SAPA – MU CANG CHAI – MOC CHAU 11 DAY BICYLE TOURS
If your party exceeds 5 guests, feel free to ask about discounts
This is an 11-day/10-night cycling tour in Vietnam, with a price of USD $2199.00 per person. There is a single supplement fee of $100.00 and a bike hire fee of $145. The tour meets in HaNoi and ends in Ha Noi. The small group size is 2, while the large group size is 15. and the age requirement to ride is 18 years old. The tour includes 10 days of cycling with an average distance of 50 km per day, totaling 565 km of cycling distance.
What’s included
During the cycling tour, participants can enjoy a worry-free experience with the following inclusions: a private air-conditioned vehicle to transport cyclists and their luggage, as well as a truck to carry all bikes. Riders will have the opportunity to ride a new Giant MTB equipped with a 27.5″ wheel size and hydraulic brakes. Safety is also a top priority with the provision of helmets and water bottles. All entrance fees and ferry tickets in the countryside are also included in the package. Participants will enjoy 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 9 dinners throughout the tour, with the notation of B=11, L=10, D=9. Accommodations for 11 nights will be provided in double or twin rooms. Additionally, cyclists will have daily supplies of cold water, snacks, fresh fruits, and facial tissues. All airport pick-up and drop-off services will be provided, and a bike mechanic will be available throughout the tour to ensure that the bikes are in top condition. Finally, an English-speaking guide will accompany cyclists throughout the tour, providing support and guidance.
What’s not included
Personal travel insurance, as well as any other personal expenses, are not included in the tour package. A single supplement may also apply if a participant prefers a single room. Drinks are not included in any meal, and international flight expenses are also not covered by the tour package. Participants are responsible for obtaining a visa to enter Vietnam.
Full Itinerary
– Day 1: Ha Noi on Arrival
On Day 1 of the tour, participants will arrive in Ha Noi where they will be met by their guide. After a briefing of the trip, participants will embark on a full-day guided tour of Ha Noi. In the morning, they will visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his stilt house, former French Colonial Palace, Quan Thanh Temple, and the West Lake with a short walk before having lunch in town. In the afternoon, they will visit the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, and the National History Museum. Participants will also have the opportunity to watch the Water Puppet Show and enjoy dinner before boarding the night train to Lao Cai in the evening. The guide will be with the group throughout the trip. If participants plan to arrive in Ha Noi on Day 1, they should inform the tour company of their flight details and they will be picked up from Noi Bai airport and transferred to Ha Noi City to join the group in the afternoon or evening. Personal expenses, single supplement, drinks, international flight, and visa to Vietnam are not included in the tour package.
– Day 2: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Su Pan – Sapa
Arrival in Lao Cai after a night train ride and the transfer to Sapa. The journey involves driving up winding mountain roads with views of rice terraces and valleys. Upon arrival in Sapa, breakfast is served at the hotel before embarking on a bike tour through the villages of Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Su Pan. The tour includes visits to local communities and lunch at a local restaurant. The day’s ride ends in Ban Ho before returning to Sapa by vehicle. The local tribes explored during the tour include Black Hmong, Red Dzay, and Tay.
– Day 3: Sapa – Binh Lu – Than Uyen
We will leave Sapa town after breakfast and travel on smooth roads through lush hill farms, taking in the mountain views and small hills. We will pass Silver Waterfalls and reach the Sapa Heaven Gate, which offers stunning natural beauty and panoramic views of Fansipan peak and the highest mountain passes of Hoang Lien Son in North Vietnam.
We will then enjoy a thrilling ride down winding roads to Tram Ton Pass and continue off-road, riding on small gravel roads that wind through stunning tribe hamlets of Thai, surrounded by breathtaking jungle scenery, and through tiny towns where we will have lunch. After riding off the beaten track for 13 km, we will return to national road 32 and enjoy the mountain landscape and green farmlands, with more downhill than uphill, until we reach Tan Uyen. We will follow small roads along the mountain range, explore back Thai and Mong tribes, see verdant rice terraces, end today’s ride at a rural market, and transfer to Than Uyen.
