town.
Inclusion:
Transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, all meals, mountain bike, helmet, snack, water and fruit.
7:30 am wake up! Heading out of the town we start venturing into the most remote northern regions of Cao Bang Province. Well paved roads (~89 km) scenically traverse Trung Khanh before arriving at Ban Gioc Waterfall - the biggest waterfall in Vietnam (though not full of water in the dry season). Late picnic lunch, swimming if possible, and a rest near the waterfall. On the way back, we have more cycling planned. Our routes include probably the most isolated places in Vietnam very near the China border, as well as a meandering ride along one of the idyllic streams created by the Ban Gioc waterfall. Breaks en route as you wish. Visits to hill tribe villages and many photographs are taken on this leg of our journey. Back to Cao Bang to overnight.
Inclusion:
Transfer, guide, hotel, all meals, mountain bike, helmet, snack, water and fruit.Biking distance: ~ 80 Km
Breakfast at your hotel and on the bikes by 7:30 am for a beautiful morning ride and a (~ 67km) mountain traverse at That Khe, conquering 3 mountain passes. Transfer to Lang Son for lunch and take a rest before driving back to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Tour ends at your hotel at around 4:30 pm.
Inclusion:
Transfer, guide, hotel, breakfast, lunch, mountain bike, helmet, snacks and water. Biking distance: ~ 60 Km
Overview
