Mai Chau and Pu Luong is famous for its beautiful mountains and valleys of the Thai people. This great trekking destination maintains outstanding biodiversity. The geography is a globally important example of a lowland limestone forest ecosystem covered by rich tropical forest.
Depart from your Hanoi hotel at 8:00 am transferring to Mai Chau. Daydream as we drive a safe route with spectacular views around every bend. Upon arrival at Poom Coom village in Mai Chau, we will take a short walk to visit the ethnic Thai people. Lunch will be served at local home. By 2:00 pm take a quick ride (15 minutes) along the Ma River for a 2 to 3 hour walk through beautiful hillside villages, magnificent rice paddies. See huge hand crafted bamboo water wheels. We are welcomed as honored guests at a traditional Thai home on stilts. Have a traditional dinner and stay the night.
Here, daily life starts early so get up and take part in your host family’s morning activities.Have breakfast and start our trek by 8:00 am. Today we will be walking for a approximately 5 to 6 hours. The first bit of hiking is hard with some steep climbs and stream crossings. The second part is glorious with beautiful views of the valley, rice terraces, and rainforest. Picnic lunch on the way at Eo Ken village. Arrival in Kho Muong set in perhaps the most beautiful spot in all of Vietnam, nestled between steep karst mountains and rice terraces. Spend our second night in a typical Thai eco-stilt house in Kho Muong.
Have breakfast, then start a harder full day of hiking. Continue on through the valley. Steep climbs and more stream crossings. Trek to an incredible cave, only recently discovered and now protected by the Forest rangers. The trekking becomes more remote, yet one is never far from a villager tending fields, passing steep limestone mountains. After our tough trek, what is more refreshing than a cool stream?! Picnic lunch will be served here. Relax from the heat of the day before continuing on to Hin village. Free time to talk and learn about the Thai people's traditional customs and culture. Prepare our picnic lunch for the next day before dinner and retiring to bed in a traditional stilt homestay.
Leave Hin village after having breakfast. Start our full day trek climbing deeper into the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Picnic lunch on the way. Continuing our trek passing through ethnic villages. Our day ends with a wonderful sunset (weather dependent) in Son village. Dinner and overnight at our Thai homestay.
Breakfast is prepared by your guide then start trekking by 8:00 am. Today we will have an easy day with small ups and downs through rice paddies and the Pu Luong jungle. After about 2.5 hours we get to Ton village. Our driver will be waiting for us there to transfer us to Muong Khen town for lunch. Arrive and end in Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overview
