Cycle Sapa to Hanoi
11 Days/ 10 Nights
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival - Overnight train (D)
Upon arrival in Hanoi, transfer to a local hotel to drop off your
bags and freshen up. Take a short tour of the dynamic capital visiting
places such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Pagoda, the famous Old Quarter
and the 11th century Temple of Literature. This evening your guides
will provide a pre-trip briefing followed by a delicious Vietnamese
dinner at one of the city's top restaurants.
Transfer to the train station for the overnight journey to Lao
Cai in a comfortable four-berth sleeping cabin. Overnight on the
train
Day 2: Sapa (B/L/D)
Arrive early this morning to Lao Cai, a small town 40 kilometers
from Sapa. After breakfast, begin riding with an easy decent through
the villages of Matra and Taphin people for a taste of the diverse
colors and people you will encounter over the upcoming days. Afterwards,
enjoy a walk around Sapa and browse through the central market.
Overnight in Sapa. (Cycling distance: 20km)
Day 3: Sapa - Tam Duong (B/L/D)
Today is a challenging ride as you set out to conquer Heaven's Gate,
the highest mountain pass in Northern Vietnam. The intense climb
rewards you with spectacular views of Indochina's highest peak,
Mt. Fansipan, as you cycle through stunning Hoang Lien Son National
Park. The work is further reward with a cruising descent down a
winding road to Than Uyen valley.
After a light picnic lunch, continue pedaling through breathtaking
scenery to the newly built town of Tam Duong.
Overnight in Tam Duong. (Cycling distance: 95km)
Day 4: Tam Duong - Lai Chau (B/L/D)
Awake to the cool morning air for an easy pedal from the sleepy
town of Tam Duong to start your day. However, after 10km you reach
a tough climb and you can choose to tackle the assent or hop in
the van for a boost to the top and take advantage of the long sweeping
downhill.
This afternoon's ride toward Lai Chau is over rolling terrain with
magnificent views (Note: during the time of writing some sections
were under construction). Lai Chau and the surrounding valley will
soon be flooded by the Sonla Hydro Electric Project, making way
for Vietnam's largest reservoir.
Overnight in Lai Chau. (Cycling distance: 105 km)
Day 5: Lai Chau - Dien Bien Phu (B/L/D)
Today's route follows the Na River through a lush, undulating landscape
of ferns, bananas and bamboo to the city of Dien Bien Phu. This
historic town has an infamous history as the location of a stunning
Vietnamese victory over the occupying French Forces.
Overnight in Dien Bien Phu. (Cycling distance: 93km).
Day 6: Dien Bien - Tuan Giao (B/L/D)
After a hearty breakfast prepare of yet another captivating adventure.
Today's ride is gentler than the past three days and undulates through
quite back roads, picturesque gorges, and ends with a gradual downhill
toward the town of Tuan Giao.
Overnight in Tuan Giao. (Cycling distance: 81km)
Day 7: Tuan Giao - Son La (B/L/D)
Today's fantastic ride features the most breathtaking scenery of
the entire journey. Following a short warm up, there is a challenging
12 kilometer climb followed by a coasting 14 kilometer descent.
As you pedal onwards, pass through Thuan Chau town, home to the
White
Day 8: Son La - Moc Chau (B/L/D)
This morning start from the hotel by bike with a gradually uphill
through lush, terraced rice paddies against a backdrop of jagged
limestone cliffs. The ride is less hilly than yesterdays, but no
less spectacular. Stop for lunch in the town of Yen Chau before
continuing on to Moc Chau, your final destination today. This town
is situated at an elevation of 1000m and is renowned for its banh
sua (milk cake) and tea products.
Overnight in Moc Chau. (Cycling distance: 121km)
Day 9: Moc Chau - Mai Chau (B/L/D)
Another spectacular day of cycling awaits, the majority of which
is downhill! Enjoy an easy morning riding across a plateau of tea
plantations and peach orchards and cycle on narrow, quiet back roads
as you ride into a region predominantly populated by Thai minority
cultures. This beautiful valley, home to the village of Pom Coong,
will be your home for the night. Experience the traditional culture
and way of life of these hilltribe people with an overnight homestay.
Enjoy a delicious home-cooked dinner, taste some of the country's
finest rice wine and be entertained by a local dance performance.
Overnight in Mai Chau. (Cycling distance: 67km)
Day 10: Mai Chau - Hoa Binh - Hanoi (B/L/D)
This final day of cycling is one of the most memorable. Start with
an 800m ascent before cruising down into the town of Muongkhen.