– Day 4: Than Uyen – Huynh Nhai – Tuan Giao
Today, we will begin our journey early with a 2-hour transfer on winding roads, avoiding mountain hills and passing by Thuy Dien Lake and the mountain range, as well as the Ban Chat Hydropower station. The ride is scheduled to start at 9:00 am, and we will mostly be on a quiet national road 279, covering 80 km to Tuan Giao. This day’s ride will be more adventurous, as we will be challenged by the Cap Na Pass, experience the Thai Ethnic culture, and enjoy stunning downhill scenery through Muon Gion. We will cross the Da River on the new Pa Uon bridge and take a lunch break in Quynh Nhai.
After our lunch break, we will continue our bike ride through the town and its outskirts on mostly flat roads surrounded by rice paddies. We will then ride through the jungles on winding roads, enjoying the breathtaking views of the valleys and tiny villages along the way to Minh Thang. We will take a coffee break at a small market before embarking on a thrilling 12km downhill ride along the river to Tuan Giao.
– Day 5: Tuan Giao – Pha Din Pass – Son La
The Pha Din pass, situated at an altitude of 1,680 meters above sea level, has gained legendary status due to its crucial role in the victory at Dien Bien Phu. Originally a small trail, it was used by the Viet Minh, the precursor to the Viet Cong, to transport weapons and food. The trail was also the primary route used to transport artillery from Som La to Dien Bien Phu, and its challenging terrain required the use of human power. It was the shortest and most important route that enabled the Viet Minh to defeat the French in Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
We will begin our cycling journey by riding 5 kilometers through small towns along the river before taking on the Pha Din pass, which boasts some of Vietnam’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes. As we venture through the spectacular karst mountains to the peak, we will be able to take in the stunning natural beauty of the area. We will then descend to Binh Thuan, with two roads to choose from, one of which is a new road that is 13 kilometers long, while the other is an old, well-maintained road of a similar distance and with no traffic. We will cycle uphill for approximately 13 kilometers before enjoying a 17-kilometer downhill ride.
We will support you in choosing which route to take on the challenging ride, and we will accompany you throughout. The afternoon ride is more relaxed and allows us to appreciate the scenery at a leisurely pace. We will pass through the Black Thai hill tribes, lush valleys, observe buffalos on farms, and see fields brimming with farm produce. In the late afternoon, we will return to Son La city by vehicle.
– Day 6: Son La – Luong La – Mu Cang Chai
After breakfast, we will take a short transfer to a rural village where we will start our morning ride to Muong La. During the first half of the ride, we will be mostly dependent on national road 106. We will pass through small towns and ride on roads that undulate through terraced rice fields, mountains, and along small rivers. We will also challenge the small mountain pass of Cao Pha and enjoy the downhill section that follows. As we make our way through the lush farms and terraced valleys, we will have the opportunity to see H’mong and Thai hill tribes living in the area. Our ride will take us through untouched Muong Bu village.
Following breakfast, we will embark on a brief transfer to a rustic village, where we will commence our cycling journey towards Muong La. During the morning, we will predominantly traverse national road 106, meandering through quaint settlements and pathways that meander amidst terraced rice paddies, peaks, and beside petite streams. Our route will also encompass tackling the diminutive Cao Pha mountain pass, followed by a pleasurable downhill ride amidst verdant farmland, stepped valleys speckled with H’mong and Thai hill tribe settlements, and the pristine village of Muong Bu.
Afterward, we will bask in the tranquil scenery of Da River on our way to Muong La township, where we will pause for a midday meal. Later in the afternoon, we will embark on the picturesque narrow road 109, cycling along the mountainside base and past stilted dwellings in small communities. During our journey, we will relish the breathtaking vistas of the rice terraces and tiny hamlets before speeding alongside the reservoir to capture endless photo opportunities. At the Hot Springs, we may choose to take a coffee break or unwind for thirty minutes before proceeding on the last 13 km through the agricultural landscape to Ecolodge Mu Cang Chai. The route inclines slightly through the woodland and grassy hills, but the captivating sights of Mu Cang Chai’s rice terraced fields, as we descend, make the uphill climb well worth the effort.
