Hanoi Biycle Tours :
Terraced fields and surreal limestone peaks are home to vibrant traditional tribal culture. Crops and houses seem to cling to rocky terrain. We encountered the communities of Red Dao, Tay, White Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo, until recently, living completely isolated from the outside world. We witness an unchanged lifestyle, visit local markets and see wildlife including water buffaloes, pigs and horses.
Day1: Hanoi- Tuyen Quang
After an early breakfast we transfer to Tam Dao -Vinh Yen. Start biking, this is a fascinating bike through many minority villages, as we climb onto a higher plateau. We stop for lunch then continue riding from Doan Hung town and then cycle passing coffee and tea plantations. We will transfer by vehicle into the busy Tuyen Quang city centre, arriving late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight in Tuyen Quang
Accommodation: Hotel (L, D)
Cycling distance: 70km
Day2: Tuyen Quang- Hagiang
The ride begins with a 40km climb into the beautiful surrounding countryside off road in wide track . We pass through a patchwork of rice fields and plum orchards. After the 40km mark we have a 12km, 900m lung busting ascent. The scenery makes up for the hard work as we travel through a rolling landscape with stunning karst rock outcrops and trees. The land is home to the Tay, Nung hill tribes. We finish the day with a transfer 35km into the town of HaGiang.
Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)
Cycling distance: 70km
Day3: Ha Giang to Quan Ba
Setting off this morning we head out of town cycling for the first 25km on relatively flat road through the landscape of terraced rice paddy fields. Passing through minority villages we cycle the next 25km up winding roads into the vast limestone mountain range with its perpendicular walls of rock, climbing 800m towards the mountain road pass “Heaven gate 1”. As we pass through mountain villages sometimes covered by cloud, we will receive a friendly greeting from the local communities. From the pass we can look down at amazing views, including the famous vista of the Tam Son valley with the ‘Twin Hills and can spy Quan Ba town, our destination, in its beautiful location. It’s mainly downhill for the last 15km into Quan Ba.
Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)
Cycling distance: 50km
Total Climb: 1,107m
Total Descent: 349m
Day 4: Cycle Quan Ba to Yen Minh
We will want to take our time today as our beautiful surroundings offer numerous photo opportunities and the rocky limestone and karst terrain is as diverse as it is beautiful. We cycle uphill for the first few km before a descent of around 10km and then relatively flat terrain for the next 10km. It’s a challenging up and down terrain to an altitude of 1.025m before we make a final descent for the last 15km into Yenh Minh. We will have the chance to see the traditional homes of the local hill tribes. The communities in this area are Chinese.
Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)
Cycling distance: 53km
Total climb: 665m
Total descent: 1,131m
Day 5: Yen Minh Climb over the Rocky Plateau to Dong Van, and Meo Vac.
Today we cycle on semi-surfaced quiet roads as we undertake a challenging uphill ride out of dense cedar forest onto the rocky Dong Van plateau. A registered UNESCO Global Geopark, 80% of the terrain is covered by rock and it is said to contain fossils from 400-600million years ago. Nestled in a valley in the heart of the Rock Plateau, is the isolated town of Dong Van, very close to the Chinese border and surrounded by mountain forest and multi-coloured orchids. Meaning ‘sharing culture’ Dong Van is occupied by Chinese Hoa, and H’mong, Tay and Kinh People. The houses are built in Chinese style.
As we cycle on the modest road from Dong Van to Meo Vac alongside a vast gorge, the views are spectacular. This is a winding and undulating road with the sight of the Nho Que River below. From the Ma Phi Leng Pass we look down from an altitude of around 1500m into the valley. We stay tonight in the small town of Meo Vac. Most of the tribes living here have preserved their way of life from outside influence as travelling to Meo Vac was almost impossible until the recent construction of new roads.
Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)
Cycling distance: 70km
Day 6: Meo Vac to Bao Lam
There is a market daily in the town centre of Meo Vac used mainly by the White Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo hill tribes. Women dressed in their brightly coloured traditional clothing walk into the town carrying their bamboo woven baskets laden with corn and vegetables. Today we follow a remote mountain road to Bao Lac. After a 5km uphill cycle we make a 20km descent the follow a fairly flat road for the next 10km. The surrounding landscape with predominantly limestone formations is a surreal vista of peaks, troughs, towers and caves. The crops and dwellings seem to perch precariously on the hillsides. There’s a relatively gentle uphill climb of 250m before we descend for the final 30km along flat terrain. We will pass people from the local minority communities along the way dressed in their vibrant tribal costumes. We stay tonight in Bao Lam.
Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)
Cycling distance: 74km
Total climb: 1,004m
Total descent: 1,770m
Hagiang- Shangrila 4Day 7: Bao Lam to Babe lake
Even in this isolated mountain town there is a busy morning market. We set off for a full day of cycling along challenging terrain but the road is quiet and well surfaced. We cycle through a pretty valley to the tin-mining town Tinh Tuc, heading on to Nguyen Binh. We continue along challenging terrain, but the unparalleled beauty of our surroundings more than compensates for the challenges of the cycling.
Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)
Cycling distance: 88km
Total Climb: 1,845m
Total descent: 1,571m
Bao Lac to Tinh Tuc (72.54km)
Tinh Tuc to Nguyen Binh (15.46km)
Day 8: Babe lake to Hanoi
This morning we pack up our bikes and have a transfer back to Hanoi. We can relax this afternoon and enjoy the bustle and lively pace of Hanoi after our journey through the remote mountains.
Accommodation: Hotel (B)
End of service in hotel in Hanoi (B, L)
Including
· English speaking local guide.
· Local cycling tour leader
· Accommodations as mention on itinerary with room share (2people /room). And local home stay
· Meals as noted B= breakfast, L= lunch ,D=dinner.
· Cold drink as coffee, tea, cola, juice, energy drink for cycling.
· Fruit as banana , mango, green dragon …
· Sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary.
· 100% ground transportation by mini buses available.
