Vietnam challenge trip ---> Vietnam By Bike 15 days From- US$ 1023

Hanoi - Sapa - Fansipan - Halong - Hue - Hoian - KonTum - Pleiku - Buon Me Thuat - Dalat - Mui Ne - Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi

Trip duration: (22 days/21 nights)
Level: Challenge
Group size: Private only - 1 person minimum and above

BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1: Hanoi
Day 2: in Hanoi train to Sapa
Day 3: Sapa
Day 4: first peak to Fansipan (2,400 m)
Day 5: Base Camp - Fansipan Peak 3,143
Day 6: Down the hill to Sapa
Day 7: Hanoi - Halong bay
Day 8: Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay
Day 9: Lan Ha Bay
Day 10: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Day 11: in Hue
Day 12: Ride to Hoian
Day 13: Hoian
Day 14: Hoian cycle to Kon tum
Day 15: Kon Tum cycle to Pleiku
Day 16: cycle to Buon Me Thuot
Day 17: Buon Me Thuot cycle to Dalat
Day 18: Cycle around Dalat
Day 19: Dalat - cycle to Mui ne
Day 20: Mui Ne _ Ho Chi Minh City
Day 21: in Ho Chi Minh - Cu chi tunnels
Day 22: Depart Ho Chi Minh

Description
Vietnam challenge trip is special designed with the great combination of Mountain climbing, Kayaking, and cycling. The trip give us chances to positive our physical fitness while appreciate the best parts of of Vietnam and her people by explore hidden charm of the country from climbing to conquer Fansipan, the highest mountain peak in Indochina 4 days 3 nights camping in jungle, to sea kayaking in Halong Bay. From adventure cycling in the north along the coastal line to the central highland and down to south of Vietnam. This is great combinations of challenge trip

Included:
English Speaking tour leader and group medical kit (other languages upon requests)
All hotel accommodation in Vietnam on a twin-share bed.
Luxury junk boat in Halong bay with all meals.
Meals detailed in the itinerary (21 Breakfast, 11 Lunch, 14 Dinner)
A/c transfers and transportation.
Flight ticket Hanoi-Hue
A/c train ticket from Hanoi to Sapa (4 berth in 1 cabin)
Mountain bicycle with mechanic (Trek bike)
Sightseeing excursions as outlined in itinerary
Pump, bike tools, spares tubes.
Spare bike
Cold water box, small fresh towel.
Mineral water drinking.
Seasonal fruits.
Snacks
Tent with sleeping bag, 3 nights in total
All equipments and facilities for long trek to Fansipan Peak
Permission for Fansipan trek.
Porter for luggage transfer up and down.
Kayaking (mention in tours program)

Excluded:
International airfares
Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)
Items of a personal nature
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Mineral water beyond that supplied
Optional excursions
Additional transport required due to any emergency situation
Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
Visa fees
Departure taxes

TRIP PRICE BASED ON 1 – 3 STAR HOTEL
Hanoi: Sunny 3*hotel
Sapa: Bamboo 3* Hotel
Halong: Bien Ngoc private boat
Hue: Ngoc Huong 3* Hotel
Hoi An: Vinh Hung2: 2* Hotel
Kon Tum: Kon Tum 2* Hotel
Pleiku: Hoang Anh 3* Hotel
Buon Me Thuat: Thang Loi 3* Hotel
Dalat: Golf3 3* Hotel
Mui Ne: Swiss Village resort 3*
Saigon: Saigon 3* Hotel
Hanoi to Hue by train: 4 soft sleeper a/c berths cabin
Hanoi to Sapa by train: 4 soft sleeper a/c berths cabin

Note: Hotels are subject to change due to availability. In that case we will choose equivalent accommodation.

