Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Ninh Binh
(5 days 4 nights)
Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (L, D)
At 8.00 our driver and guide will meet you at hotel lobby in Hanoi then drive straight to Mai Chau through country side and town of mountainous regions.
12.00 Arrive in Mai Chau. Where we are really happy with fresh air and panorama view.After checkin the accommodation we’ll have lunch with authentic cuisine of local people. We have a hiking in villages surrounding in afternoon at one of the most beautiful area in the north west of Vietnam.
19.00 we have dinner at the accommodation.
Day 2: Mai Chau – Pu Luong (B,L,D)
At 8.00 AM after breakfast. In the morning we have bicycle through terraced rice paddies and small villages, discovering the natural beauty of the valley and encountering the culture of the ethnic minority Thai people on our visits to the Lac and Na Phon villages. Return for lunch in the village then we continue our journey to Pu Luong.
At 3.00 PM setting off on a trek through rice paddies and winding lanes to visit the Hieu village, Home to Muong and Thai ethnic groups. Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture. We have chance to take shower in the waterfall, relaxing in the bamboo stilt house ( Mr Ly’s home stay) dinner at 7 PM with family
Day 3: Pu Luong (B,L,D)
After breakfast at 8 a.m we hike around corn fields and rice terraces, along the palm forest and we see the villages and people going about their day.
Have a picnic lunch on the way of the White Thai village, enjoy some free time to acquaint yourself with the villagers. In the afternoon, we trek through terraced rice paddies and small villages, discovering the natural beauty of the valley and encountering the culture of the ethnic minority Thai people in Don village. Arriving at your accommodation. In the evening enjoy a lively atmosphere of the village. Stay overnight at the accommodation in Don Village. Dinner at 7 PM
Day 4: Pu Luong – Ninh Binh (B,L)
We start the hiking in the morning through the rice terraces and palm forest then we start at 11.00 AM for a drive on Hochiminh highway to Ninh Binh through the surrounding countryside enjoy an authentic lunch at one of the restaurant on the road. Arriving Ninh Binh at 4.30 PM at hotel in Ninh Binh city ( Ngoc Anh 2).
Day 5: Ninh Binh (B,L)
At 8.30 our driver and guide will meet you at hotel lobby. We drive to Mua Cave mountain
9.00 Arrive there, visit the secret hospital that Vietnamese used in the days of thunder (Vietnam War) based inside the cave, then we challenging ourselves with 500 steps to the top of the mountain where we are really happy with fresh air and “rooftop of Ninh Binh ” panorama view, we back to the car for driving to the east of Ninh Binh area.
12.00 we stop for lunch with some local special dishes such as Crispy rice, Soups, Goat meat with elderberry in a local restaurant.
13.00 PM After lunch, The last visit of today we will go to visit Tam Coc grottoes , take a boat trip to visit a complex of water-through caves in mystery and wildness, see scenery of mountain and rivers Ha Long on land of Ninh Binh. Also rice field along the river side makes you a memorial day.
We will have a short time to take a look at the Thai vi temple. In a limestone mountain the middle of the valley with its unique architecture is made entirely of stone and enjoy the fresh air with nature. We drive back to your hotel in where the trip ends at 17.50.
The fact:
- 5 km hiking of day 1
- 15 km cycling of day 2 and 5 km trekking of day 2
- 14 km trekking of day 3
- 7 km trekking of day 4
- optional: 10 km cycling of day 5 (free of charge)
Accommodation:
In Mai Chau: Homestay at Lac village or Mai Chau Ecolodge (5 star standard )
In Pu Luong: Homestay at Mr Ly’s family (private bungalow) on day 2
Homestay at Mr Hong’s family or Pu Luong retreat (4 stars standard ecolodge) on day 3
In Ninh Binh: Ngoc Anh hotel 2 in the center of city (3 star standard)
Trip cost: USD 425 $/ 1 person / 5 days with accommodation 3 nights at homestay (bungalow) and 1 night at hotel
Trip cost: USD 590 $/ 1 person / 5 days with accommodation 2 nights at ecolodge, 1 night at homestay (bungalow) and 1 night at hotel
Inclusion : private car and guide, accommodation, all meals mentioned in program, drinking water, tickets, boat trip, bikes, travel insurance
Exclusion: Personal expenses, other drinks.
Links for reference:
http://www.ngocanhhotel.com/gallery
http://puluongretreat.com/the-retreat/rooms/ http://m.maichau.ecolodge.asia/theroom.html
