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Map of Vietnam: Hike, Bike & Kayak including Vietnam

Discover a slice of Vietnamese paradise on this active adventure.

The spectacular valleys and mountains of Vietnam were simply made for exploration. Put on your hiking shoes and get ready for this immersive journey that gets away from the bright lights of Hanoi and under the skin of Vietnam's bucolic countryside. In between trekking and cycling past lush landscapes, stop in at local villages and learn about traditional life with memorable homestay experiences. It’s not all mountains and trails either, with an opportunity to kayak across the majestic waters of Lan Ha Bay and spend a night in a waterside resort. Prepare to be led off the beaten track.

Start
Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish
Hanoi, Vietnam
Destination
Vietnam
Style
Original
Theme
Multi-Active Adventures
Code
TVXA
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Gain a greater insight into life in northern Vietnam with an itinerary that explores not just Hanoi but also heads out into the countryside

  • Hike through the picturesque valleys surrounding Sapa and visit local communities

  • Cycle out to Mai Chau and on through the stunning karst landscapes to Ninh Binh

  • Kayak around karsts and explore the secluded lagoons and caves of Lan Ha Bay - the lesser visited but just as beautiful sister of Halong Bay

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip has a number of activities to get your pulse going. Whilst prior training for each activity is not necessary, a moderate level of fitness will help you to get the most out of the included activities

  • The hike in the hills of Sapa is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2miles) in total, on sometimes steep and uneven terrain

  • You will spend 2 days on your bike, riding to Mai Chau and Ninh Binh, with approximately 60-70 kilometres of cycling each day. The cycling in these areas is relatively flat and you will have time to get used to your bike in Hanoi before departing

  • There are 3 nights of homestay on this trip in Khau Pha, Sapa and Mai Chau. Accommodation will be multishare rooms, with simple bedding and shared bathroom facilities. While accommodation is simple, the warm welcome and home-cooked meals will be comforting after a day of exercise

  • Kayak around secluded islands in Lan Ha Bay to explore this world renowned scenery. While this bay is generally sheltered, this is sea kayaking so you will need to be confident on and in water for this activity

An Intrepid Travel group celebrating after completing a hike in Sapa, Vietnam.
Intrepid travel passengers meeting friendly locals on their hike through Sapa, Vietnam.
Travellers taking in the sights of the landscape in Sapa, Vietnam on an Intrepid Travel trip.
Group leader and other travellers riding through a town on an Intrepid Travel trip in Vietnam.
Traveller kayaking around the coast of Nam Cat Island, Vietnam on an Intrepid Travel trip.
Local fruit vendor selling fresh fruit to Intrepid Travel passengers in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Itinerary
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Xin chao. Welcome to Vietnam! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. If you have time before the meeting, head out and discover Hanoi. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, start sampling the delicious street food, or visit the Museum of Ethnology and find out more about the homes and lives of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. After the welcome meeting, you may like to join your group for an optional meal at one of Hanoi's fantastic eating spots.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

After breakfast escape the city and board a private minibus (approximately 5 hours) to the small village of Khau Pha, a community-based tourism project designed to empower and bring positive impact for Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. Located just below the spectacular Khau Phạ Pass in an area of inspiring natural beauty, this fascinating area that has all of the best features of Northern Vietnam – think emerald green terraced rice paddies, clear streams and towering hills - yet very few tourists.

After lunch you will take a relaxed walk around the village to experience first hand the hospitality and rich cultural heritage of Khau Pha, including the process of creating a traditional Thai fabric and cloth. After the walk enjoy a traditional dinner then settle in for the evening in one of the four stilt houses that have been redesigned by local families in a comfortable nature-friendly manner while preserving the traditional cultural features – a truly unique way to spend the night!
Accommodation
  • Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Traditional Thai Cloth making demonstration
  • Khau Pha Community Village Walk
  • Khau Pha Community Village Homestay
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Start the day early and transfer by private vehicle (approximately 5 hours) to the iconic town of Sapa, start point for today’s trek. Enjoy lunch and numerous photo stops along the way before arriving Lao Chai. From here you will join our local guide and start your hike into the heart of the Vườn Quốc gia Hoàng Liên State park, trekking through the dramatic landscapes and panoramic views of rural Vietnam on a trek from Lao Chai to Ta Van. Along the way you'll pass by terraced farms ripe with corn and rice, over bubbling brooks and through bucolic villages before arriving into this small village in time for a well-earned dinner and sleep in our local family homestay.
The total trek today is around 10 kilometres (6.2 miles).
Accommodation
  • Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sapa - Lao Chai to Ta Van trek & Homestay
Meals Included
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
You will need to pack overnight essentials into a smaller daypack, which you will carry on the trek, for your homestay tonight. You can store your main luggage in Sapa overnight.