Prices & Detail Itinerary

Group size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Price In US$/per person	$3649	$2388	$1961	$1724	$1584	$1485	$1424	$1417	$1377	$1346	$1320	$1299
Single supplement				$482

Day 1: Hanoi
Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our tour leader and transferred to our hotel in the center of town. In the evening before heading out to dinner, there will be a briefing with our tour leader to have idea what will be happening on the trip. Tonight we have tickets for the famous water-puppet show (Dinner included)

Day 2: Hanoi train to Sapa
This morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh complex which consists of: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, his house on stilts, and the outside of the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda and the impressive Temple of Literature. The remainder of the day is free to explore the Old Quarter. After a late check-out from our hotel and dinner, we will transfer to the train station for our overnight train journey to Sapa (Breakfast, Dinner included)

Day 3: Sapa Upon arrival in Lao Cai we drive the 35 km to Sapa. The morning will be free to explore this colorful town. Later we visit the main market and walk to Ham Rong hill for some panoramic views of Sapa. (Breakfast, Dinner included)

Day 4: first peak to Fansipan (2,400 m)
After breakfast, we meet our local guide and porters, and then we’ll start our trip. A bus will bring us up to Tram Ton at 1945 m where our adventure starts with a trek through a beautiful forest. Our first day is just enough activity to warm up our muscles. After lunch break, we’ll continue to our first peak at an elevation of 2,400 m where we have a little stream for a shower and flatland to set up camps for the night. (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included)

Day 5: Base Camp - Fansipan Peak 3,143 - Base Camp
Break camp after an early breakfast and start the final ascent arriving at the summit 3,143m above sea-level. Congratulations! You’ve got it! From this Highest Point of Vietnam there are stunning views to China to the North and Laos to the West. There is time for a well-earned rest before descending back down to Base Camp for the night.
Overnight at the Base Camp. (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included)

Day 6: Down the hill to Sapa
Today it’s downhill just about all the way. After lunch, we’ll arrive at the base around 2.00 pm and head back to Sapa to for a beer or a massage or a nap – you deserved it! We will have a celebratory dinner at 5.00pm, before transferring to Lao Cai station for our overnight train back to Hanoi. (Breakfast, lunch, included)

Day 7: Hanoi - Halong bay
Arriving Hanoi early in the morning, today follows breakfast and refresh in the day room. We continue to Halong bay. It takes 3 hours to get there with several coffee breaks. To night is our first night on boat. (Breakfast, Dinner included)

Day 8: Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay
Today we will have approximately 6 hours of paddling time amongst some of the most stunning scenery Vietnam has to offer. Our tiny kayaks are dwarfed against the massive limestone peaks that tower above us as weave our way through the labyrinth of islets. From our previous overnight spot we kayak to the Dark Cave, and then make our way to beautiful beaches of Ba Trai Dao. Our today's destination is Lan Ha Bay where we will anchor at a quieter lagoon to spend the night.
(Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included)

Day 9: Lan Ha Bay – Ho Ba Ham – Van Gia – Hang Trong
Today is another great day of kayaking. Soaking the morning atmosphere of the bay, we kayak to visit a number of lagoons and caves. The highlight of the day is our visit to the floating village of Van Gia that provides us better understanding of the water life of the local fishermen.
Our today's destination is the Trong Cave (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included)

Day 10: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Following breakfast this morning, we kayak around Luon Cave before returning to Halong Bay harbor where we meet with our vehicle for the 3hour drive back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi. (Breakfast, lunch, included)

Day 11: in Hue
We will flight to Hue in the early morning and transfer to our hotel. After breakfast we will meet our additional crew who will be driving the support vehicles. We are also introduced to our bicycle. We will receive a briefing on how to ride the bikes and how to handle the traffic in Vietnam. We will then set out for our first ride in to visit the old Imperial Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City, and the Imperial Museum before lunch.
In the afternoon we cycle to the eccentric Tu Duc tomb. Time permitting we will then cycle to Thien Mu Pagoda. (Breakfast, lunch, included)

Day 12: Ride to Hoian
We will drive out of the city then cycle on the highway through some little passes to Lang Co beach where we will have lunch. Afterwards we will drive to the top of the Hai Van pass, admiring the wonderful views as we go and as we free ride to Da Nang, then by bus to the charming old city of Hoian. In the evening we will take a short walking tour through the old streets of Hoian (Breakfast, Dinner included)

