Motorbiking Ha Giang & Bac Ha 9 days ~ 'The adventure of your life time'
Routes: Hanoi – Thai Nguyen – Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang – Bac Ha – Lao Cai – Hanoi
Duration: 9 days
Feature: One of the most exciting ways to see the unspoiled Vietnam.Travel in freedom and maximize you fun making all of your dreams of adventuring in inspiring landscapes on seemingly impossible road networks come true. This trip is year round but riding conditions are best between September and April. No experience is necessary but a sense of adventure is mandatory.
Difficulty: (4/5)
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi-Ha Giang (300 km). Before we kick off, we will spend about 30 minutes to check over the bikes and insure that we have all necessary tools and equipment to guarantee maximum fun. Today, there is not much to see en route, although this will be a great opportunity for you to test your biking abilities and get a feel for your bike (Russian Minsk). We will drive through Thai Nguyen city, and break at the Museum of Ethnology. This is an important stop as we will be visiting many of Vietnam's ethnic minorities and hill tribe people. Take some extra time to learn about the Dao, Hmong, Muong, Thai, and Bo Y minorities. Well prepared and fully briefed we will head North to Tuyen Quang province, visit the historic Tan Trao area then on to Ha Giang. We should arrive in Ha Giang at about 5:00 pm. Dinner and sleep in town.
Day 2: Ha Giang-Quan Ba (50 km). Today will be a short drive but one that will set the tone for the next eight days. The adventure begins as soon as we leave town and enter a land of colorful mountain hill tribes and seemingly impossible landscapes. All around you limestone rock faces will rise straight up perpendicular to the valley bellow and hill tribe people will be smiling and waving you onward. We will pass Heaven's Gate pass, then on to Quan Ba town for lunch. Afternoon will include more riding and some stops to walk through some nearby ethnic villages. We will return to Quan Ba town for dinner and to retire for the night.
Day 3: Quan Ba-Yen Minh-Meo Vac (100 km). Have breakfast then hit the road, camera ready! All of our guides will have to agree that this is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. The "mother nature will never get enough credit" scenery and the "I cannot believe that that is actually the road" routes will absolutely and positively astound you! There will be ample opportunity to see the ethnic minorities and even visit their traditional homes. We will stop in Yen Minh town for lunch and then continue on our journey climbing to a nearby pass and then descending into the Meo Vac valley, very close to the Chinese border, for dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Meo Vac-Dong Van (50 km). After breakfast, we will first take some time to climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with incredible mountain ranges and the Nho Que river winding off in the distance. We will continue to zig-zag our way to Dong Van, visiting remote areas and the hard working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage their environment. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wonder the ancient streets lined with Hmong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago. Dinner and sleep here.
Day 5: Dong Van-Yen Minh-Quan Ba (100 km). At a leisurely pace we will ride on from Dong Van to Quan Ba. Today we will visit the infamous Vuong Palace, where a Hmong family of high rank lived during French colonial rule. This palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to it's mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. We then hop back on the bikes and back to Quan Ba for our overnight. Note: Quan Ba Sunday market is worth an arrangement!
Day 6: Quan Ba-Ha Giang-Hoang Sun Phi (120 km). Today we will double back to Ha Giang then depart for Bac Quang. The ride is a pleasant one with countless meandering turns and winding sections on our way to Hoang Sun Phi. This is your trip and we encourage you to stop as many times as you wish to meet local people or to take those once in a lifetime photographs. We will arrive in the town of Hoang Sun Phi at about 4:00 pm for dinner and sleep.
Day 7: Xin Man-Bac Ha (160 km). Today's dive is longer than yesterday's via Xin Man and the area's tortuous roadways. More picturesque Vietnam countryside and landscapes, as well as meeting and talking with local ethnic families. The second half of this drive is much easier but one will have to be careful not to get lost in the dense woods. Arrive in the town of Bac Ha (Lao Cai) at about 5:00 pm, dinner and sleep in town.
Day 8: Bac Ha, your free day. The morning will provide free time for you to explore Bac Ha. This is a small town built on a desolated highland plain NorthWest of Lao Cai. It is well-known for it's century-old colorful hill tribe market of the Flower Hmong (on Sunday only). All meals served in town and sleep at the same hotel.
Trekking to some remote villages is optional or a visit and overnight in Sapa is a possible recommendation. Riding to this famous mountain town (3 hours) can be arranged before your departure from Hanoi.
