Vietnam Heaven Gate Challenges Cycling Tours - Taking the long road through the North West travelers enter a remote land of mountains and colorful tribes people whose songs of love ring out about the din of the weekend market. The northwest loop is a fantastic route for cyclists. Over 800km of cycling from Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai, Ha Giang, Quan Ba, Dong Van, Meo Vac, BaBe national park, etc…. this is the best cycling route in Vietnam so far. The ride towards Sapa meanders through grass valleys to climb alongside crescent paddies and cornfields into a ring of mountains the French once dubbed the ” Tonkinese Alpes”. Above all else towers Fansipan, at 3,143 meters Vietnam’s highest peak. The mountain pass 15km outside Sapa is the highest one in Vietnam ~ 2,000 meters above sea level.
Day 1 – Ha Noi Challenging to Nghia Lo ( Yen bai ) (L/D)
Pick up your hotel in Ha Noi at 7:30 you will be met up with our team at your hotel in Hanoi. Depart for Yen Bai. Stops will be made en route for you to cycle. Our cycling is a spectacular ride on back roads that take us to Nghia Lo through a terrain of tea plantations, lush forests, rice fields, and gum trees. The town sits on a mountain ridge overlooking the Red and Black River and is home to the Thai, Nung, Hmong, La Ha, and Ma peoples. Stay in Nghia Lo hotel.
Total distance: 180 Km
Biking Distance: 100 Km ( 20 km road flat, 80 km mountain 4 to 10 % )
Meals : Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Nghia Lo
Transportation: Support Bus and Truck
Day 2: Nghia Lo Challenging to Tu Le – Than Uyen (B/L/D)
Breakfast, Today we will tough cycle out of Nghia Lo passing large white limestone mountains as we explore the “Real Vietnam”. Following the rolling road, to end the day in Tu Le. Leaving Tu Le we travel through rugged terrain with dense vegetation and come into contact with the Black Hmong and the mysterious White Tay people, who are famed for their folk music, poems, and songs. The road winds down out of the hills and we descend into the valley to end the day at Than Uyen.
Total distance: 160 Km
Biking distance: 100 Km ( 10 km road flat, 90 km mountain 5 to 12 % )
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Than Uyen
Transportation: Support Bus and Truck
Day 3: Than Uyen Tough to Sapa (B/L/D)
From Than Uyen we begin with a gentle 30km ascent to ride along with the Hoang Lien Son mountain range through magnificent landscape. Then, from Binh Lu Junction there is another hard ascent of 30 km to the top of the Tram Ton Pass, on our way to Sa Pa. We stop on route to visit the “silver waterfall”, before descending into Sapa for the final 15kms.
Total distance: 75 Km
Biking distance: 75 Km ( mountain tough 6 to 13 % )
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa
Transportation: Support Bus and Truck
Day 4: Sapa Cycling to Villages – Lao Cai – Yen Bai (B/L/D)
Breakfast, Cycling from Sapa to Lao Chai – Ta Van and Ta Phin village is inhabited by the Red Dzao, H’mong, Giay people. You start the bicycle ride right from Sapa town and pedal downhill to the village. Cycling on paved roads; taking pictures of beautiful terraced rice fields; meeting up with the Red Dzao and Hmong people offers a real-life experience. Start downhill to Lao Cai and then visit Vietnam and China border. Transfer to Yen Bai city.
Total distance: 35 Km
Biking distance: 35 Km ( mountain really tough 5 Km, 30 km downhill )
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: On A/C cabin ( 4 persons / Cabin )
Transportation: Support Bus and Truck
Day 5: Yen Bai to Bac Kan – Ba Be National Park
In the morning, start cycling from your hotel to ATK road and uphill to Thai Nguyen. We have a lunch break in the local restaurant, then at Don market, we start cycling off-road 34km to Ba Be national park. Villages of Tay and Thai the opposite of the river. Ba Be national park (alt. +240m). We ride about 55 km today. O/N BaBe.
Summary
Accommodation: Pac Ngoi Home – Stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 55 Km
Day 6: Babe lake cruise full day trip and rest day.
Today we will spend the whole day visiting the beauty of Ba Be Lakes in a local hand-crafted wooden canoe then glide along the river and to a nearby cave. Lunch is served near a beautiful waterfall. After lunch, we canoe our hearts out navigating into the tranquility of Ba Be Lake and being witness to all of its majesticness. The afternoon’s activities could include swimming and trekking, or sometimes a short visit to the ethnic minority villages. Rest at dinner then you are free to learn about the local people. Overnight at the home-stay.
Summary
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Pac Ngoi Home – Stay
Day 7: Ba Be – Tinh Tuc – Bao Lac
Morning bus excursion 1hour to Ha Hieu, then we start cycling through a forest of Mt. Pia Oac, this is a very old bumpy road through the forest and many villages of the Tay people. Many mountains pass to conquer, the most challenging one is Phia Den pass +1200m. Late afternoon we have a bus transfer to Bao Lac for the night. Total cycling ~ 80-100km today. O/N Bao Lac Song Gam hotel
Summary
Accommodation: Duc Tai Hotel
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner
Cycling distance: 80 km
Day 8: Bao Lac – Niem Son – Meo Vac
Good paved road along Gam river, very nice scenery between Bac Mieu and Bao Lam. Picnic lunch en route. Late afternoon we cycle to Niem Son and start up the mountain to Meo Vac. O/N Hoa Cuong hotel.
Summary
Accommodation: Hmong Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 80 Km
Day 9: Meo Vac to Dong Van
We have a short ride today, but the Ma Phi Leng mountain pass is fantastic. It is the most beautiful mountain pass winding between the Karst mountain in North Vietnam. we stay in Hoang Ngoc hotel and time to walk around the local market and an old Hmong house. ( If Sunday is Meo Vac and Dong Van Market )
Summary
Accommodation: Hoang Ngoc Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling distance: 22 Km
Day 10: Dong Van to Yen Minh
Nice day going through the mountain with a stop at Xa Phin to visit House of Hmong’s King. Late pm we promenade around this small town. More info about Dong Van plateau geopark. O/N Yen Minh hotel.
Summary
Cycling distance: 55 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Cao Nguyen Hotel
Day 11: Yen Minh to Quan Ba and Ha Giang
Getting up to the heaven gate of Quan Ba pass. Stop for a panorama view of the famous Mam Xoi mountain, then we have a long descent to Ha Giang. O/n in Ha Giang
Summary
Cycling distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Huy Hoan Hotel.
Day 12: Ha giang to Hanoi
Breakfast and this morning start cycling from Ha Giang to Bac Quang, then transfer back to Hanoi, Arrival Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Summary
Cycling distance: 40 km
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Your account.
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Join in group departure dates: On 13th Monthly
Group size: Min from 2 to Max 16 cyclists
Tour price: Contact us
Tour Inclusive :
* Support transport by A/C minivan or bus, truck for group
* Trek MTB & helmets, spare parts, aid kits, tool kits
* Entrance fees, Boat trip in a tour
* B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner as mentioned in the tour itinerary
* For daily cycling only: Water, snacks, fresh fruits, wet towels
*Accommodation in tour - 11 nights
* Experienced English speaking bike guides
Tour Exclusive :
* Travel insurance
* Other personal expenses
* Tips for guides and drivers
* Drinks at restaurants
* Accommodation in Hanoi
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