Day 1: Ha Noi You are met at Noi Bai airport then transfer to Hanoi for checkin hotel. O/N in Ha Noi. Day 2: Ha Noi - Son La Departing for Son La. Plenty of stops are scheduled along the way and a great opportunity to get to know your fellow cyclists. Day 3: Son La - Tuan Giao Cycling to Tuan Giao (90 km) through a region inhabited by the Black Thai people. A late afternoon climb will reward you with mountain vistas that go on forever and a final exhilarating descent to Tuan Giao. Day 4: Tuan Giao - Dien Bien Phu Cycle Tuan Giao to Dien Bien Phu (81 km). - the old battle field of Vietnam and Franco troops. O/N in Dien Bien Phu. Day 5: Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau Cycle Dien Bien Phu to Lai Chau (100 km). Cycling continues with a late arrival into Lai Chau. Dinner and drinks are served at local hotel. Day 6: Lai Chau - Tam Duong Cycle Lai Chau to Tam Duong (106 km's). Today's ride has some of the most spectacular scenery in Vietnam as you follow the Nam Na River. A great day to get lost in your thoughts and the rhythm of cycling. Day 7: Tam Duong - Sa Pa Cycle to Sa Pa (73km) passing with glorious views of Mt Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Vietnam. At the top we take a short break and as you gaze into the distant valley below you will be filled with a sense of achievement that does not come often or easily. Day 8: Sa Pa Free day in Sapa - a French hill station, you will marvel at the towering covered hills, terraced rice paddies and streams. Combine this with the hill tribe people, particularly the delightful H'mong girls selling handmade silver jewellery. Day 9: Sa Pa - Lao Cai Cycling to Lao Cai (35km). Stay up late in the dining car sipping on Sa Pa wine and swapping stories and experiences with you new best friends. Day 10: Ha Noi Saddling up for a cycle tour of Ha Noi (20 km) exploring many of the small back streets and merchants of the Old Quarter. Prepare to be swept up in the sea of riders and motorcycles circling Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of Ha Noi. Day 11: Halong Bay Driving to the Hai Phong Port City. Boarding the boat to Cat Ba Island. Our tour guide will give a discussion on gear and safety, and demonstrate the basic paddle strokes for kayaking. Now it's time to slip into our sleek kayaks and set out for an afternoon of paddling. Day 12: Halong Bay Today. we'll explore the caves in the island that lead to stunning lagoons, paddle to floating villages to see their unique way of life. Our support boat will meet us for lunch then return to the sea and spend the remainder of the afternoon paddling. Day 13: Halong Bay - Hanoi The paddlers return to base camp in time for lunch, then we all cruise back to Cat Ba Island, passing floating villages and markets along the way. We take the express boat back to Hai Phong then bus back to Hanoi. Day 14: Ha Noi - Departure Free time for shopping or at leisure until your flight home. End of the tour. |