Day 9: Bac Ha-Lao Cai (70 km), night train to Hanoi. Your last day of motorbiking will include more exploration in Bac Ha and drive downwards to Lao Cai town. Visit this small town, situated on the Chinese border, before we take our night train back to Hanoi. Departure is at 8:50 pm putting us back in Hanoi at 5:00 am the next day. Say goodbye at you hotel, a little tired, but fully satisfied.
Trip Reminder
* Infrastructure and Tet Holiday Period-Please note that Vietnam is a developing country whose infrastructure may differ from what you expect in your homeland.).The official Tet holiday period for 2009 will be from Saturday 24th January till Friday 30th January
This is an 'adventure' trip and we hope to expose you to all aspects of Vietnamese culture. Please be open-minded.
* M 19288 Community Trust
The M 19288 Community Trust, a division of M 19288 Adventures, provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote responsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with funds donated by M 19288, our staff and our travellers, with every cent going to the nominated projects.
By donating to one on the projects supported by The Heritages Travel Community Trust you will help promote responsible and sustainable tourism and make a positive difference for communities and travellers right now, and for the future
* Local Tour Leaders
By employing and training local guides to lead our group holidays, there is a two-fold benefit. Firstly, we provide employment opportunities for the local community.Your tour leader’s friendship,humour,passion and intimate knowledge of the region will be key factors in making your holiday a success.
* Tipping
Tipping has become an accepted part of tourism in South East Asia. Your tour leader will be able to advise you in this area; however, as a guideline we would recommend tipping 10% of the total bill in restaurants and a small tip to hotel bellboys for carrying your bags.
* At you pre-tour briefing your tour leader will discuss with you the idea of running a tipping kitty, whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and then the tour leader pays the tips and keeps a record of all monies spent (except restaurant tips).
* It is customary to tip your tour leader,at the end of the trip, if you are happy with the service. A minimum tip of US$2 per day, from each member of the group, is the usual amount expected.
* Please be aware that flight times,trains,hotels and other services are subject to availability.Where flights/trains are cancelled or delayed Heritages Vietnam will endeavor to secure alternative arrangements of similar value,
* Hotels,flights,train’s details will be updated at time of booking confirmed (your fax of confirmation)
* This itinerary and supplementary information has been complied in good faith and was accurate at time of writing.
* Please help travel responsibly in Vietnam so that you will have wonderful memories.
* Check–in: 14:00; out: 12:00 noon.Early check in if it is subject to availability.
* Booking Terms & Conditions: Tour itinerary and tour prices are subject to change without notice.Please contact us for farther
* What to Bring: Passport, Change of clothes, Sun-glasses & hat, Towels, lot of Film,Toiletries, Sun-block, Insect repellent, Flashlight, Proper footwear, Sleeping bag, Camera, Raincoat or Umbrella, Cable locks for luggage, Personal first aid kit & medicines, small VND notes for buying drinks.
* Car/Van Quality: Using new AC car or van depending on your group size.
* Where: Trip starts & end in Hanoi
* When the trip could do: All year round;
Accommodation offering in this trip( O/N-Overnight)
Ha Giang: Huy Hoang Hotel
Yen Ninh (Dong van: Hoang Ngoc Hotel
Bac Ha: Sao Mai Hotel
Sapa: Royal View Hotel
For upgrades: N/A
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Fuel for tour everyday
- AC soft sleep train to Lao Cai - Hanoi
- Hotels in comfortable Standard twin sharing room
- Meals as tour program
- Local English/French speaking guides/Leader
- All entrance and sightseeing fees in the program.
Price Excludes:
- International airfares & airport taxes in/out of Vietnam
- Hotel early check-ins and late check-outs
- All drinks & other meals not mentioned
- Travel insurance
- Visa to Vietnam (we can arrange both visa approval letter and visa on arrival upon request)
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, shopping, etc.)
- Others not mentioned in details, Tipping and Gratuities are welcome!
Rate in USD Per person:
- If 2 to 4 persons, cost in USD $ 1210/Pax (Standrad Hotel)
- If 5 to 7 persons, cost in USD $ 1050/Pax
- Single Sup + USD $90 (a surcharge added to the cost per person when one want to have her/his own room).
Price Validity Until 31 Oct 2009.
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Hiking & Trekking
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