– Day 7: Mu cang Chai – Tu Le – Nghia Lo
Situated on a charming hill within a magnificent valley, Mu Chang Chai Ecolodge boasts captivating terrace fields and ethnic tribal villages. Rise early in the morning, relish the serenity of your expedition, marvel at the valley’s extraordinary natural splendor, and prepare to discover Khau Pha Pass and Tu Le, the homelands of the Thai, Mong, and Dao ethnic communities.
Following a hearty breakfast, we will cycle over gentle hills for approximately 6 km until we reach road 32, where we will turn right and continue our uphill ride for about 4 km until we reach the pinnacle of Khau Pha Pass. The pass, situated between Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai districts, is the lengthiest and most arduous on National Highway 32, stretching over 30 km. It provides an ideal vantage point for capturing endless photos of the breathtaking valleys before indulging in a fabulous downhill ride, with the longest downhill stretch covering 30 km, until we reach Nghia Lo. The remaining stretch to Nghia Lo comprises more downhill than uphill sections, with undulating paths.
In this region, you can relish a leisurely pace and take numerous stops to immerse yourself in nature, particularly in Tu Le commune situated in Van Chan District. The area is enveloped by mountains and inhabited by vibrant Thai, Mong, and Dao tribes, renowned for their special sticky rice. Some stunning destinations en route include the charming villages of Ma Tun and Nam Bun, the meandering path leading to the magnificent Ban Hoi valley, and the scenic town of Nghia Lo.
– Day 8: Nghia Lo – Ta Xa Natural Reserve
On Day 8, we will embark on a picturesque journey through secluded hamlets, jungle-clad hillsides, quaint towns, and Ta Xua Nature Reserve, along road 112. The first 30 km of the ride in the morning is a tranquil passage, encompassing small rolling hills, rice paddies, rural farms, and small rivers. We will enjoy a mid-day meal en route before commencing our ascent up the mountain passes through the forested slopes of Ta Xua Natural Reserve.
The preservation of tropical forests is crucial for the preservation of flora and fauna, and Ta Xua boasts a delightful climate, with weather that can rapidly shift between sunny, foggy, cloudy, and light rain in a day, with clouds that gracefully waft across the mountains. Our ride will conclude with a scenic descent through lush rural farms on an incredibly winding road leading to Bac Yen.
– Day 9: Bac Yen – Moc Chau
Moc Chau plateau, located in the Son La district, is renowned for its tea, plum, and plantations set against undulating terrain and mountains. The Kinh people make up 35% of the population, while the remaining are colourful tribal people, mainly Thai, Mong, Kho Mu, Dao and Tay. We will traverse the vast uneven plantations and charming countryside of Moc Chau.
Our journey today begins from the hotel, as we pass through small towns and into the countryside, pedaling through agricultural lands and exploring the daily lives of locals residing along the Tac River. After lunch, we will take a ferry across the Da river before venturing to explore the picturesque Moc Chau Plateau. We will marvel at the verdant rows of tea plants lining the hillsides and observe how the locals meticulously produce tea, step by step, with an opportunity to learn more about H’Mong culture in the villages. Our night will be spent in Moc Chau, surrounded by stunning scenery.
– Day 10: Moc Chau – Mai Chau – Ha Noi
After an early breakfast, we will start cycling from the hotel and make our way through the town before turning onto a small road that leads to the countryside. As we cycle through tea plantations, flower fields, and fruit orchards, we will eventually reach the old national road 6, which we will follow for the rest of the day. Along the way, we will pass through many small towns and lush valleys, green hills, and extensive vegetation. The fertile soils of Moc Chau Plateau and its cold climate provide the perfect environment for various fruit orchards, tea, plum, avocado, and strawberry plantations. The rural villages in Moc Chau are also home to a variety of flowers and vegetables.
We will stop for lunch in a small town on the way, and then continue exploring the undulating plain of the Moc Chau Plateau on the well-maintained and less trafficked snake roads. The support vehicle will be following us throughout the ride. Our cycling journey will end at Chien Yen village, and we will transfer back to Ha Noi, which will take approximately 4 hours, arriving in the late afternoon.
– Day 11: Ha Noi – Departure
After having breakfast, you can spend your time shopping in Ha Noi, which is Vietnam’s capital city and political center. The city boasts a mix of contemporary and classical architecture, particularly in the Old Quarter. Later, a transfer will take you to Noi Bai airport where you can catch your international flight home.
