Special Cycling and Trekking from Luang Prabang to Hanoi 25 Days

The Morning Alms-Giving Ceremony in Luang Prabang -It's 5:30 in the morning, and the first glow of dawn hasn't even begun to brush the Laotian sky, but Luang Prabang is already waking up.Monks from the city's dozens of beautiful and historic temples walk silently down the streets of Luang Prabang on the morning tak bat ceremony. ,At 08h30, after the breakfast at the hotel, our shuttle bus comes to pick you up and then start a full day city tour with our local guide. Your full day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. In the afternoon, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. Finally, return to hotel .

Activities: • City tour by van • Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After a explore city day we hit the bikes for a ride to the stunning Kuang Sii Waterfall. The  ride is along a small road alongside the Mekong River passing through small villages, rice fields and forest. At the waterfall enjoy a swim, picnic lunch and a visit to the tiger and bear rescue  centre before riding back to Luang Prabang.

Activities: • 62km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch,,

Today is our longest bike ride. Early morning, we cycle on the main road passing Pak Ou . It  has the famous tourist attraction, Pak Ou caves. Then we cycle along Nam Ou river. It is an     interesting to cycle along the river through villages to enjoy the rural lives. Enjoy picnic lunch on the river bank and take a power nap before heading to Ban Thabu. The end of the day, we  finally arrive at PaMong. Dinner and overnight in PaMong.

Activities:• 105km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner. Van ride possible any time   

After breakfast, we fill in the water and then we will begin cycle on the flat road to warm  up our musscles before climing with hill after hill but the scenery is magnificient. Then take a     break to enjoy snack, fresh fruits and drinks to get energy before continuing to cycle to Oudomxai. Overnight in Oudomxai.

Activities: • 60km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

Cycling to visit old Indochina War, the provincial capital became the center for Chinese troops supporting Pathet Laos. Today, it is the junction of National Road 1, 2 and 4 has made its position a booming alos – China trade center.

Activities: • 75km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

Early morning we cycle along Nam Ou river to the Border. This northeast area has the least population of Laos. After Lunch we will crossing Laos North-East border at Tay Trang. You have to get Vietnam visa in advance in order to cross Vietnam land border. Vietnam visa on arrival can be obtained only arrival at the airport and some border .In the afternoon, we continue cycling to Dien Bien phu .It used to be the big battle field between the French and Vietnamese when Vietnam fought again the French to get independence.

Activities: • 70km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

Take a hardest but challenging ride this day to Tuan Giao and Dien Bien Phu, on a rough tarmac terrain all the way, but you will be rewarded with the stunningly beautiful scenery and untouched remote villages. Overnight in Tuan Giao.

Activities: • 87km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

Take a brutal ride this day to Sin Ho and Lai Chau and get a reward of truly spectacular views. The ride is on the main road, uphill and tarmac downhill, mixed of gravel and hard pack clay. Overnight in Than uyen.

Activities: • 70km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

Cycling shortly uphill as warm up to the Binh Lu, before starting a long descent ride to Tram Ton Pass and ride a truly off the beaten track (jeep track) mixed of hard pack gravel and clay to Sapa. The Queen of Mountains, Sapa sits regally overlooking a beautiful valley, lofty mountains towering over the town on all sides. Sapa is the French hill station was built in 1922. Over night in Sapa and explore dinner tonight by your own .

Activities: • 70km biking.,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, explore around Sapa. Start trekking to visit Lao Chai Village and then walking through hillsides and along Muong Hoa River, visit Ta Van village. Explore the daily life of Dzay minority and spend a night at a Dzao family. From Lao Chai we will walk to Ta Van Village where island of Giay ethnic minority people, we enter into the homestay, you can walk around in the village and have take part in the local Giay people’s activity such as farming or cooking class. ,Have home stay at Giay Family, enjoy dinner and have the exchange of talking and enjoy dinner time and home-stay with Giay Family.

