Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi
Upon the arrival Hanoi airport, make your own way into Hanoi and to the Majestic Salute Hotel, located right in the heart of the Old Quarter. Check yourself in. At 7pm we will all meet up and got out on the town for dinner and a beer or two. Overnight at Majestic Salute Hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi's highlights/ Overnight train to Lao Cai [B]
Full day free to explore the capital. Hanoi's history dates back almost a thousand years. During that time it has witnessed numerous incursions from China, seen a host of Vietnamese emperors come and go and at one time go even lose its status as the nations capital. The city’s temples and pagodas and the religious practices performed reflect a strong Chinese influence. For nearly 800 years Hanoi was the home of various royal dynasties until Hue became the new imperial capital in 1802. With the coming of the French at the end of the 19th century the city gained a new lease of life. This European influence can still be seen in the elegant colonial buildings that line the broad tree-lined boulevards of much of the city. Today the capital has a population approaching 4 million people; yet it still has the feeling of a small town, particularly in and around the Old Quarter.

Amongst the highlights to sample:

- Ho Chi Minh Complex: Completed in 1975 the complex contains Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh museum. When visiting the mausoleum the following rules need to be observed: No short sleeves & skirts are allowed. Silence should be observed when entering the tomb and definitely no photographs (in fact all bags have to be left outside). Its quite an experience as you queue with many Vietnamese, some of whom have travelled many miles to make the pilgrimage.

- The Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnams first university dating back to 1070. Inside are the stone stele mounted on the backs of turtles, inscribed with the names of the university graduates. The complex is divided into five courtyards with different paths that would originally have been reserved for the Emperor and his mandarins. One of the courtyards contains the statue of Confucius guarded by two beautiful bronze storks standing on turtles. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education.

- Museum of Ethnology: This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the grounds.

- Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends. One legend has it that in the 15th century Emperor Le Thai To vanquished the invading Chinese with the help of a magical sword. Whilst rowing on the lake an enormous turtle seized the sword from his grasp. The Emperor took this to mean that peace had returned and the sword had been given back to its guardian spirit. In honour of the event he renamed the lake Ho Hoan Kiem - Lake of the Restored Sword.

Mid afternoon, those who wish to can join a one hour cycle tour through the Old Quarter. Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36 streets names’ was related to the products being sold there. Hence you can walk from Fish Street to Tin Street to Bamboo Street. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

Return to the hotel at around 6.00 pm & have free time until transfer at 8.00 pm to the northern railway station for the overnight train to Lao Cai, departing at 9.15 pm. The accommodation will be in soft berth sleepers with air conditioning, 4 berths per cabin.

Day 3: Lao Cai ~ Sapa [B]
Arriving Lao Cai early in the morning, we will cycle to Sapa town which is 30 km up hill from Lao Cai station. Afternoon free to explore the town and its colourful market, or to make a short trek along buffalo paths and trails to nearby hill tribe villages. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 4: Sapa [B]
Full day to enjoy Sapa and its surrounding countryside. Cycle or walk through stunning scenery inhabited by the Tay, Day (pronounced Zai) and Black H’mong people. Evening free to explore this hill town's choice of eateries.

Day 5: Sapa ~ Tam Duong ~ Pa So (110 km/ part cycling) [B/L/D]
The real cycling begins today! We will take a spectacular ride into Tam Duong. Our ride today is more challenging since we have to endeavour 26 km uphill of Tram Ton pass. Having lunch on the way then we continue our ride to Pa So. Overnight at Lan Anh hotel.

Day 6: Pa So ~ Lai Chau (92 km) [B/L]
After breakfast, we continue our ride to Lai Chau today. We will have chance to visit more ethnic groups in the Northwest region & involve in local activities such as trading in the local market on the way. Overnight in Lan Anh hotel .

Day 7: Lai Chau ~ Dien Bien Phu (103 km/ part cycling) [B/L]
Today’s part cycling explores the remote wilderness - the scenery is nothing short of awesome. We will also visit a couple of tribal villages along the way, arriving in Dien Bien Phu in the late afternoon. Overnight in Muong Thanh hotel.

Day 8: Dien Bien Phu ~ Muang Khua by bike 105 KMS [B]
Following breakfast we will cross the border at Tay Trang to continue this cycling adventure in Laos.
Meet our Lao guide who will assist us with the immigration check in. Visit the local border market before recommencing the bike ride for a further 28km to Mouang Mai along a dirt road, followed by support vehicle. En route, stop to visit a mixed group village at Ban Soup Houne and a H'Mong village at Ban Pang Hok.

Lunch at leisure in Mouang Mai. After lunch, continue cycling 48 km to Mouang Khoua. On the way, stop to visit Thai Dam village at Ban Houeisong, Akhar village at Ban Kiou Kacham and Khmou village at Ban Houei Nhang. Arrive at Mouang Khoua then take a ferry boat crossing the Nam Ou River to Mauang Khua before sunset and transfer directly to the best available hotel in Mouang Khoua - check in. Overnight at Shernaly hotel.

Days 9 & 10: Muang Khua ~ Muang Ngoi by kayak [B, L, D]
Early morning visit the local market of hill tribes to enjoy seeing and watching different groups of Khmou and Lao Loum barter merchandise. After breakfast at a local restaurant, set off by inflatable kayak floating downstream along the Nam Ou River towards Muang Ngoi with support boat carrying the bikes and supplies. We will pass many riverside villages, including minority villages of the Lao Loum people, and will stop at one of these for the night in a local homestay, sleeping on roll-up mats on the floor with mosquito nets.

On the second day gently floating downstream we can visit villages at Ban Hatsa and Ban Houei Jam, Lao loum, Thaidam and Kamu hill tribe people. Arrive Muang Ngoi before sunset and transfer directly to the best available guesthouse in Mouang Ngoi to check in. Dinner at leisure and overnight at Lattanavongsa guesthouse.

Day 11: Muang Ngoi ~ Nong Khiaw [B, L, D]
Breakfast at a local restaurant, then continue by kayak to Nong Khiaw. Overnight in Nong Khiaw.

Day 12: Nong Khiaw ~ Luang Prabang 160km [B, L, D]
Back on your bikes and then start cycling, followed by the support vehicle, from Nong Khiaw. The first 45 km will be on a road built by the Chinese during the Indochina War. Parts of the road are good and parts in poor condition. On the way, stop over to visit Lao Lu village at Ban Hatkhor to see Lao Lu textile styles.

Lunch at leisure at Pakmong. After lunch, continue the 113 km to Luang Prabang town on good road conditions, cycling some of the way and riding the support vehicle for some. Arrive Luang Prabang before sunset and transfer directly to hotel in town for check in. Dinner at leisure and overnight at Villa Santi hotel.

Day 13: Luang Prabang [B]
Afternoon voluntary guided tour of the most important temples and sites of Luang Prabang.

Day 14: Luang Prabang - Departure [B]
Breakfast at hotel.

ENDS