FULL ITINERARY:
DAY 1: HANOI - PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE (-/LUNCH/DINNER)
07:00 – 07:30 Am: Our touguide and Limousine Bus will pick you up at hotels/hostels in Hanoi Old Quarter. It takes about 5 hours to go to Pu Luong Nature Reserve to explore the pristine and peaceful land of ethnic minorities’ villages, short break in Luong Son.
11:00 Am: You will start to visit a local market of the Muong Ethnic Minority. You will have chance to learn about their daily life and customs. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thung Khe Pass on the way to Pu Luong. It is one of the 10 most beautiful Passes in Vietnam.
13:00: Arrive in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Have lunch and check in.
14:30 – 17:30: You will trek following the small roads through the terrace rice fields and cross the stream to visit remote rural villages of Black Thai Minorities to learn about the local lifestyle and customs.(6kms)
19:00: Have dinner at the lodge, enjoy some local rice wine with the local family.
Stay overnight at traditional dorm room in the house on stilts.
DAY 2: PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE - HIEU WATERFALL FULL DAY TREK (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
07:30 – 08:30 Am: Have breakfast in the lodge. Then, enjoy the peaceful scenery & fresh air in this remote village.
09:00 – 12:30: Spend time to trail through the terrace rice fields, jungle to visit Hieu Waterfall. You will see the mysterious land lying dangerously on the slope of the mountain with rice-terraced fields on the trekking way. Have lunch by the waterfall.
Then, you will have free time to relax and swim in the waterfall or trekking to explore the surrounding village and jungle, check in the rustic homestay. You can join in local’s dinner preparation with local host family.
18.30: Have dinner with the local family and enjoy the rice wine and learn more about their culture and customs.
You can have the authentic experience to stay overnight at traditional dorm room in the house on stilts.
DAY 3: EASY TREK, BAMBOO RAFTING ON CHAM - NINH BINH (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
07:30 – 08:30 Am: Have breakfast in the homestay. Say goodbye to the host and trek through another paths of the Reserve to pick up the van to go to Cham stream.
10:30 Am: You will visit the Ba village and transfer through a suspension bridge over the Cham River to discover the giant waterwheels, and duck farm. It is an unique cultural feature of Thai and Muong people living in the nature reserve of Pu Luong to navigate water source for their farming activities.
11:30 Am: You will be taken part in the Bamboo Raft trip on Cham stream. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.
12:30 Pm: Pick up the van to go back to the lodge for Lunch.
13:00: Have lunch and have free time to relax or walking around the village before boarding the van for a 3,5 hour transfer to Ninh Binh “the first Vietnamese Capital in 10th century”.
17:30: Arrive in Ninh Binh Retreat, check in and have free time.
19:00: Have dinner at the retreat and stay overnight at traditional dorm room in the house on stilts.
DAY 4: NINH BINH - CYCLING TO HOA LU ANCIENT CAPITAL AND BOAT RIDE IN TRANG AN - HANOI (BREAKFAST/LUNCH)
7:30 – 8:30 Am: Have breakfast at the Retreat
8:30 - 12:00 Pm: Cycling through the limestone karsts to reach Hoa Lu - the historic capital of Viet Nam and the famous ancient temples of the Le and the Dinh Dynasties. Then, hike up the Ma Yen Mountain to visit the King’s tomb in 10th century and enjoy the panorama view from the mountain. On the way back, we will visit a local family to discover the local lifestyles and cultures and enjoy a tea with them.
12:00 -13:30: Check out and have lunch at the Retreat
13:30 -16:00: Take a boat trip to visit Trang An Complex - inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.. You will head to Trang An, embark on a traditional sampan through an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif and the numerous caves: Hang Toi ( Dack ) cave - 320 meter long, Sang (light) cave - 90 meter long, and Hang Nau Ruou (Cooking wine) cave - 250 meter long…
16:30: Take the returns shuttle bus to Hanoi.
19:00: Arrive back in your hotel. Tour ends.
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