Deep of Tonkin Alpes mountain bike

Dec. 23, 2009 - PRLog -- Itinerary in brief
Day1: Hanoi Arrival
Day2: Hanoi – Pho Thong - Ba Be Lake 216km
Day3: Ba Be – Na Hang - Bac Me 80km
Day4: Bac Me – Ha Giang – 63km
Day5: Ha Giang – Quang Ba – Yen Minh – 100km
Day6: Yen Minh – Meo Vac – Dong Van – 60km
Day7: Dong Van – Yen Minh – Ha Giang – 160km
Day8: Ha Giang – Hoang Su Phi – 106km
Day9: Hoang Su Phi – Xi Man – Bac Ha – 70km
Day10: Bac Ha – Sapa – 110km
Day11: Sapa – Than Uyen – 80km
Day12: Than Uyen – Van Ban – Lao Cai – Hanoi -75km
Day13: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
Day14: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
Day15: Hanoi – Departure

Detail Itinerary

Day1: Hanoi Arrival
Morning:
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi , Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia's most striking colonial architecture
Afternoon:
we have free time leisure for fix the bike until late afternoon we have short cycle around old quarter then have dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi

Day2: Hanoi – Pho Thong - Ba Be Lake 216km
7am we start the journey northeast begins as we depart the town and pass through the undulating terrain of tea plantation and the many timeless villages linked to the road which is the main artery of trade between the northeastern region and the capital city. This is our first glimpse of rural Vietnam and sets the tone for the days ahead. Depending on road and traffic conditions our drive will leave us with a mid to late afternoon we start cycle 32km from Phong Thong to Ba Be Lake arrival in Ba Be lakes. After checking into hotel we will have free time to walk around or simply to relax on the lake. O/N in Ba Be

Day3: Ba Be – Na Hang - Bac Me 80km
Morning boat cruise with our bike to waterfalls, then we start a cycling adventure on a small trail to Bac Me (no jeep support). O/N Bac Me.

Day4: Bac Me – Ha Giang – 63km
Good paved road along Gam river. O/N Ha Giang.

Day5: Ha Giang – Quang Ba – Yen Minh – 100km
Today, with a medium drive but we will soon be enjoying the wonderful sightseeing of this vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular walls of rock, which brings one a feeling of adventure whilst being lost in a magic land, passing the Heaven Gate, meeting some minority people along the way, then onto Quan Ba town for our lunch. Afternoon, we continue our wonderful riding to Yen Minh. Prepare your camera with lots of films for today since we will be hitting the Heaven - a more beautiful place, here we are surrounded by many rocks of all shapes and sizes, chances to see and even visit the traditional houses of the hill tribes here. Arrival in Yen Minh town. Check in hotel/guest house. Dinner and stay overnight here

Day6: Yen Minh – Meo Vac – Dong Van – 60km
After breakfast, we leave Yen Minh to Meo Vac. The scenic route climbs over a pass, and then we descend down to Meo Vac valley, a beautiful valley situated very close to Chinese border. Have lunch in Meo Vac then we take time to climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass where we can enjoy beautiful mountain ranges and the the Nho Que river - just an amazing place to be! We keep hitting the zigzag roads to Dong Van, visiting these remote areas, we will witness how hard the locals struggle with their environment for survival and development. We will stay in town to get the chances to visit the ancient streets with old houses of the H'mong made of clay bricks and tile roofs, built centuries ago. Sleep in Dong Van town.

Day7: Dong Van – Yen Minh – Ha Giang – 160km
A leisurely drive from Dong Van, back to Yen Minh & Quan Ba, this day will make your itinerary a good pace, not in a rush. We will visit the infamous Vuong Palace, a H´mong family of high rank during French colonial rule - this palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to its mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. We then hit the road back to Quan Ba and down hill to Ha Giang for the night.
Note: Quan Ba Sunday market is worth an arrangement!

Day8: Ha Giang – Hoang Su Phi – 106km
Easy ride 45km down highway 2 to Tan Quang where we turn left and up hill to the mountain again. Best mountain view today, chalenge climb through the Heaven gate pass to Hoang Su Phi town. O/N Hoang Su Phi.

Day9: Hoang Su Phi – Xi Man – Bac Ha – 70kmSome part of the road is bad, but great view along Chay river. This is totally a new road - built on the former trail of the flower H'Mong tribes. O/N Bac Ha.

Day10: Bac Ha – Sapa – 110km
A relaxing day promenade around Bac Ha Sunday market, see a market day for all tribes: Tay, Nung, Dao, Flower H?Mong, Giay, and Phu La etc? Afternoon we ride bike around H?Mong village. O/N Sapa.

Day11: Sapa – Than Uyen – 80km
From Sapa we start the day’s ride with a 15kms climb to the top of the Tram Ton Pass, stopping on route to visit the “silver waterfall”. Then it’s a 26kms plunge down to Binh Lu junction. From here we continue along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, there are a number of hard climbs but the magnificent landscape makes the hardship all worthwhile. We finish with a 20kms descent to Than Uyen.

Day12: Than Uyen – Van Ban – Lao Cai – Hanoi -75km
After a good breakfast, ride 40kms around the other side of the stunning Muong Kim valley with time for lots of stops to take pictures of the local hill tribe people and the stunning scenery there. Arrive in Van Ban for a late lunch then hop on the minivan to drive back to Lao Cai. In Lao Cai you'll be able to have a refreshing shower before sitting down to a dinner of local Vietnamese food. Night Train back to Ha Noi.

Day13: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
08.30: Pick up by private car at your hotel about 8.30. Spend 3 hours sight seeing country Vietnam on the way to Halong city. Arrive at Orchid Pier just before 12.00 noon.
12.30:   Welcome aboard the Bai Tho Deluxe Cruise, fruit cocktail is served.
13.00:   Lunch is served while cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay.
15.30:   After Lunch Cruise to visit to Cua Van floating village.
17.00:   Trekking or swimming at Soi Sim island.
18.30:   Anchor in secluded lagoon for overnight.
19.30:   Diner is served in the dining room.
21.00:   After diner relax on deck, drink service available or night time fishing.

Day14: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
6:30:    Enjoy sunrise over the bay or take part in our morning yoga class.7.00:    Coffee and tea is served.
8.00:    Visit splendid Sung Sot grotto.
9.15:    Luggage pulls out.
9.30:    Buffet brunch served while cruising through the bay to the pier.
11.00:  Arrive at the pier. Time to say Goodbye!
15.00: arrival hotel in Hanoi. O/N in Hanoi

Day15: Hanoi – Departure
There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Ha Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure

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