10 DAYS, MOTOR BIKE TOUR TO MEET ETHNIC PEOPLE AND VILLAGES

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 1 :  HANOI – CAM SON LAKE (~115KM, ~4H) (L,D)
Easy  roads  and  tracks  for  a  gentle first day, perfect. The lake is still largely undiscovered by tourists and we will find ourselves in tranquil surroundings. For our first night together we will  stay in a small hotel 10km from the lake. 
 

DAY 2 : CAM SON LAKE – QUANG UYEN (~185KM, ~6H)  (B,L,D)
Through  Binh  Gia  or  Lang  Son,  two  itineraries  are  possible  depending  on  everyone's  biking  experience and the weather. The landscapes are punctuated by limestone karsts, as we pass  through Tay, Dao and Nung territories. The trip truly kicks off as we ride in the wild. Homestay accommodation in Quang Uyen is provided by our friends: the husband is Nung  ethnicity, and the wife is Tay.  

 
DAY 3 :  QUANG UYEN – BAN GIOC – HA LANG – QUANG UYEN (~120KM, ~5H) (B,L,D)
Our luggage stays at the homestay. We start a ride full of lightness through the scenery of Cao  Bang province, that resembles ancient Chinese engravings. We ride a magical loop along the  Sino-Vietnamese border before spending a second night in Quang Uyen.

DAY 4 :  QUANG UYEN – BAO LAC (~160KM, ~7H) (B,L,D)
100% Freewheelin’ style, we arrive early in Bao Lac, to fix some paperwork. Then we prepare 
for  a  special  finish:  9km  on  a good track just like we like: climbing all the way to the top. On  arrival at our Lo Lo friends’ place we will be met with a warm welcome from all the village. This is certainly the poorest of the villages we visit. We will run a movie for all the inhabitants. Part of the  profits  from  the  tour  will  be  used  to  help  a  family  that  can't  afford  the  school  fees  for  its children. 

 
DAY 5 : BAO LAC – PANHOU (~190KM, ~7H) (B,L,D)
A « solid » stage, through stunning scenery, which ranks among the wildest in North Vietnam. A  comfortable  stop  over  at  Panhou,  the  eco-resort  of  our  friends  Michel  and  Lan  Phuong.  Traditional ethnic baths and massages, and time to relax in the bar and warm your feet by the open fire.  

 
DAY 6 : PANHOU – LUC YEN (~100KM, ~3H) (B,L,D)
Easy road, beautiful landscapes, short stage... relax ! The evening will be spent in the house of  our Red Dao friends following a short trek through the jungle. 

 
DAY 7 :  LUC YEN – VU LINH (~80KM, ~3H) (B,L,D)
1st day of the Year of the Buffalo. Chuc Mung Nam Moi !!! Celebration with all the neighbours. 

DAY 8 :  VU LINH – BA BE (~140KM, ~6H) (B,L,D)
Wild day, nice road and bumpy tracks, mixin' it up in true Freewheelin' fashion. Once in Ba Be, we take a boat to the Dau Dang waterfalls, the lake, the Gâm river and the jungle. 
 

DAY 9 : BA BE – NA KHAN (~80KM, ~3H) (B,L,D)
Easy. If we can sleep in the house of our friend Pirate, we cross the lake. If not, we start from 
Pac Ngoi village.  We have all day, no hurry. It's good to take our time in the remote and friendly Ba Be National Park. Na Khan is a Tay village where we stay in the stilt house of Mister Lo and Madam Bong who is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best cook in Southeast Asia.

DAY 10 : NA KHAN – HANOI (~160KM, ~5H)  (B,L)

Quiet countryside roads through the tea plantations of Thai Nguyen.Visit Museum of Ethnology in ThaiNguyen. Arrival Hanoi. The trip concludes.