This morning trek to Su Pan before taking some time to rest your feet on a bus ride back to Sapa. In the afternoon the group returns to Hanoi (approximately 5 hours). Maybe get a bird's eye view of the city from a rooftop bar and unwind with an iced coffee.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sapa - Ta Van to Su Pan trek
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Vietnam's capital is best explored on foot, which is why the group will head out on a city walking tour. See the final resting place of Vietnam's revered revolutionary at Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Museum before stopping by the Temple of Literature. Although the shrine was originally built in the 11th century, and is therefore considered to be the city's oldest temple, the current structure and shrine to Confucius actually dates from the 18th century. In the afternoon, have a practice on your bike with a warm up cycling trip around Hanoi's West Lake.

Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
  • Hanoi - West Lake bike ride
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Leave behind the Hanoi hustle first by vehicle, then jump on your bike and and cycle to the Mai Chau valley (approximately 60km / 37mi). There are great photo opportunities along the way – stop at a vantage point to take in the view of Mai Chau, home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique culture and languages. Along the way, there's also the opportunity to help local farmers plant rice seeds into the fields. Arrive in Mai Chau and head to the village of Pom Coong, where your local guide will introduce you to your hosts for lunch, and provide information on the region's people, their lifestyles, customs and culture. Lunch is a traditional affair with examples of local cuisine on offer. This is a great opportunity to experience the local area, chat with your hosts, and gain a real insight into life in this fascinating and picturesque region. After lunch, take some time to relax before saddling up for a cycle trip to nearby villages. Back at the homestay, relax with a cold drink while watching the sun set over the peaceful mountains. Alternatively, for the food lovers, why not help your host cook dinner!
Accommodation
  • Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
  • Mai Chau - Cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
At the homestay you’ll sleep on mattresses in a communal room. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic.

After breakfast set out again on your bike on a cycle from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh, a region well known for its green valleys, karst mountains and conservation areas. Today's ride will cover approximately 70 kilometres in total.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mai Chau to Ninh Binh cycling
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Catch a bus this morning from Ninh Binh to Hai Phong then jump on a ferry to Cat Ba Island, which sits at the southeastern edge of Halong Bay. Lan Ha Bay, where Cat Ba can be found, is part of Halong Bay with the additional attraction of numerous white-sand beaches. The total travelling time today is approximately five hours. Check in to your peaceful, hilltop accommodation and enjoy a free afternoon taking it easy in a hammock, or opt to keep the pace up with a hike or trip to the beach.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Explore the waters and limestone karsts of Lan Ha Bay on a full-day boat trip. Get up close and personal kayaking beside the tree-clad outcrops, with lunch onboard also included. Halong Bay's World Heritage designation was extended to the Cat Ba Archipelago thanks to its similar aesthetic value, and the scenes of turquoise water and junk boats are quintessential Vietnam. No-one will judge you for taking a selfie here. Spend a second night on Cat Ba, with the evening free to visit the local restaurants and bars.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Say goodbye to Cat Ba Island and head back to Hanoi (approximately five hours). Arrive in the late afternoon, and perhaps head down to the markets for some last-minute souvenir shopping or to pay a visit to one of the city's many museums or historical sites. Both the Fine Arts Museum and Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison are great choices. In the evening, perhaps head out for a farewell dinner with your group and toast the end of this active adventure.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND30000
  • Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Your active adventure comes to an end today and there are no activities planned, but there's plenty to see if you'd like to continue exploring Hanoi or further afield, including an Urban Adventure discovering Hanoi's street food by night.
Optional Activities
  • Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD35
  • Hanoi - Hanoi Highlights Urban Adventure - USD39
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private minibus, Bicycle, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Homestay (3 Nights), Lodge (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Traditional Thai Cloth making demonstration
  • Khau Pha Community Village Walk
  • Khau Pha Community Village Homestay
  • Sapa - Lao Chai to Ta Van trek & Homestay
  • Sapa - Ta Van to Su Pan trek
  • Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
  • Hanoi - West Lake bike ride
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
  • Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
  • Mai Chau - Cycling
  • Mai Chau to Ninh Binh cycling
  • Cat Ba Island - Kayaking

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Vietnam: Hike, Bike & Kayak trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (Sapa homestay) and Day 6 (Mai Chau homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organise a suitable sized bike.
4. Helmets are compulsory and we do not allow anyone to ride without one. You can bring your own to ensure fit and quality, or purchase one that meets international safety standards on the ground. Your leader can assist with this.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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