Vietnamese Highlands biking holiday
| country: | Vietnam |
| location: | North Vietnam, Hill Tribes |
| trip type: | Challenging / hard core mountain biking holiday |
| departures: | 2008: 11 Sep |
| price: | From £1195 (17 days) excluding flights. Optional bike hire £120. We can help arrange flights from the UK (approx £680) |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This incredible trip takes us beyond the beaten track and into the beautiful Highlands of northern Vietnam.
You’ll be riding on spectacular hillside trails and through lush forest and paddy fields, populated by traditional Vietnamese ethnic groups.
Stunning scenery, undiscovered trails and the chance to stay in some remarkable villages make this an outstanding way to discover Vietnam and the Vietnamese Highlands. This adventure into Vietnam’s far north uses single track and jeep roads to explore a beautiful, undiscovered part of the country.
The nature of Vietnam’s countryside, with lush forests and hill-top villages linked by endless trails makes it ideal for two wheeled travel. After a day to discover Hanoi, we drive north to Yen Bia, where the riding begins. At first we’ll explore the lowlands, pedalling through orange groves and tea plantations and stopping off in ethnic Tay and Dao villages on the way.
Accommodation in this untouched corner of the country is simple – either small guesthouses or homestay to give a real feel for the places we see. The scenery is spectacular, and we explore the changing landscapes of Ba Be National Park with its limestone karsts and the lush forests of Du Gai Nature Reserve. Each day is new, as our local guides and support team lead us on trails never ridden by westerners before.
Most evenings we’ll end in a small village or town, where the colourful scene lets you soak in the tastes, sounds and smells of rural Vietnamese life. As we head further north we’ll skirt the border with China, where awesome scenery and the mountain tribes of White Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo people, make for a fascinating and unforgettable journey. One of the biggest highlights will be the Ma Phi Leng Pass, where the road snakes 1500m above the river Nho Que below.
From there we go south, with a visit to hot springs and a final epic, uphill off-road to the busy former colonial hill station of Sapa. An overnight train to Hanoi followed by a junk trip and farewell dinner in the beautiful Halong Bay offer a superb way to relax after this extraordinary adventure.
You’ll be riding on spectacular hillside trails and through lush forest and paddy fields, populated by traditional Vietnamese ethnic groups.
Stunning scenery, undiscovered trails and the chance to stay in some remarkable villages make this an outstanding way to discover Vietnam and the Vietnamese Highlands. This adventure into Vietnam’s far north uses single track and jeep roads to explore a beautiful, undiscovered part of the country.
The nature of Vietnam’s countryside, with lush forests and hill-top villages linked by endless trails makes it ideal for two wheeled travel. After a day to discover Hanoi, we drive north to Yen Bia, where the riding begins. At first we’ll explore the lowlands, pedalling through orange groves and tea plantations and stopping off in ethnic Tay and Dao villages on the way.
Accommodation in this untouched corner of the country is simple – either small guesthouses or homestay to give a real feel for the places we see. The scenery is spectacular, and we explore the changing landscapes of Ba Be National Park with its limestone karsts and the lush forests of Du Gai Nature Reserve. Each day is new, as our local guides and support team lead us on trails never ridden by westerners before.
Most evenings we’ll end in a small village or town, where the colourful scene lets you soak in the tastes, sounds and smells of rural Vietnamese life. As we head further north we’ll skirt the border with China, where awesome scenery and the mountain tribes of White Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo people, make for a fascinating and unforgettable journey. One of the biggest highlights will be the Ma Phi Leng Pass, where the road snakes 1500m above the river Nho Que below.
From there we go south, with a visit to hot springs and a final epic, uphill off-road to the busy former colonial hill station of Sapa. An overnight train to Hanoi followed by a junk trip and farewell dinner in the beautiful Halong Bay offer a superb way to relax after this extraordinary adventure.
this tourism business was Highly Commended
In our 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards, the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine. The idea behind the Awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. how this holiday makes a difference
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Global adventures start with a local perspective - that's our philosophy. Abroad, or just as importantly at home, the starting point is the same; how to get the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting the environment. Cycling is a great way to explore the beautiful highlands of Northern Vietnam, travelling at a speed that enables you to take in the surroundings without damaging the environment.
We select accommodation in hotels, local guesthouses, a junk and home stays in order to reflect the diversity of the country and learn about the lives of the local people. During our trip we visit the Du Gia Nature Reserve, home to the endangered Tonkin Snub Nosed Monkey and the new sustainable tourism project in Quan Ba. We work with locally based people, use an expert local biking guide and buy local products from small producers. In this way we support and contribute to the regional economy. Being able to participate and connect with the local Vietnamese people and culture provides a richer holiday experience. Accompanied by a local knowledgeable guide our guests are able to understand in depth about Vietnamese culture. We provide travellers with Travellers Codes that encourage the reduction of water usage, systems for collecting, recycling or safe disposal of litter and relevant suggestions to minimise damage to the environment, wildlife and marine ecosystems. All our holidays have a maximum group size of 12 to 15 people minimising both the social and environmental impact. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |