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Biking
HCM
Trails |
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19 Days/18 Nights |
Trip
Code |
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VN-BHCM19 |
Activity
Grade - Moderate
Requires a reasonable level of
fitness. This trip involve up to 5
hours of activity a day for 15 days
throughout the itinerary.
The Bicycles
For the sake of the client, we use
our professional bike - Trek
imported from Canada. With 24
speeds and a lightweight steel alloy
frame these bicycles are designed
for road cycling, and country down
hills . Other features include LRS
(Low Ratio Suspension) and excellent
damping capacity, both of which help
to absorb vibration and shocks for a
smoother, more comfortable and
enjoyable ride. The bicycles are
available in a number of sizes and
will be adjusted to individual
heights.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL HANOI (D)
Meet and greet upon arrival to
Hanoi airport. Transfer to the
hotel for check in. At leisure.
After noon embark on a cyclo
ride for the city acquaintance
and orientation. Overnight in Ha
Noi.
DAY2:
HANOI - HALONG BAY
KAYAKING.(B,L,D)
Breakfast and depart for Halong
bay through Red river Delta.
Arrival to Halong we embark on
a lovely boat ride for an
exploration of the legendary
Halong Bay. Along the cruise we
will have opportunity to
kayak to the lagoon and deserted
beach. We begin our first
kayaking experience to discover
the limestone karst formations
which are littered with beaches,
grottoes and beautiful caves,
and visit one of the many hidden
grottoes beneath towering
cliffs. At the end of afternoon
we return to our escorted boat
for relaxation and dinner. The
night paddle is available for
kayaking fervor. Overnight on
boat.
DAY3:
HALONG BAY - HANOI.(B,L,D)
After breakfast we
continue our cruise amongst the
3,000 towering limestone
islands, islets and outcrops
.Further
kayaking to the outlaying
beaches and caves. Return to our
escorted boat for lunch and get
back to Halong Pier.
Meet our awaiting vehicle
for the journey back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 4:
HANOI - MAICHAU (B,L,D) ~40km
ride
We depart for Mai Chau early in
the morning. Arriving at
lunchtime, enjoy a cooked lunch
at a local Tai village house
before setting off along a
spectacularly beautiful river
valley towards Hoi Xuan along an
undulating tarmac road.
(Formerly highway 15A). The
road follows the flow of River
Song Ma. This is an old supply
route of the HCM Trail that fed
the main trail with ammunitions
during the American War with
Vietnam. Overnight at the edge
of Pu Luong Nature Reserve in a
traditional Thai village
homestay, part of an ecotourist
community project set up by
Fauna and Flora International in
2003. Overnight village house on
stilts.
DAY 5: PULUONG NATURAL
RESERVE - QUANHOA (B,L,D)
~80km ride
ToDAY the route takes
us through the beautiful
sceneary passing by the river
and appears to contour through
the same range of mountains that
stretch from Mai Chau to Cuc
Phuong to Hoa Lu. The road gets
more scenic as we get closer to
Ngoc Lac with looming karst
limestone cliffs and lush
vegetation. The route is tarmac
all the way, but quite hard
riding due to the undulating
terrain. Overnight in
guesthouse in Ngoc Lac.
DAY 6: NGOC LAC - THAIHOA ~90km
ride . (B,L,D)~80km ride
Morning embark on Ho Chi Minh
Highway, once used for
transportation of food and local
supply to the south.The road now
makes for smooth fast riding,
and for those who prefer there
is always the old highway dirt
and gravel - that weaves around
the new highway allowing for
plenty of exploring
possibilities along the way.
Ride to Muc Son, on the banks of
River Song Chu. On the outskirts
of this small town are the
famous Kan Linh historical
relics - a pagoda where the
first king of the Ly dynasty, Le
Thai To, ruled, in 1428.
Continue riding on the trail to
Yen Cat. The distance covered
toDAY is quite long and there
will be the chance to transfer
some sections by the back-up
vehicle to rest weary legs.There
are fewer villages toDAY as the
route cuts through forests and
jungle. Picnic lunch en route.
Overnight Thai Hoa guesthouse.
DAY 7:
THAI HOA - VINH (B,L,D)~90km
ride
Continue riding the incredible
Ho Chi Minh Trail. Have lunch in
Lat town. In Kim Lean visit the
famous museum and birthplace of
Ho Chi Minh in 1890. This
province has a reputation for
producing charismatic
revolutionary leaders; not only
Ho Chi Minh but also Phan Boi
Chau – another fervent anti
colonialist -was born here.
Overnight in Vinh city.
DAY 8:
VINH - HUONGKHE(B,L,D)~80km ride
After breakfast we continue our
ride on the Ho Chi Minh Trail
crossing the Lam river. The
trail is still a dream to ride
on. Again there is virtually no
traffic. Transfer if tired in
the afternoon to Huong Khe for
overnight in a local guesthouse.
DAY 9: HUONG KHE - PHONGNHA
NATIONAL PARK (B,L,D)~80km ride
From Huong Khe the mountains
rise and the road winds up, down
and along the hillsides. The
scenery is spectacular, the road
tranquil. Ride up to 80km then
transfer the last few km to
Phong Nha National Park. The
park contains one of the most
spectacular caves in Vietnam, It
is a true speleological wonder.
Visit the cave by boat then
wander through the cavern, past
the foundations of ancient Cham
ruins. Pause to admire the
incredible formation of
stalactites and stalagmites.