More Info
– Road Conditions:
Two-thirds of the country’s mainland is comprised of mountain ranges, tropical forests, remote hillsides, and valleys in northern Vietnam with a sparse population. Most small towns and cities in the northwest and far north, near the Laos and Chinese borders, are home to hill tribes. Due to peak mountain ranges, slopes, deep valleys, and a sparse population, most rural gravel roads and dirt tracks are the primary means of transport for locals. Many roads are closed to traffic due to rivers, streams, and high mountains, while minor and high roads have less traffic. Mountain biking tours in northern Vietnam include both on-road and off-road experiences, with fewer off-road routes in rural districts where rural roads are unsafe and dangerous.
Weather:
Hanoi and North Vietnam experience two distinct seasons: winter and summer. The relaxed but primarily dry winter lasts from November to April when temperatures average 17-22°C, with the coldest months being December to February. The hot and humid summer lasts from May to October, with the highest rainfall occurring from May to August.
In the northeast, the rainy season usually occurs from May to August, with heat and low humidity, while the far north experiences the rainy season from June to August and a cold winter from December to February.
Northwest and far north Vietnam’s agriculture depend on the wet season, particularly rice crops on terraces. Rice plants require plenty of water to grow and develop themselves. The yearly rice crop in the northwest and far north is only one crop, starting after the first rainy month to make the soil more workable before seeding begins. The different times to seed the rice plants are from 2 weeks, depending on the location, high or low terraces, and how much water is available from rain or streams and rivers.
The best time to explore north-west and far-north Vietnam is during the farming season, not at the beginning, when there is too much rain and only young seedling rice plants. From early September to late October are the harvest seasons, offering opportunities for travelers to admire stunning colorful rice terraced fields, lush country farms, green rainforests, waterfalls, and vast vegetation. Travelers can also meet hill tribes on farms and in their homes.
Private Support Vehicles:
We organize cycling holidays, cycling adventure trips, and mountain biking tours that are flexible and include luxury, fully air-conditioned vehicles to support riders on the entire journey. The vehicle support services will be well-arranged to satisfy your travel needs, depending on how many riders are in the group. There are air-conditioned 16-seat van/minibuses to transport all riders, luggage, and a truck to hold all bikes during the trip.
Every morning, the vehicles will transport you out of the bustling city, and you will ride to explore the stunning countryside. You will then return to the vehicles to avoid traffic in town when the day’s ride ends in the late afternoon. Every 20-25 km, the support vehicles will be waiting on the high road if you are tired and would prefer to ride in the A/C van. Your guide will escort you to the vehicles easily because many country back roads are linked to the main roadways where vehicles are on standby.
You can relax on a support vehicle while others in the group continue cycling as long as they wish! You will meet the others at the next point/destination where you can re-join the group and continue to ride. All your luggage, suitcases, and day bags are safe on the vehicles and well-kept by the company’s drivers and its team.
– For groups of 2 to 4 riders, there is one air-conditioned 16-seater van available that can accommodate all passengers, luggage, and bikes. The van has four rows of seating for passengers, with two people per row. The third row is reserved for luggage and suitcases, while the last row of seats can be folded up to make room for all the bikes.
For medium-sized groups of 5 to 7 people, there will be two vehicles to support the riders throughout the trip. One 16-seater van will be available to carry all passengers, luggage, and suitcases, while a separate truck will be used to transport all the bikes, spare bikes, tool kits, iceboxes, and other necessary equipment.
For larger groups of 8 to 14 people, one minibus will be used to transport all passengers, luggage, and suitcases, while a separate truck will be used to carry all the bikes, spare bikes, water, cold drinks, snacks, and iceboxes.
For groups with more than 15 riders or more than 20 people, we provide two vans and one minibus, along with a truck to ensure the safety and comfort of all riders. Our professional guide will lead the team with support vehicles to provide the best possible service for all riders.
BIKE TOURS HANOI/ HANOI BICYCLE TOURS
91 Thợ Nhuộm street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Call us 24/7 or Whatsapp to book!
English Speaking +84 98 2416518
Vietnamese Speaking +981090989
Email: info@biketourshanoi.com
Website: http://www.biketourshanoi.com/
