This weekend bike trip takes you through beautiful countryside and the villages of the Lao Cai area. You will have the opportunity to
observe the local minority communities at work while they tend their fields in the
shadow of the cliff of the Chay river. The overnight stays in Bac Ha will give you
the chance to explore the villages and visit the local market. From Bac Ha you
can also visit the Can Cau market after crossing the Chay River
by boat to the Bao Nhai village, where a variety of local minority groups can
be found.
Day 1: Thursday: HANOI
– NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI
The private tour guide of Binhtours will pick up you from your hotel
this evening and escort you to the railway station to catch the night train to
Lao Cai, where we would start our adventure the next day. Overnight on train.
Summary
Biking: No
Meals: No
Accommodation:
On train (4-berth wodden cabin with A/C)
Day 2: Friday: SAPA – BAC HA (B, L,D)
Arrive Lao Cai in the early morning. Breakfast and short break for your
refreshment before getting on our own vehicle to head out of Lao Cai. After a
short time passing the bustling town of Lao Cai,
we start our biking experience for the next 20 km. You will be riding in the
lowland area, before reaching the village
of Pac Ngam. Now we have
a long and sometimes steep ascend to our final destination of today, Bac Ha.
Should you feel tired from riding the bike, your van will pick you up and give
you a lift to Bac Ha.
Check-in hotel upon arrival and enjoy your lunch. After a short break, take
a nice ride around the beautiful Ban Pho village of Flower Hmong
and Nung minorities. Continue to visit the old castle of the former Hmong King.
From there you can have a view over Bac Ha town. Dinner and overnight in Bac
Ha.
Summary
Biking:
50-65km depends on your interest.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Twin-shared room at small; yet, comfortable hotel.
Day 3: Saturday: BAC HA – CAN CAU (B, L, D)
Today is time for a special market experience: the Can Cau market. The
road between Bac Ha and Can Cau is hilly but very beautiful. The ride there
will take you around one and a half hours.
The products on the market are
interesting, and many different groups of ethnic minority people represented
make the market an unforgettable experience. You will spend all the morning to
walk around the market exploring its magnificent chaos. In the afternoon, you
will have the opportunity to visit one small
village of Flower Hmong
ethnic minority before cycling back to Bac Ha. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha.
Summary
Biking: 40km
up and down hill
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Twin-shared room at small; yet, comfortable hotel.
Day 4: Sunday: BAC HA – LAO CAI – NIGHT TRAIN BACK TO HANOI (B. L)
Today, you will have the opportunity to visit the Bac Ha market. The
huge market is always a riot of color with its collection of ethnic peoples.
Flower Hmong, Phu La, Dao Tuyen are just a few of the tribes present. All
gathered here to buy and sell their products.
We start out from Bac Ha by cycling downhill to Bao Nhai, where we get
on a boat to have a cruise on the Chay river. It is a perfect way to finish our
trip by sitting in the boat exploring the life at the riverbank. Your van will
wait for you in Bao Nhai and take you to Lao Cai Railways Station for the night
train back to Hanoi.
Free for your own dinner in Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Another
possibility is to head to Sapa for more adventures holiday experiences in the
mountains of Vietnam.
Summary
Biking: 15km
down hill
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
On train (4-berth wodden cabin with A/C)
Day 5: Monday: HANOI
Arrive
Hanoi station
in the early morning. You will be picked up and being transferred back to your
hotel. End of services.
INCLUDE:
+ English or French speaking guide (Other languages available upon
request)
+ Support vehicle
+ High-end Mountain bikes
+ Helmet & biking gloves
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ Round trip train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai
– Hanoi (4-berth
wooden cabin with A/C)
+ Accommodation on Twin-shared basis at best available hotel in Bac Ha
or equivalent.
+ Private boat trip as per program.
+ First-aid kit
+ Water & Snacks
+ Entrance fees & Sightseeing fees
EXCLUDE:
+ Accommodation in Hanoi.
+ Travel insurance
+ Visa
+ Tips
+ Personal expenses
What to bring
Sun block, hat, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses, sleeping bag
(optional), rain coat, toiletries, original passport.