Formed approximately 250 million
years ago Phong Nha was used as
a hospital and ammunition depot
during the war, the entrance
still showing evidence of
fighter aircraft attacks. There
are community projects underway
with Flora and Fauna
International and it may be
possible to visit village
initiatives and learn more about
the forests of the National
Park. Overnight at the National
Park.
DAY 10: PHONGNHA - HUE
(B,L,D)~70km ride
Explore Phong Nha Cave in the
early morning. Continue riding
on the Ho Chi Minh Trail across
the DMZ (better known as the
17th Parallel,) to Cam Lo. The
road is now quite flat and makes
for good cruising! Stop en route
to visit Truong Son Cemetary, a
memorial to the tens of
thousands of North Vietnamese
soldiers who were killed in the
Truong Son Mountains along the
Ho Chi Minh Trail. Fourteen
miles further on is the town of
Cam Lo – the Trail here
intersects a strategic feeder
road (H9) from Dong Ha and at
this junction part of the Ho Chi
Minh Trail heads across country
into Laos. We finish our
exploration of the Ho Chi Minh
trail here. This is where we end
the cycling section of the Ho
Chi Minh Trail. Transfer to Hue
visiting war relics en route.
Overnight Hotel in Hue.
DAY 11: HUE - HOIAN (135 km)
(B,L,D)~80km ride
Hue was the capital of Vietnam
under the Nguyen Dynasty of
emperors from 1802 till 1945. In
the morning cycle to the
elaborate mausoleums of Emperor
Tu Duc and Khai Dinh along the
banks of the Perfume River .
Leave Hue in the afternoon for
the ancient trading port of Hoi
An 120km to the south via the
spectacular Pass of Ocean Clouds
. Arrive in Hoi An late
afternoon and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Hoi An
DAY 12: HOIAN (B,L,D)~80km
ride
Depart Hoi An and cycle to the
sacred Marble Mountains where
caves contain dozens of Buddhist
shrines. Detour at Da Nang to
visit the famous lovely Non Nuoc Beach ,
once a 'rest and recreation'
resort for American servicemen.
Return to Hoi An for lunch and
spend the afternoon discovering
the delights of Hoi An's
historic town centre or perhaps
cycle to Cua Dai Beach
through the country side 6km
away. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 13: HOIAN - QUYNHON (B,L,D),
280km~80km ride
We cycle coastline to Sa
Huynh beach - which is also
a pleasant place for a dip in
the cooling South China Sea.
We continue cycling past rural
villages canopied by coconut
palms. We visit a Cham tower
before taking our bus the rest
of the way to Quy Nhon
Overnight in Qui Nhon.
DAY 14: QUYNHON - NHATRANG
(B,L,D)240km~80km ride
We depart down the Highway one
by bus and then bike dy along
Vietnam’s most scenic coastline,
rugged mountains with deserted
blue lagoons and stone
promontories, fishing villages,
colored boats, mountain passes
etc
to Vietnam 's premier beach
destination, Nha Trang.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
DAY
15: NHATRANG (B,L,D)~80km ride
In the morning we take a cruise
on Nha Trang Bay to visit some
of the offshore islands with
time for swimming and
snorkeling.
Return to shore after a seafood
lunch. Afternoon cycling around
Nha Trang to visit the 9th
century Po Nagar Cham Towers,
Long Son Pagoda with its
enormous Buddha statue and the
interesting Dam Market.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
DAY 16: NHATRANG -
PHANTHIET(B,L,D)250km~80km ride
After breakfast depart by bus
and bike for Phan Thiet
breaking the journey at Phan
Rang to visit the spectacular Po
Klong Garai Cham Temple.
The landscape between Phan Rang
and Phan Thiet changes to an
arid semi-desert with sandy soil
and prickly pear cactus.
In Phan Thiet turn off to the
Mui Ne Peninsula with its white
sandy beaches and swaying
coconut palms. Overnight in Phan
Thiet.
DAY 17: PHANTHIET - HCM
CITY (B,L,D)200km~80km ride
A morning free to relax at the
beach or perhaps explore Mui Ne
and its spectacular sand dunes.
After lunch we ride along the
coast passing through dense
rubber plantations before
reaching Bien Hoa and the outer
suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City .
Transfer to hotel in HCM
city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh
City
DAY 18: HCM CITY - CUCHI
TUNNELS (B,L,D)120~60km ride
City tour of Ho Chi Minh
City, nicknamed Saigon by many
locals. Visit the former
Presidential Palace, the Notre
Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post
Office, a lacquerware workshop
and Thien Hau Pagoda and
Chinatown. In the afternoon
visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels,
an incredible underground tunnel
network constructed by
Vietnamese resistance fighters
during the war. Overnight in Ho
Chi Minh City .
DAY 19: HOCHIMINH CITY -
DEPARTURE (B)
At leisure until transfer to Tan
Son Nhat Airport for your
departure flight.
Trip includes
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Specialist
English speaking guide
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Professional bikes, and biking gears
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Accommodation 3star on twin share basis with daily breakfast
ü Transfers, transportation
ü Meals as indicated within the itinerary
ü Entrance fees
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Reasonable supply of drinking water during the trip
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Support Vehicle
Trip excludes
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International airfares
ü International airport taxes
ü Visa and visa arrangement
ü Travel insurance ( compulsory)
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Meals
not indicated
ü
Other personal expenses
ü
Tips & gratuities
Trip cost: En USD and per person
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