Trip valid: 31 Oct 2013

Duration: 13 Days

Main Activity: Bicycling

Trip Type: Mountain bike

Suitability: Good fitness

Location: North West- East Vietnam

Best time to travel: October to May

Supported: By van

Product code: IDT-VNMBR13

Guarantee to depart: From 2 pax

TRIP INCLUSIVE:

• English speaking biking guide from day 1 to day 13.
• Bike mechanic
• Jeeps to transfer and support throughout
• Train ticket Hanoi- Lao Cai- Hanoi on 4 berth soft sleeper compartments..
• Local bike hire, spares and helmet ( mountain bike, front suspension)
• Boat trips where mentioned.
• Snack, soft drink and local fruit for biking days.
• Bottled drinking water for biking days.
• Local tourist permission in Ha Giang Province.
• Sightseeing tickets where requires in the itinerary
• Entrance fee to Ha Giang Hot Spring
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner). Note that lunches in mountain area are simple, we therefore supplement some canned food.
• Local visiting permission in Ha Giang province.
• Accommodation in twin sharing room with daily breakfast. Bear in mind that the accommodation in mountain area are just simple. We also supplement some breads, cheese, jam butter, tea and coffee for breakfast
• International flight reconfirmation. Please hand your ticket to our guide in Hanoi on arrival day to reconfirm accordingly.

TRIP EXCLUSIVE

• International air ticket to/from Vietnam Visa to Vietnam. Please ensure to get visa before departure.
• Tips to drivers, driver assistants, local people, porters at boat station, hotels and airports, guides. Recommended tip: $4-5 per day per pax for guide. $2- 3 per day per pax for driver
• Alcoholic drinks and drinks during meals
• Personal travel insurance. Compulsory to get travel insurance before departure
• Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping, camera film and so on…)
• Any other services not clearly stated in the itinerary and trip inclusive portion

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi.

After arriving in Hanoi, you’ll stop at your hotel, settle in and then have a trip briefing and bike fitting. You will have the chance to stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit the Ngoc Son Pagoda or one of the many coffee shops in the area.  If coffee isn’t your thing, stop at one of the ‘bia hoi’s’ located at most corners in the old quarter. In the evening we will meet at a very unique restaurant – Highway 4 - serving traditional and eclectic Vietnamese food. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Dinner

Accommodation: Quoc Hoa Hotel- Deluxe

www.quochoahotel.com

Day 2: Hanoi – Lao Cai

If you feel active, you can take part in early morning exercises around Hoan Kiem Lake. Otherwise, we will take you on a morning city tour to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum. Hotel check out is at noon and we will have lunch at a local pho (chicken or beef soup) and noodle restaurant. You have the afternoon to discover some more of Hanoi and we meet in the early evening for dinner and transfer to the railway station for an overnight train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Sapaly Express Train

Day 3: Lao Cai – Yen Bai – Tuyen Quang

Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning. Bikes will be loaded onto a jeep while we have breakfast and then we will drive 77km south to Yen Bai. By leaving the well-trodden paths of Lao Cai we will take you on a more genuine tour with less tourists and more local culture! With our local expert biking guide and our jeep support team, you can explore any dirt road that peaks your curiosity and discover minority villages and the lowland countryside all the way to Tuyen Quang. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for tea plantations and orange groves. Part of the riding will involve a short boat trip across the reservoir in Thac Ba Nature Reserve. We spend the night at hotel in Tuyen Quang.

Cycling: approx. 70km

Difficulty: Moderate

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Asean Hotel

Day 4: Tuyen Quang – Ba Be

There is a full day of back road cycling ahead of us while we cycle towards Ba Be National Park. (Due to the distance covered today, some sections will be by jeep). Ba Be was established as a National Park in 1992 and is the leading conservation site in the country. It contains the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam and is home to the François langur. Surrounding this dense tropical paradise are karst limestone mountains – it is truly a magnificent place. Overnight in the park.