Activities: Trekking  - 4 Hours – Home-stay - • Meal :Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner

Good morning Ta Van village ,Leave Ta Van village then trekking with up and down via the rice terraces and bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai village ,Then trek via the Giang Ta Chai village where is home of Red Dao people to Su Phan village ,Have a lunch at Su Phan village ,Trekking down to Ban Ho village ,Arrival Ban Ho village with explore the land of Tay Ethnic minority people ,Driver pick us up back to Sapa.

Day summary,• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch,• Accommodation: Sapa Hotel .,•(6 hours trekking )

After breakfast, you will be transferred by road to one of the famous regional markets: Coc Ly or Ban Cam on Tuesday; Cao Son on Wednesday; Lung Khau Nhin on Thursday; Can Cau on Saturday; Bac Ha on Sunday.,Spend 2 to 3 hours joining the locals at the market place where tribal people in their best traditional costumes come once a week not only to shop but also to socialize. Transfer to Bac Ha Townlet, check into the local hotel for a short rest and freshen up.,The rest of the afternoon is set aside for trekking around the stunning Ban Pho Valley. Clients may choose to take the shorter loop for 1,5 hours or the longer loop which offers better views of Ban Pho Valley and takes nearly 3 hours.

Day summary: Road transfer 2,5 to 4 hours depending on the regional market/ Walk 1,5 to 3 hours/ Acc: Hotel room and dinner tonight in Bac Ha.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel at 08.00am. Leave Bac Ha and transfer for an hour to the starting point of the trekking trail in Lung Phin Commune. There will be several photo stops along the way. There are 2 options for trekking from here:

Opt 1: Hard trek: Start trekking along a narrow trail on steep hillsides from Quan Hoa Hamlet for 2,5 hours to Lu Suoi Tung Village of the Flower Hmong. Lunch break here for an hour.,Trek uphill for 1,5 hours through the forest to the top of Ta Cu Ty Mountain range(hard trek) and then downhill for 2 hours to Ta Cu Ty village of the Zao and Tay ethnic people. Here you will picked up and transferred 3 km to your home stay near the centre of Ta Cu Ty Commune.

Opt 2: Medium trek: Start trekking from Ta Chai Village of the Phu La tribe along a narrow valley through Quan Hoa Hamlet for 3 hours. Lunch break.,Continue trekking for one more hour and arrive at Lu Suoi Tung Village of the Flower Hmong. Spend 2 hours exploring this isolated village, paying a visit to the local school and several Hmong families to experience at first hand their way of life. You will be picked up at Lu Suoi Tung for the 8 km road transfer to your home stay near the centre of Ta Cu Ty Commune. This stretch of the road offers spectacular landscapes of the Ban Gia Valley with several photo stops along the way before arriving at the next home stay.

Day summary: Road transfer 1 hour/ Trekking 5 to 7 hours, grade 3 or 4/ Home stay at Ta Cu Ty Village of the Tay

After breakfast say good bye to the local host family at 08.30am. On leaving Ta Cu Ty, there are 2 optional treks to choose from:

Opt 1: Hard trek: Spend the whole morning trekking along a wide path with great views of the Ban Gia valley to the Song Lam village of the Nung ethnic people for 3 hours. Take a lunch break at Song Lam near the village school.,In the afternoon follow a narrow footpath for another 2,5 hours (hard trek) up and downhill the Nam Dan mountain through the thick bamboo and rain forest. Suddenly the panoramic view of the Nam Chien valley opens up wide in front of us, as the trail proceeds downhill to the Nam Dan village of the Nung ethnic people. We pay a visit to the famous rock-field where scripts have been carved by ancient people. Continue trekking along a wider trail for 1 more hour to your home-stay at Nam Chien Village of Nam Dan Commune.

Opt 2: Medium trek: Spend the whole morning trekking along a wide path with great views of the Ban Gia valley to the Song Lam village of the Nung ethnic people for 3 hours. Take a lunch break at Song Lam Village of the Nung.,After lunch continue trekking for 3 hours following the same trail along the Ban Gia Valley via Sin Chai Village of the Flower H’mong, Zao to the centre of Ban Ngo Commune, where you will be picked up and transferred to Nam Dan village to visit the famous rock field where scripts have been carved by ancient people. Arrive at your home-stay in Nam Chien Village at about 05.30 pm.