Day 13: Hoian
We will have a short walking tour round Hoian to visit some of the beauty spots such as 200 year old Tan ky old house, Phuoc kien assembly hall, Japanese bridge…The high quality silk found in Hoi An can be made into clothes by local tailors within a couple of hours. You may even join a local cooking class to learn some of the sumptuous Vietnamese dishes. Plenty of distractions to keep you busy for a full day in Hoi An. (Breakfast included)

Day 14: Hoian cycle to Kon tum Vietnam travel, Vietnam cycling travel - Vietnam challenge trip
Today is a more challenging day as we leave Highway 1 and head inland towards Quang Nam. We will cycle only part of today, along undulating roads with stunning photo opportunities. We will ride past many remote villages, tropical forests, over bridges and along quiet but scenic roads.
Approx cycling distance: 85km Overnight in Kon Tum. (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included)

Day 15: Kon Tum cycle to Pleiku
This morning we take our bus out of Kon Tum before we start to cycle. We spend a pleasant day on gentle rolling hills passing numerous small villages and rubber plantations. Pleiku is situated 600km from Saigon and 200km from Buon Me Thuot. Overnight at Pleiku
hotel (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included). Approx cycling distance 49km.

Day 16: cycle to Buon Me Thuot
Today's part- cycle is on an excellent road, Highway 14, taking in 197kms of undulating and scenic uplands. We pass by coffee plantations and national parks on our way to the largest town in the Western Highlands, and the capital of Dac Lac Province.
Overnight Trang Loi Hotel. (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner included)

Day 17: Buon Me Thuot cycle to Dalat
We leave Buon Me Thuat early in the morning by bus out of the biggest coffee city in Vietnam. Our way today is fantastic road with little traffic. The road is narrow but quite good, the view, with its vast coffee and rubber plantations will make you lose yourself in nature.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast, lunch, included)

Day 18: Cycle around Dalat
Today there is a cycle tour round Dalat's historical villas and a visit to an ethnic minority village, a crazy house and King Bao Dai's palace. The rest of the day is at leisure so you can go to Dalat market where you can try very different coffee at one of the coffee shops overlooking Xuon Huong Lake. Overnight at the hotel (Breakfast included) Vietnam travel, Vietnam cycling travel - Vietnam challenge trip

Day 19: Dalat - cycle to Mui ne
Today we begin on the bus for a short distance before commencing our cycle ride down the coastal route. This offers wonderful ocean views with a climb on quiet roads through rolling hills and remote Cham villages. After lunch we will continue cycling to Mui Ne. Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast, lunch included) Approx cycling distance 85km.

Day 20: Mui Ne _ Ho Chi Minh City
The morning is at leisure. This afternoon we will drive by bus to Ho Chi Minh city (about 4hrs) Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner included)

Day 21: in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) - Cu chi tunnels
Early this morning we will travel to the Cu Chi tunnels, about a 2hr drive. These tunnels are part of a network stretching a length of 250km. They enabled resistance fighters to move around unobserved. Visitors can go down into a section of the tunnels which have been maintained. In the afternoon there is free time for last minute shopping in Saigon before leaving Vietnam. Overnight at the hotel (Breakfast, Dinner included)

Day 22: Depart Ho Chi Minh
Trip will conclude after breakfast. If you are departing Vietnam today you will receive a transfer to the airport. (Breakfast included)

Note
This itinerary allows for seven field days on the cycling section, a cycling distance of around 500km. You will be able to decide for yourself at any time during each of these days how far you want to cycle. Average daily cycling distances are approximately 60 -100 km. These distances may vary according to weather, road conditions and group fitness and preferences. This is a sightseeing cycle tour, not a marathon or time trial.

The Bicycles:
For this trip we use the Trek bike performance bicycles made by English. The bicycles have 24 speeds and a lightweight steel alloy frame designed for road cycling. Other features include LRS (Low Ratio Suspension) and excellent damping capacity, both of which help to absorb vibration and shocks for a smoother, more comfortable and enjoyable ride. The bicycles are available in a number of sizes.

Further information please contact us: mailto:info@indochinatravelonline.com