Cycling: approx. 100km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Ba Be Park Guest House

Day 5: Ba Be – Bac Me (Up into the foothills)

The day begins with an idyllic boat trip on the charming Ba Be Lake. When we get back onto the bikes, we'll venture on a fantastic and challenging full day ride to Bac Me. Most sections are unsupported (jeep will have to meet the group at Bac Me.) The road is a mixture of dirt and tarmac. As we ride alongside the Nang River into higher ground, the scenery changes and becomes wild and unspoiled. A stop for lunch in a local shop will give us more energy for the afternoon journey.  We conclude our day at the rustic town of Bac Me. Overnight in standard guesthouse.

Cycling: approx. 70km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Local Guest House

Day 6: Bac Me – Yen Minh

Heading west, we ride about 25km on good tarmac. Leaving the road, we’ll take a dirt trail that traverses through the Du Gia nature reserve - home to the endangered Tonkin Snub Nosed Monkey. There are no tourist facilities here due to its sensitive environmental status. As we bike the next 60-100km, we may encounter very poor road conditions. If the jeep cannot follow we will use motorbike support as emergency backup.  Yen Minh has a bustling Sunday market where ethnic minority groups such as the Giay, Pu peo, Co Lao, Lo Lo, Red Dao, White Hmong and Tay people gather to buy and sell their wares. Overnight in Yen Minh.

Cycling: approx. 90-100km on remote trail

Difficulty: Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Yen Minh Hotel

Day 7: Yen Minh – Dong Van – Meo Vac: (traversing the Chinese border)

Along these northern semi-paved roads, we will encounter little traffic. This is a good thing for we are headed into some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer.  Dense cedar forests give way to rugged moonscapes.  Often there are minority children walking along the roads – making for some memorable photo ops. Between Dong Van and Meo Vac is the highlight of the ride: the Ma Phi Leng Pass. Elevated at 1500m with the Nho Que River meandering far below, this sublime pass will take your breath away. In Meo Vac a small market is held everyday in the town square and is frequented mainly by the white Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo people. It’s a quaint town and a perfect place to reflect upon our magnificent ride. Overnight in local guesthouse in Meo Vac.

Cycling: approx. 60-100km

Difficulty: Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hoa Cuong Hotel

Day 8: Meo Vac – Yen Minh – Quan Ba

From Meo Vac we head south towards Chin Pin. As road conditions are generally very poor, we will loop back towards Yen Minh then continue on to Quan Ba.  Be prepared for another stunning ride – but it is a long one! The group may have to transfer if time runs out. Overnight in guesthouse Quan Ba.

Cycling: approx. 70-80km

Difficulty: Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Local Guest House

Day 9: Quan Ba – Ha Giang – Thanh Ha – Hoang Su Phi

There are good roads to travel upon as we head through the Quan Ba pass to Ha Giang (45km). After an early lunch/late breakfast we’ll journey to a small junction that will lead the group east, back into the mountains on a spectacular off-road loop.  Overnight in hotel in Hoang Su Phi.

Cycling: approx. 60km

Difficulty: Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Local Guest House

Day 10: Hoang Su Phi – Bac Quang

As we travel out of the mountains, we’ll arrive in Bac Quang - a sizeable market town located 60km south of Ha Giang. At this junction to the western roads heading to Bao Yen in Lao Cai Province we’ll stop to rest and relax. Overnight Bac Quang.

Cycling: approx. 70km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Local guest House

Day 11: Bac Quang – Pho Rang – Lao Cai – Hanoi

A final ride through the valley upon a previously impassable road leads us out to the Chay River in Pho Rang. There is a little more riding to be done, but otherwise we will transfer by bus the last 60 – 80km to Lao Cai. From here the group will take the overnight train back to Hanoi (this is a good location for extension trips and further cycling to Sapa) Overnight on board the train.

Cycling: approx. 70km

Difficulty: Moderate

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Sapaly Express Train

Day 12: Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi in early morning, transfer to hotel for early check in and breakfast. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore. In the evening, we regroup and go out together for our farewell dinner at one of Hanoi’s top restaurants.

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation: Quoc Hoa Hotel- Deluxe

www.quochoahotel.com

Day 13 – Depart Hanoi

At leisure until transfer to the airport for onward flights.