Vietnam Mountain Biking 9 Days

Mountain Biking from $2,367 NZD

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9 Days
  • 2012
  • Best time to travel: April-May / September-October
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  • 20 Feb to 28 Feb $2,367NZD
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  • 30 Apr to 08 May $2,367NZD
  • 14 May to 22 May $2,367NZD
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  • Availability Guide:
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  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

From Hanoi to the Red River Delta, rice terraces and massive limestone mountains, this active 9 day tour captures the best of North Vietnam.

You'll ride paved and dirt roads, mountain passes and great single trails. The mountains around SaPa are a highlight, for the trails, scenery, and the beautiful hill tribe people we meet.

You'll go places hardly touched by tourists, a world away from modern stresses, and back to the exciting capital city.

Please note: We also offer a 14 Day Tour which continues to DaLat and the Central Highlands, Mui Ne beach and Saigon.

Hanoi to Hanoi

Hanoi
  • Mountain biking
  • Grade
  • Tour price subject to minimum numbers
  • USD300 single room surcharge
  • USD175 bike hire
  • This tour is invoiced in USD
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Vietnam Mountain Biking 9 Days Fitness and Preparation

Whilst this tour is graded ‘active’ with some climbs and longer distances, we are happy to cater for some riders wanting shorter daily rides, and non riders. The tour is fully supported with a guide and support vehicle always at hand.

Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes, and the rich cultural experience that is Vietnam.

Moderate Tours

Moderate tours have an expectation that you have an interest and regularly participate in the activities. Routes chosen will require a reasonable level of fitness and experience on different terrains. Moderate tours are suitable for increasing your activities and pushing yourself to new limits.

Fitness required

An average level of fitness is required, you will need to be doing some form of exercise three-four times a week leading up to this tour.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Hanoi

No biking

On arrival in Hanoi, we'll transfer you from the airport to the city (45 minutes) and check you into your tour hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you could come with us on a city tour this afternoon, past various places of interest including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays) and the Temple of Literature. We'll have the opportunity to see a traditional water puppet show (the water forms the puppets' stage) and this evening we will get to know each other during our first group dinner.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2

Hanoi to SuoiGiang (near NghiaLo)

Biking: 55 km (4+ hours riding) plus optional extra 60 km

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive north from Hanoi to ThuCuc. At ThanhSon, we'll have a refreshment break before our first bike ride, which is a reasonably easy 40–50 km, and a good warm-up. We'll stop for lunch back in ThuCuc, and in the afternoon we have the option of cycling up to another 60 km towards NghiaLo, a small town in a big valley inhabited by ethnic Thai people. There are no single trail options today, but your guide can take you on quiet dirt roads through some small villages. We overnight in a simple but comfortable guest house in the hills at SuoiGiang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

SuoiGiang (near NghiaLo) to ThanUyen

Biking: 30–50 km (approx. 4 hours riding) + optional 80 km

There are several riding options today which your guide will discuss with you in advance. After breakfast we suggest you cycle the winding dirt roads past several villages, before travelling in the backup vehicle to peaceful TuLe. From here, it is 80 km to ThanUyen, in Vietnam's least populated province, Lai Chau. You can choose to cycle or ride part way in the vehicle. This is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in North Vietnam, with imposing mountains and rice terraces. It is also home to the colourful Hmong, Dzao and Tay hill tribes, who we'll meet along the way.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

ThanUyen to SaPa

Biking/Elevation: 87 km/1520 m up, 590 m down

We'll warm up on a single trail around ThanUyen before driving through mounatainous countryside to ThanThuoc for lunch. As we approach HoangLienSon peak, Vietnam's tallest, we'll cycle on the main road between 1000–3000 m mountains, finally reaching Vietnam's highest pass (1900 m). You can, of course, choose to ride in the support vehicle. We then descend to the beautiful mountain town of SaPa (at 1600 m). The deeper into the mountains we go, the more hill tribes we will see, wearing amazingly elaborate and colourful costumes with huge earrings.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5

SaPa to MuongBo (village) to SaPa

Biking: 87 km (5–7 hours riding)

Today offers a half-day trip on dirt roads and single trails, plus a steep downhill (1000 m). We will be walking and/or cycling from village to village, meeting Hmong and Tay hill tribes. Trails sometimes pass through locals' backyards (don’t worry, they don’t mind!). Locals will often gather excitedly to watch cyclists as they pass. After our picnic lunch at a waterfall, there's time for a refreshing swim before we drive back uphill to SaPa. The rest of the day is free to explore this beautiful mountain town of about 140,000 people near the Chinese border.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6

SaPa to BanKhoang to LaoCai to BacHa

Biking/Elevation: 79 km/900 m up, 2250 m down (5.5 hours riding)

We are normally surrounded by deep blue skies and fluffy white clouds as we leave SaPa, travelling through the beautiful village of BanKhoang. We'll wind our way up higher and higher into the mountains on a country road. We will be cycling at high altitude for half a day at 1400–1600 m, followed by a long descent to the city of LaoCai on the Chinese border. We finish with a drive to stunningly beautiful village of BacHa (1400 m). This border town is known for its colourful weekly markets. The drive takes about 2 hours, and we'll overnight at a hotel here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

BacHa

Biking/Elevation: 25 km/370 m up, 560 m down (2.5 hours riding)

The Sunday market here is a great opportunity to view local lifestyles and meet the people. Make sure you bring your camera! The scenery and the ornate clothing is amazing. Around midday we cycle on trails through villages for up to 4 hours, admiring beautiful mountains and forest. The main tribe we will see today is the Flower HMong, one of the most colourful and richly dressed in Vietnam. We'll be a major focus of attention wherever we go. Even seemingly in the middle of nowhere, people will suddenly appear from the hills.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

BacHa to LaoCai to Hanoi

Biking/Elevation: 54 km/600 m up, 1600 m down (5.5 hours riding)

Amazing single trail riding is the order of the day. You'll travel along ridges through evergreen forests and past ancient hill tribes. Lunch is likely to be at a small local restaurant. At the end of the ride we'll have earned a snack and a cold beer. After packing up our bikes we drive to LaoCai for a refreshing shower, before boarding the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

Departure Day: Hanoi

No biking

The train arrives in Hanoi in the early morning (around 5 am), with the city already wide awake. There's time for a leisurely breakfast and a final stroll around Hanoi's old town, before we transfer you to the airport for your departure. You'll leave with memories of exciting urban Vietnam, its mountainous northern countryside, and vibrant people.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • Accommodation: Hotels and Guesthouses (2-4 star) for 7 nights
  • Overnight train for 1 night (4 bunk beds per compartment)
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Support vehicle and support truck
  • Airport transfers on days 1 and 9 only
  • Experienced English speaking guide
  • Admission fees and permits
  • Bottled water provided while riding

Tour Excludes:

  • International flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Other meals
  • Tips
  • Drinks and personal expenses
  • International Airport Tax
  • Visas
  • Domestic flight (Hanoi-DaLat)

Tour Video

Mountain biking off the beaten track in New Zealand, Tanzania, Tibet and Italy. This movie gives an overview of what you can expect on a Global Adventure Guide mountain biking tour.