Day summary: Road transfer 1 hour/ Trekking 5 to 7 hours, grade 3 or 4/ Home stay at Nam Chien Village of the Nung.

Breakfast and then leave Nam Chien Village at 08.30am. Transfer along the paved road for 14 km over the Gio mountain pass. through thick rain forest to the southern side of the valley. From here, enjoy a leisurely walk for 3 hours through Nam Nhung and Khau Rom villages of the Tay and Zao peoples along the narrow valley of the Nam Li River. Take a lunch break near a suspension bridge.,Cross the Nam Li River to the southern bank, trekking uphill to Quang Thuong Village and then downhill to Nam Choong Village of the Zao peoples which is beautifully set on the southern bank and endowed by nature with a mineral hot spring.

Day summary: Road transfer 14km/ Trekking 5 to 6 hours, grade 3 of 5/ Home stay at Nam Choong Village of the Zao.

Today is the most interesting day of the whole trip! The superb natural scenery changes every quarter of an hour, but the trekking today is also the biggest challenge so far. Trek for almost the whole day uphill through the Chieu Lung Thi mountain range from Nam Li Valley, to Cao Son Village of the Hmong and Zao. Continue through the thick forests to Trung Son Village of the Nung people and then to Tan Minh village of the Zao people and then along the trail for 20 minutes to the centre of the Ho Thau Commune.,You will be picked up at Ho Thau for an hours transfer to Hagiang for Homestay.

This is the challenge day climbing up to heaven gates of the Hmong people (elve. +1,100m). Beautiful view at summit of QuanBa heaven gate, and nice road along river Nhiem.Setting off this morning we head out of town cycling for the first 25km on relatively flat road through the landscape of terraced rice paddy fields. Passing through minority villages we cycle the next 25km up winding roads into the vast limestone mountain range with its perpendicular walls of rock, climbing 800m towards the mountain road pass “Heaven gate 1”. As we pass through mountain villages sometimes covered by cloud, we will receive a friendly greeting from the local communities. From the pass we can look down at amazing views, including the famous vista of the Tam Son valley with the ‘Twin Hills and can spy Quan Ba town, our destination, in its beautiful location. It’s mainly downhill for the last 15km into Quan Ba.

Summary

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals :Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

Cycling Distance : 50km,Total climb: 1,108m,Total descent: 348m

We will want to take our time today as our beautiful surroundings offer numerous photo opportunities and the rocky limestone and karst terrain is as diverse as it is beautiful. We cycle uphill for the first few km before a descent of around 10km and then relatively flat terrain for the next 10km. It’s a challenging up and down terrain to an altitude of 1.025m before we make a final descent for the last 15km into Yenh Minh. We will have the chance to see the traditional homes of the local hill tribes. The communities in this area are Chinese.

Summary

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

Cycling Distance : 55km,Total climb: 668m,Total descent: 1.138m

Today we cycle on semi-surfaced quiet roads as we undertake a challenging uphill ride out of dense cedar forest onto the rocky Dong Van plateau. A registered UNESCO Global Geopark, 80% of the terrain is covered by rock and it is said to contain fossils from 400-600million years ago. Nestled in a valley in the heart of the Rock Plateau, is the isolated town of Dong Van, very close to the Chinese border and surrounded by mountain forest and multi-coloured orchids. Meaning ‘sharing culture’ Dong Van is occupied by Chinese Hoa, and H’mong, Tay and Kinh People. The houses are built in Chinese style.,As we cycle on the modest road from Dong Van to Meo Vac alongside a vast gorge, the views are spectacular. This is a winding and undulating road with the sight of the Nho Que River below. From the Ma Phi Leng Pass we look down from an altitude of around 1500m into the valley. We stay tonight in the small town of Meo Vac. Most of the tribes living here have preserved their way of life from outside influence as travelling to Meo Vac was almost impossible until the recent construction of new roads.

