Northwest Bike Tour – 3 Days
This wonderful itinerary takes you over the Tram Tom, or Heaven's Gate Pass to explore the other side of Fansipan and the Hoang Lien Mountain Range. Often when Sa Pa is shrouded in cloud and fog, this side is clear and blue. The newly paved road descends 26Kms through one of the most picturesque and inspiring valleys in the North where you'll glide down through the fresh mountain air to the Binh Lu Junction. Turning off this main road will add a moderate challenge to your adventure. The sometimes rocky road meanders along the base of the mountain range past old growth forest and through the villages of Thai, H'mong and Lu ethnic minorities. The area sees few tourists,...
Tour Duration: 3 days/ 2 nights
Tour Route: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Binh Lu - Than Thuoc - Than Uyen - Van Ban - Lao Cai - Hanoi
Starts: Hanoi (pick up from the hotel in evening)
Ends: Hanoi
Tour Level: Moderate
Group size: Private tour only
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 01: Hanoi – night train to Sapa
Day 02: Lao Cai - Sapa - Than Thuoc (L, D)
Day 03: Than Thuoc - Than Uyen (B, L, D)
Day 04: Than Uyen - Lao Cai – night train to Hanoi (B, L)
Day 05: Hanoi
Day 01: Hanoi – Night train to Sapa
Pick up at your hotel in the city central, transfer to the station for a night train to Sapa. Overnight on train
Day 02: Lao Cai - Sapa - Than Thuoc (B,L, D)
Arrive Lao Cai station in the early morning, pick up and transfer to sapa, having breakfast before starting the trip.
Firstly, your support vehicle will transfer you out to a starting point at the 'Silver Waterfall'. Then it's a 3km climb up the highest mountain pass in Indochina where you'll stop to marvel at the spectacular view of Hoang Lien mountains before free-wheeling down 26km to Binh Lu Junction. Heading off the main road, its 20kms of sometimes rocky road to Than Thuoc, a charming little tea town where you'll spend the night in a local guesthouse.
Day 03: Than Thuoc - Than Uyen (B, L, D)
After breakfast, your support vehicle will transfer you up a steep mountain pass to the starting point where you'll glide down 20kms to Than Uyen through valleys where the old growth forest, tea plantations and verdant rice paddies surround you during your ride. After lunch in Than Uyen, you'll have a wonderful afternoon as you explore some single track trails to visit local minority villages, including the interesting Lu people with their distinctively black teeth. Arrive back in Than Uyen for dinner and overnight in the local guesthouse.
Day 04: Than Uyen - Lao Cai (B, L)
After a good breakfast, ride 40kms around the other side of the stunning Muong Kim valley with time for lots of stops to take pictures of the local hill tribe people and the stunning scenery there. Arrive in Van Ban for a late lunch then hop on the minivan to drive back to Lao Cai. Evening transfer to the station for a night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Approx: 2 hours driving/ 4 hours cycling/ 1-hour lunch
Day 05: Hanoi – Departure
Arrival Hanoi in the early morning, Back to your hotel by yourself. End of all the services.
