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Northwest Discovery Trek

Ha Noi, Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh

Trek through terraced rice paddies & small villages, encountering the culture of White Thai people
Visit Mai Chau, Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Tam Coc & more

OVERVIEW TOUR INCLUSIONS ITINERARY IMPORTANT INFO

flight route of Northwest Discovery Trek tour

Overview

Explore the northwest of Vietnam on this overland trip through Mai Chau, Puluong and Tam Coc. Trek through local villages of the Mai Chau Valley, discover traditional stilt houses of the Uoi and Lan villages in Puluong, then hop aboard a boat in Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve to discover a diverse mix of flora, fauna and birdlife.

Tour Inclusions

Highlights

Explore the stunning nature and quaint villages of Pu Luong Reserve
Visit the traditional Thai villages of Pu Luong and Mai Chau
Enjoy a leisurely trek to the beautiful Hieu Waterfall
Visit Cuc Phuong National Park – Vietnam’s largest nature reserve
Marvel at the towering limestone karst formations on a boat ride in Van Long

What’s Included?

4-Star hotels/homestays with daily breakfast
Land transfer by private A/C vehicle for whole trip.
Meals as per itinerary = 09 meals.
Our excellent English speaking guide.
Admission fees as itinerary
Mineral water (02 bottles/Adult/day).

What’s Not Included?

Drinks & personal expenses.
Personal expenses: Single Supplement, drinks, laundry, telephone, …
High peak season & National Holiday surcharges
Tourist insurance
Tip for local guide & driver
Other services not mentioned above.

Itinerary

Day 1 Ha Noi arrival

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check in.

Overnight in Ha Noi.
No meal included

Day 2 Ha Noi – Mai Chau

08:00 Depart for Hoa Binh. Photo stops to admire the hills covered with tea plantations, rice paddies and dotted with limestone rocks. Visit a village market on the way.
Continue to Mai Chau valley, through typical steps on the road to Dien Bien Phu, visiting authentic villages where you are greeted by the Thai ethnic groups living in houses on stilts.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
On to an exciting bike tour to the villages of Van, Pomcong and Lat to observe the daily life of the Thai ethnic minority.

Overnight in Mai Chau.
Meals included: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 3 Mai Chau – Pu Luong

Free time to enjoy Mai Chau in the early morning before seting off to our next destination: Pu Luong Retreat.
Lunch at hotel on arrival
After lunch we will make our way down to the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still!

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat.
Meals included: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 4 Pu Luong full day trekking

08:30 We will start our hike into the valley, reach Uoi Village (Bản Ươi) and Lan Village (Bản Lặn). Following the trail along the stream, you will enjoy the beautiful mountains scenery as well as getting a glimpse of how locals go about their daily lives. You will then take a walk around the village and have an opportunity to learn how the locals weave brocades.
12:00 We arrive at Hieu Waterfall for lunch where you can do abit of swimming or playing in the nature pool in the Waterfall. Afterward, we will take a 2 hour trek which gives us a bird-eye view of rice terraces. Weaving through the forest, we head towards the banana farm and bamboo forest – excellent representatives for marvellous and pristine nature of Pu Luong.
16:00 You will be transferred back to hotel.

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat.
Meals included: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Hiking Duration: 5 hours/7 km
Altitude: 1,200m
Difficulty Level: 2,5/5
The hike can be shortened to client’s wishes

Day 5 Pu Luong – Tam Coc

07:30 In the morning we will depart and head for Cuc Phuong National Park – Vietnam’s first national park and the country’s largest nature reserve.
10:00 we will take a 3 hour hike and visit the Cave of Early Man and 1000-year-old tree.
Lunch at the local restaurant in the national park.
You will then walk around the Endangered Primate Rescue Center to see the rare primates and many other creatures.
Arrive in Tam Coc in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Tam Coc.
Meals included: breakfast/lunch

Hiking Duration: 3,5 hours/7 km
Altitude: <500m
Difficulty Level: 3/5

Day 6 Tam Coc tour

08:00 Pick up at hotel and make our way to Mua Cave, where we climb almost 490 stone steps to take in the impressive panoramic view of Tam Coc and Ninh Binh city.
We will then make our way to Van Long wharf for a 90 minute boat trip along the Van Long River. Van Long is most known for Delacour’s langurs, an endangered species of monkeys. There are around 200 Delacour’s langur left in the world and 120 of them can be found in Van Long Nature Reserve. It’s also a heaven for bird watchers as many bird species, such as storks and herons, live here.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Bich Dong Pagoda.
After this we will make our way to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. 2 temples have been built on the ground of the old royal palace, one is dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and the other to King Le Dai Hanh.
17:00 Transfer back to your hotel – free time in the evening.

Overnight in Tam Coc.
Meals included: breakfast/lunch

Day 7 Tam Coc – Ha Noi

After breakfast, you will have some free time before our guide and driver come to pick you up at your hotel.
Check out and transfer back to Hanoi.
Lunch at a local restaurant
Free time to relax and discover the city in late afternoon.

Overnight in Ha Noi
Meal included: breakfast/lunch

Day 8 Ha Noi departure

Free at leisure until transfer to airport.

Meal included: breakfast

Important Info

Booking Information

Tour prices vary according to the size of the tour groups. Destinations and services can be changed flexibly according to customer requirements. Our travel expert will quote on a case by case basis and get back to you once you submit your request for the tour packages.
At the time of quotation, JPTraveltime reserves the right to adjust prices to account for unusual price fluctuations in currency, hotel, transportation and other commodity markets.
Single Room Supplement: If a single room is requested, you will pay extra for this cost.

Children Policy

Children < 5 years old: Free of charge if no extra bed is required, accompanied by at least two full-paying adults and stay in the same room. An extra bed is charged 50% as adults
5 =< Children =< 12 years old: Reduction of 25% of the tour price is provided that they are accompanied by at least two full-paying adults and stay in the same room. An extra bed is fully charged as adults.
Children > 12 years old: Fully charged as adults.

Price from (USD)

$ 489

Per person

8 DAYS