Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau. ~180 km, ~7 h.
Today is the first day of this Challenging 5 days Big North motorbiking. Before starting to ride, we will have a short briefing to let you know about the rules. In addition, the guide will show you how to understand him by his body language. We start around 9.30am after the rush hour.
Once out of the Red River Delta, which brims with traditional farming activity, we pass through limestone monoliths and into foothills populated by Muong people. We head straight at the main range before breaching a high and beautiful forested pass, which descends into the hidden valley of Mai Chau where we spend the night with friends in a traditional Thai stilt house.
The valley of Mai Chau lies between two rivers: the Da River and the Ma River. Therefore, Mai Chau is very fertile and rich in varied landscapes, medium mountains, forest, lake, rivers, and infinitude of small footpaths and offer many possibilities of a trek. In the valley of Mai Chau and its surroundings are Muong, White Thai, H’mong (in the height), and the Dao who we meet at the markets or in their villages during trekking, boating, or while driving.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Vu Linh. ~180 km, ~6 h.
Long drive from Mai Chau on the secondary road through Red River Delta along the river that leads to Yen Binh. After lunch in Yen Binh, we drive to the embarcadere. A boat is waiting to take us and our bikes to cross Thac Ba Lake to Vu Linh (1.5 hours). Vu Linh is a Dzao village and the welcome is exceptional.
Golden Trail Travel Motorbike Adventures - Challenging 5 Days Big North Motorbiking to Ha Giang. Experienced Riders Only.

Day 3: Vu Linh – Ha Giang. ~180 km ~6 h.
Say goodbye to fiesta people in Vu Linh, we ride along the lake following the small track through palm tree forest and rice field where see people harvesting rice. Good road and easy ride, we arrive Ha Giang around 4 pm, early enough for the guide to arrange permits to travel within this province.

Day 4: Ha Giang – Ba Be. ~150 km ~6 h.
Quite an easy drive and not too long from Ha Giang to Ba Be. Ba Be is a nice stop with rich Tay culture. However, if you want a shorter ride back to Hanoi the next day, it is all the time possible to stop 50 km after Ba Be. The place is Na Khan, a village of Tay people lost in the forest.

Day 5: Ba Be – Hanoi. ~240 km,~8 h. End of Challenging 5 Days Big North Motorbiking.
Today is quite a long ride but easy (so early departure is better) from Ba Be back to Hanoi ~240 km.
We try to arrive in Hanoi before 5pm to avoid rush hours. Otherwise, you should be good with city traffic from the experience you got over the last days

Including
– Motorcycle(s);
– Fuel;
– Tour guide (also a translator, leader, and handy mechanic);
– Standard hotel (double, twins, or triple shared room) and/or homestay (sleeping bags, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows, etc. are provided);
– Third-party motorbike insurance in case you have a Vietnamese motorbike driving license;
– All food (Vietnamese food, Western food costs extra);
– All entrance fees, permits, tickets, boat trips, ferries, bamboo rafts, etc;
– Golden Trail Travel provides premium assistance (1). We are with you along the way;
– Vietnamese green tea.

Not including
– Personal expenses, personal medical insurance;
– Drinks other than tea and local rice wine;
– Single room supplement in case you request a single room;
– Motorbiking protective pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, rain gear, and other safety equipment at favourable rental rate;
– Bike shipping and tour guide’s travel back to Hanoi (for Ho Chi Minh trail/road trips or tours that don’t end in Hanoi);
– Train or flight tickets before and after your tour;
– Breakfast on the departure day and dinner on the return day;
– Accommodation and food in Hanoi;
– Tips.