7 Days / 6 Nights - Cycle
Tour of Northwest Vietnam ( code BT 05 )
Hanoi - Laocai - Sapa
- TamDuong - LaiChau - Dien Bien Phu
TOUR
SUMMARY
This is a real off-the-beaten-track
cycle tour to a part of Asia few foreigners
ever venture. Starting in Hanoi, we take
the train to the hill-station of Sapa
and discover the mountain trails around Fansipan,
Indochina's highest peak. Riding over a 2000
metre high mountain into the remote Lai Chao
Valley we visit a land known by the local Hmong
people as "beyond the clouds." Our
ride ends in Dien Bien Phu, the site
of the Viet Minh's historic and decisive
victory over the French. After visiting the
battlefields and learning how Ho Chi Minh
defeated the French, we fly back to Hanoi.
RIDING
PROFILE
This
is a We ride just over 350 kilometres on a mixture
of trails that range form dirt tracks to asphalt.
This is a mountain tour with some tough climbs
and participants should be fit and experienced
riders. The reward for riding in remote areas
is empty roads and incomparable views. For those
that enjoy riding in the mountains, this tour
is the ultimate cycling adventure and highly
recommended. Accommodation is in standard tourist
class hotels and the riders are supported by
sturdy passenger vans.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Hanoi
( night train to Laocai ) Pick up from the airport or meet at hotel
in Hanoi. Time to explore city
before transfer to railway station to catch
King Express. Overnight on the train.
Day 2
Lao
Cai - Sapa 40 km [B,L] Arrive in Lao Cai, Unload bikes and meet
support vehicle. Transfer to Sapa and have
breakfast. Ride down Sapa valley. Continue
to black Hmong village of Supan. Option: ride
back or catch support vehicle.
Day 3
Sapa - BanHo 60 km [B, L, D] Ride to TaVan village. Pass through
valley and reach Red Zao village. Arrive Tay
village BanHo . Return back up hill to track
head home. ( return option at the minibus
back to hotel or by bike ) Dinner at
local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4
Sapa - TamDuong - Paso
90 km [B,L,D] Climb to Tram Ton Pass to 2000 metres.
Ride downhill to Lai Chau province. Reach
Tam Duong. Small break and continue
to Laichau. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5
Paso - Laichau Old
town[B,L,D] Cross mountains to beautiful valley and
pass tribal villages. Lunch in large Vietnamese
village. Ride into Lai Chau valley. Following
river all afternoon to Lai Chau Old Town.
Day 6
Lai
Chau - DienBienPhu 105 km [B,L,D] Ride out of Lai Chau. Visit remote tribal
people. Cross mountain passes to DienBien
Phu. Take tour of historic Dien Bien Phu,
Visit museum, cemetery, French war bunkers
and battle sites.
Day 7
Dien
Bien Phu - Hanoi [B] Flight Early breakfast. Transfer to airport to
catch the lunchtime flight back to Hanoi.
Optional tour : you may return to
Hanoi by bus, with the stop one night in
Sonla or Maichau.
**B - Breakfast; L - Lunch; D
- Dinner
TOUR
INFORMATION
Total Distance
380
km
Number of cycling days
Four full days and one half-day
Road Surface
This tour follows a mix of asphalt roads,
broken roads, vehicle-width dirt roads, and
rough tracks, so some off-road riding skills
are an advantage. You should be confident
of your physical condition and bike handling
skills.
Support
Minibus of 16 seaters that take bikes and
bikers
Group
Minimum 2. Maximum 12.
Staff
Groups of 8 or more a cycling leader plus
a Vietnamese cycling guide and drivers and
assistants.
Food
All
meals are included from Breakfast on day 2
to breakfast on day 7, except for dinner on
day 2.
ACCOMMODATION ON
SCHEDULED TOURS (STANDARD ACCOMMODATION)
Tour Cost includes:
• Bike
• All hotels (twin share or dorm ) and meals specified
• Cycle support by a/c vehicles
• Flight ticket back from DienBien to Hanoi.
• Train ticket from Hanoi to Laocai - soft sleeper class
• All water and snacks whilst riding.
• All entrances to museums and sites mentioned
• Vietnamese English speaking guide
• All meals mentioned
Tour Cost excludes:
• International Flights
• Departure Tax
• Visa Fees
• Alcoholic, and other beverages in the evenings
• Tips for guides.
• Personal travel insurance
• Any services not mentioned in itinerary
Asia-Pacific
Travel -BikeTours Vietnam
Hanoi head office : 66 Hang Than St., Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84.4) 38 364 212 - 37 568 868
Fax: (84.4) 37 567 862
Cellphone: 0913 224473
