Day 01: Arrive in Hanoi
You will be greeted at the airport by Lotussia local guide and driver and transferred to your hotel in Hanoi. Free time to explore Hanoi old quarter while your guide unpack bike box and build up your bike. Short bike riding around the old quarter to make sure that your bike works well. O/N in Hanoi.
Day 02: Hanoi – Ba Be National Park
Breakfast at hotel then depart Hanoi for Thai Nguyen and up hill to Bac Kan. Lunch will be provided in Bac Kan, then drive a bit more to Phu Thong where we start cycling off road 54km to BaBe national park. Villages of Tay and Thai on the opposite of the river. Make sure you turn left at Cho Ra junction market town and continue 17km to Ba Be national park (alt. +240m). O/N in Babe.
Day 03: Ba Be - Nguyen Binh - Tinh Tuc - Bao Lac
Breakfast at hotel then our bus take us to Ha Hieu where we start cycling through forest of Mt. Pia Oac to Nguyen Binh, this is a very old bumpy road through forest and many villages of the Tay people. Many mt. passes to go, the most challenge one is Phia Den +1200m. Late afternoon we have bus transfer to Bao Lac for the night. O/N in Bao Lac.
Day 04: Bao Lac - Bac Me - Ha Giang
Today, we will ride on good paved roads along Gam river and there will be lots of opportunities for us to savor the very nice scenery between Bac Mieu and Bac Me. Picnic lunch en route. Late afternoon bus transfer to Ha Giang town (alt.+156m). O/N in Ha Giang.
Day 05: Ha Giang - Heaven gate pass - Hoang Su Phi
Morning transfer 1hour by bus to Tan Quang (alt.+120m) where we turn right and start cycling up hill to the mountain again. Best mountain view today, challenge 60km climb through 2 "heaven gates" pass to Hoang Su Phi town. First gate is 19km climb to alt. +815m, then going little down, then climb up to second gate at alt. + 895m. Then start going down further 21km to Hoang Su Phi town. O/N Hoang Su Phi. (+460m) .
Day 06: Hoang Su Phi - Xin Man - Bac Ha
We climb up 5km right outside the town, then continue 40km along the Chay river to Xin Man, quite easy flat road. Please keep up with the main route, can take photos along the way, but do not turn into any village along this route. At the point 11km before Xin Man, there is a turn right sign 26km to China border. After XinMan town, we climb up 17km to summit of alt.+1,460m, then continue 43km up and down hill to Bac Ha. This is totally a new road – built on the former trail of the flower Hmong tribes. O/N in BacHa (alt.+920m )
Day 07: Saturday Market, Lao Cai - Sapa
An interesting day with shuttle bus to visit Can Cau Saturday market, see a market day for all tribes: Tay, Nung, Dao, Flower H’mong, Giay, PhuLa etc… Afternoon cycling down hill 20km and onto PacNgam at highway 70. Bus pick up, transfer to Lao Cai town, then start climb up 35km to Sapa town. (alt.+1,550m ). O/N in Sapa.
Day 08: Sapa - Heaven Gate - Lai Chau
Best mountain view today, about 1 hours up hill, with a stop over Silver waterfalls for relax before we conquer the highest mountain pass Oquiho (+2,010m) . Then decending down the great panoramic view of Hoang Lien Son mt. range. Lunch en route. Nice villages of Hmong and “coins” Dao near Binh Lu. We take a dirt road 30km through villages of Dzao and Lu tribe to Lai Chau. O/N in Lai Chau.(alt.+ 945m)
Day 09: Lai Chau - Paso - Muong Lay
Some part of the road is still in construction, but great view along Nam Na river. At point 8km before Muong Lay, there is a turn right to Muong Te, remember to keep on straight to Muong Lay. You will see the scenic Da river from Hang Tom suspension bridge before entering this small town. O/N in Muong Lay. (+ 200 m)
Day 10: Muong Lay - Dien Bien Phu
A nice long day ride with stop over the Red H’mong village before climb up to Mathiho pass (alt.+895m), HuoiChan pass, CoChay pass (alt.+845m). O/N in Dien Bien Phu town (alt.+480m)
Day 11: Dien Bien Phu - Tuan Giao
Bus sightseeing back to the former French battlefield : A1 hill, De Castries bunker etc.. . You will see some old US weapons here too. Then we have easy ride 80km through many Thai villages to Tuan Giao (one climb mt. pass 15km outside Dien Bien). O/N in Tuan Giao (alt. +590m).
Day 12: Tuan Giao - Pha Din Pass - Son La
Challenge 20km winding climb up Phadin pass (heaven and earth pass) to summit of +1450 m and 15km down hill. Nice landscape of green rice fields and karst valley. Light traffic, wandering water buffaloes, Thai and Hmong kids. Overnight in Son La.
Day 13: Son La - Mai Chau
Short transfer 1 hours to Yen Chau where we start riding down hill to Moc Chau. Stop over Xa Linh for visit a green Hmong village. Late afternoon arrive in Mai Chau. O/N homestay on stilt house of Thai tribe.
Day 14: Mai Chau - Hanoi
Morning free at leisure promenade around Thai villages, shopping local handicraft etc.... until lunch time. Afternoon departure for Hanoi. Farewell dinner in Hanoi. O/N in Hanoi.
Day 15: Departure
At ?h, our guide and driver will meet you again at the hotel lobby and driver you then to the airport for your onward flight. End tour.
| Kindly note that Lotussia Travel is specialized in private customized adventure trips and the above itinerary is only one suggestion. That can be flexible, customizable and subject to weather conditions and other circumstances. If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, please feel free to contac us at any time here. |
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