Summary

Accommodation: Home-stay

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

Cycling Distance : 75km,Total climb: 2.258m,Total descent: 1.508m

Khau vai commune located in meo vac district is home of ethnic - Khau Vai commune, located in Meo Vac district, the northernmost province of Ha Giang, is home to ethnic minority groups of Dzao, H'mong , Lolo and Muong. Each year, there is a market session on lunar March 26th (often falling on calendar May), but it is not a farming produce trading market but a love market. Late afternoon driver pick us back to Meo Vac for dinner and relaxing .

Trekking 6 ,5 Hours

Accommodation: Home-stay

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

There is a market daily in the town centre of Meo Vac used mainly by the White Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo hill tribes. Women dressed in their brightly coloured traditional clothing walk into the town carrying their bamboo woven baskets laden with corn and vegetables. Today we follow a remote mountain road to Bao Lac. After a 5km uphill cycle we make a 20km descent the follow a fairly flat road for the next 10km. The surrounding landscape with predominantly limestone formations is a surreal vista of peaks, troughs, towers and caves. The crops and dwellings seem to perch precariously on the hillsides. There’s a relatively gentle uphill climb of 250m before we descend for the final 30km along flat terrain. We will pass people from the local minority communities along the way dressed in their vibrant tribal costumes. We stay tonight in Bao Lac.

Summary

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

Cycling Distance : 75km,Total climb: 1.008m,Total descent: 1.778m,,

Even in this isolated mountain town there is a busy morning market. We set off for a full day of cycling along challenging terrain but the road is quiet and well surfaced. We cycle through a pretty valley to the tin-mining town Tinh Tuc, heading on to Nguyen Binh- Babe lake We continue along challenging terrain, but the unparalleled beauty of our surroundings more than compensates for the challenges of the cycling. If time permit will take a cruise trip around the beautiful lake to Pac Ngoi villages

Accommodation: Tay Home-stay 

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

Cycling Distance: 88km,Total Climb: 1,845m,Total Descent: 1,571m

Today is last adventure day .This morning cycling 45km and we pack up our bikes and have a transfer back to Hanoi. We can relax this afternoon and enjoy the bustle and lively pace of Hanoi after our journey through the remote mountains. Arrival Hanoi late afternoon, Check in and have dinner by your own . Say good bye your adventure guides and drivers .

Accommodation: Mayde villa Hotel

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch

Cycling Distance: 45km

8:00 pick up from your hotel and transfer this morning to beautiful Ha Long Bay. This spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site is the world's largest marine limestone 'karst' landscape. Travelling on a wooden junk, modelled on traditional Vietnamese court sailing boats, we will see some of the Heritage areas and quieter grottos and caves.,You can swim fish and take a walk up hill for an unforgettable view over the bay. You will also have the opportunity to travel into some sea level caves in a small sampon. All meals will be provided on board (mainly seafood based). ( Kayaking, walk to visit the caves, swimming, cooking class, fishing activities )

Accommodation on the junk is twin - Royal palace Cruise

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner

There is a market daily in the town centre of Meo Vac used mainly by the White Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo hill tribes. Women dressed in their brightly coloured traditional clothing walk into the town carrying their bamboo woven baskets laden with corn and vegetables. Today we follow a remote mountain road to Bao Lac. After a

This morning we will cruise Ha Long Bay, and enjoy a late brunch. The boat trip finishes around midday and you will be transferred back to Hanoi to arrive late afternoon.

Accommodation: Mayde villa Hotel

Meals : Breakfast , Lunch

5km uphill cycle we make a 20km descent the follow a fairly flat road for the next 10km. The surrounding landscape with predominantly limestone formations is a surreal vista of peaks, troughs, towers and caves. The crops and dwellings seem to perch precariously on the hillsides. There’s a relatively gentle uphill climb of 250m before we descend for the final 30km along flat terrain. We will pass people from the local minority communities along the way dressed in their vibrant tribal costumes. We stay tonight in Bao Lac. Summary Accommodation: Hotel Meals : Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner Cycling Distance : 75km,Total climb: 1.008m,Total descent: 1.778m,,