Continue to pedal along on the way to Hoa Binh City, the ending
point of your cycling journey. After a local lunch, trade in your
bike for a 2.5 drive back to Hanoi where the afternoon is at your
leisure until heading to a fabulous restaurant for a farewell dinner.
Overnight in Hanoi. (Cycling distance: 66km)
Day 11: Depart Hanoi
This morning is at your leisure before your onward journey.
*****END OF SERVICES*****
"This itinerary may alter due to local conditions, the strength
of the group and other unexpected circumstances. We will do our
very best to adhere to the set itinerary, however we cannot be held
responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all
such circumstances, your biking or trekking guide will have the
final say."
RATES & CONDITIONS
ACCOMMODATION:
Option 1:
City Hotel Room type
Hanoi Flower or similar Classic
Sapa Goldsea Superior
Tam Duong Muong Thanh 1st class
Lai Chau Lan Anh 1st class
Dien Bien Him Lam 1st class
Tuan Giao Local hotel 1st class
Son La Cong Doan 1st class
Moc Chau Cong Doan Guest House 1st class
Mai Chau Homestay Dormitory
Option 2:
City Hotel Room type
Hanoi Hilton for overnight on day 10/ Flower for day use on day
1 Deluxe
Sapa Victoria Sapa with Victoria Train Superior
Tam Duong Muong Thanh 1st class
Lai Chau Lan Anh 1st class
Dien Bien Him Lam 1st class
Tuan Giao Local hotel 1st class
Son La Cong Doan 1st class
Moc Chau Cong Doan Guest House 1st class
Mai Chau Mai Chau Lodge Deluxe
Special note: There is no Victoria Train on Saturday & Victoria
Express Train doesn't sell one way ticket for Friday departure from
Hanoi to Lao Cai
Cost are per person for shared twin/double
Rates are valid until 30 September 2011.
Option 1:
Number of People
2
3-4 5-6 7-11 12-16 Single Room Supplement
Price per Person £1140 £985 £872 £784 £754
£126
Option 2:
Number of People 2 3-4 5-6 7-11 12-16 Single Room Supplement
Price per Person £1405 £1262 £1148 £1060
£1028 £234
Our Services Include:
" Experienced English speaking biking guide(s) (two guides
for group bigger than 11).
" Private air-conditioned vehicle for transfer and back up
as itinerary (Additional truck to carry bikes and baggage Hanoi
to Sapa route if group bigger than 11).
" Welcome gift: 01 Vietnam Eco map per person.
" 01 Silk sleeping sheet per person.
" Drinking water for riding day from day 2 to day 10 for cycling
days.
" Snack, soft drinks, local fruits and fresh tissues for riding
day from day 3 to 10 for cycling days
" Soft sleeper train ticket Hanoi - Lao Cai on day 1 ( 4 sleeper
air-conditioned compartment)
" Meal as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch,
D= Dinner). Welcome dinner in fancy Wild Lotus Restaurant in Hanoi.
Note that we will supplement some breakfast for some simple hotels
in the mountain including some baguette, coffee, tea milk, cheese
and butter)
" Sightseeing entrance fees where mentioned in the itinerary
" Accommodation in twin sharing room with daily breakfast (some
of the hotel/guest house in the mountain area are simple)
Our Services do not include:
" International air ticket to/from Vietnam and international
airport departure tax (15.4USD)
" Visa to Vietnam.
" Tips to drivers, driver assistants, local people, porters
at boat station, hotels and airports, guides. Recommended tip: $2-
3 per day per pax for driver, $4-5 per day per pax for guide, 10
000 VND per pax for hotel porters.
" Alcoholic drinks and drinks during meals
" Personal travel insurance.
" Local bike hire including transport of bikes, and spares
(Trek 4500 Front suspension mountain bikes): 15USD/bike/day X 10
Days=150USD
" Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping, camera
film and so on…)
" Any other services not clearly stated in the itinerary and
trip inclusive portion
A. IMPORTANT NOTES:
" We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel insurance
(covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam and
Cambodia.
B. CONFIRMATIONS:
" Please note that all the above services & package tours
have not been booked yet, they are proposed for your information
only. We will not launch any reservation before we receive your
confirmation.
" If one or some proposed service(s) is (are) not available
at the moment of booking, we will try to find out other possibility/options
or other similar service(s) in order to avoid as many important
changes as possible.
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