Trekking Pu Luong Nature Reserve and Kayaking Halong Bay 6 days

The multi-activity tour is a combination of a 4-day trek to Pu Luong nature reserve  and a two-day tour to Halong bay, in the northern Vietnam. Depart from Hanoi, you travel to the north western area to Mai Chau . You trek from Mai Chau through local Thai, Muong villages to the center of the Pu Luong nature reserve. Sharing the house with family, sleep on wooden floor, eating local food…offers a real life experience. The overnight cruise tour to Halong bay  can be provided on both sharing or private basis. This is up to your budget. Standard and luxury options are also available for the two-day boat cruise. Contact your travel consultant for more details.

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau. Trek to Sai and Hang villages (Pu Luong Nature Reserve).

We will leave Hanoi for Hoa Binh province and up then to Mai Chau valley . This scenic drive takes around four hours. Along the way we pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies. Upon arriving in Mai Chau valley, we take a short walk around Lac & Poom Coong villages to have the first experience of the White Thai community local life and their culture. Lunch will be served at local home. We will then leave Mai Chau for a short ride along the Ma river (22km) to Sai village. Off the bus, we begin our trek to Duom and Hang villages. We will trek through outstanding mountain scenery and pituresque rice paddies, see hand-crafted bamboo water wheels, and talk with the lovely local people. Spend the night in a local Thai family's traditional home on stilts.

Day 2: Continue trekking Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Hang village - Eo Ken - Kho Muong villages).

After having breakfast with our new Thai friends, we will be walking for a approximately 5 to 6 hours. The first section is hard with some steep climbs and stream crossings. The second stage is glorious with beautiful views of the valley, rice terraces, rich rain forests, and meandering streams. Your picnic lunch will be provided on the way at Eo Ken village. Arrival in Kho Muong village is always special as the setting of the village is perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam, nestled between steep karst mountains with rice terraces in the afternoon sun. Spend our second night nearby in a typical Thai eco - stilt home in Kho Muong village.

Day 3: Continue trekking Pu Luong (Kho Muong village - Hin village).

After having breakfast, we will trek to Hin village (5 - 6 hours). On this route we will encounter some steep climbs and more stream crossings. Along the way we will visit an incredible cave, only recently discovered, now protected by the Forest Rangers.

The trekking will become more and more remote although one is never that far from a villager tending their fields. Pass steep limestone mountains and curiosty conjuring caves, through the dense rain forests all inside the borders of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and onto Nua village.

Our picnic lunch will be served in a local house of the village. Then we continue to Hin village of the Thai people. Overnight at Hin village.

Day 4: Continue trekking Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Hin village - Ton village). Travel back to Hanoi.

Get up early morning if you would like to observe or take part in daily life of the local people. Then breakfast is served by our Thai host family in preparation for a hard but pleasurable trek (6 - 7 hours) through rich and wild rain forests. This challenging hike  wanders through the biodiversity of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. We will have a picnic lunch inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, then continuing our trek to Ton village. Our vehicle will picks us up here for our drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong bay. Boat cruise. Kayaking.

After breakfast, we will depart to Halong. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

Arrive in Halong around noon and board the Bai Tho traditional sailing junk (or similar junk). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Take a kayaking trip  to explore the Bay. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on board junk.

Day 6: Halong bay – Hanoi.

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting chicken to dragons. After another wonderful fresh seafood lunch (early) on board disembark at the dock at Halong City. Transfer back to Hanoi.

Need further information? Contact us 

About Lotussia Travel:

Lotussia Travel is a Hanoi based tour operator offering a wide selection of multi-activity tours  and a value-for-money travel service including jungle trek, hiking tours, mountain biking, countryside cycling, motorcycle, motorbike tours, sea kayaking, river rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling tours, rock climbing, golf packages . The company also provides other related travel services such airport transfer, pickup, car rental, hotel reservation, beach resorts, boat junk cruises, visa arrangements and more.

LOTUSSIA TRAVEL l Multisport Vacations
Business Registration No. 0104002011; International Travel License No. 01039/TCDL-LHQT

190 Phu Vien street, Bo De, Long Bien, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Phone: (+84.4) 22494668
Fax: (+84.4) 37668617
E-mail: info (at) lotussiatravel.com or travel (at) lotussia.com
Websites: www.lotussiatravel.com (English); www.lotussiatravel.vn (Tieng Viet)