11 day small group activity trip off the beaten tracks and limestone karst bays of northern Vietnam. Swap city streets for terraced rice paddies and mountain foothills.
HanoiSapaHoàng Liên Son MountainsLao Chai ValleySu PanMai Chau ValleyNinh BinhCat Ba IslandLan Ha Bay
Description of Activity holiday in Vietnam hike, bike & kayak
Vietnam is like one gigantic adventure playground packed with potential for hikers, bikers and kayakers looking to make the most of an abundance of naturally exciting environments.
Hiking in the foothills of the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains and past the rice terraced slopes of Lao Chai, is such an antidote to Hanoi, and anyone wishing to unearth the real Vietnam, in the northwest, need look no further than the trails leading from the mountain town of Sapa.
Staying with local families in rural areas and stopping off at mountain villages is a real thrill and bound to resonate with any travellers looking to experience life’s simple natural pleasures.
No activity holiday in Vietnam would be complete without a bike ride or two. First of all, Hanoi provides the perfect place to put your pedals through their paces before exchanging city streets and lakeside paths for the green fields and farmsteads of the Mai Chau Valley.
Swap saddles for paddles for the final leg of this small group adventure as you take a ferry to Cat Ba Island, in Halong Bay, for a kayaking expedition around the untouched beaches and limestone karsts of Lan Ha Bay.
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Price information
£1155£1029To£1375excluding flights
Single supplement £150.
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Holiday information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on holiday.
Reviews
1 Reviews of Activity holiday in Vietnam hike, bike & kayak
4 out of 5 stars
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Reviewed on 05 Mar 2020 by Janice Eastman
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The trekking at Sapa
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for all types of weather this time of year (Feb) and take all manner of clothing
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
In a lot of instances, yes. As we used local homestays and guides. However, there were a lot of 5 hour+ transfers in a mini bus.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent and good value for money
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
In the destinations we visit, we use a "take in, take back out" system in fragile environments, remote areas and national parks. To reduce single use plastic during our trips we often provide reusable bags, encourage the use of reusable water bottles and are working to increase access to places to refill them. Travellers have the option, while kayaking on beautiful Lan Ha Bay, to collect rubbish they may encounter in the water. After collecting this rubbish, they can then join a local environmentalist to create bricks out of the rubbish. The bricks are a great building material and are used on Cat Ba Island.
We encourage our suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices and often select suppliers who already have green practices in place. We choose to stay at Cat Ba Ecolodge during this trip, a property which was constructed from environmentally-friendly materials and is surrounded by a carefully preserved natural setting. The Cat Ba Ecolodge offers a low carbon shuttle bus for guests to travel from the lodge into town and back.
People
We employ predominantly local staff and leaders within our operational teams. We also design and operate our trips to feature local suppliers or suppliers who directly benefit the local community and economy. We offer local people good working conditions, a fair wage and empower them with training opportunities.
We eat at local markets and restaurants to support local businesses and to support the sourcing of local food products.
In Sapa, travellers will experience the work of Sapa O’Chau, a social enterprise which funded the first Hmong homestay and trekking services in the region. Sapa O’Chau was established by Shu Tan, a single mother from the Black Hmong tribe, who dreamed of supporting her community through sustainable tourism. The proceeds of Sapa O’Chau are returned to the local tribes through projects such as providing children with winter clothing and establishing vocational training opportunities.
Our philosophy is to act local and that means respecting the local traditions. This trip includes a night in Ta Van, staying in a homestay with a local ethnic minority, the Giay people. The Giay are famous for their delicate handicrafts and weaving and always welcome our travellers warmly. Over a delicious dinner, cooked by our hosts, travellers have the chance to ask questions and listen to descriptions of daily life for the Giay people.
