5 Day 4 Nights Off the Beaten Path Motorbike Tour, Vietnam

Overview

Off the Beaten Path 5 days 4 nights is a motorbiking tour which will take you through an entire gamut of luscious landscapes: rugged, mountainous terrain, dense woods, lush and tranquil valleys and past vibrant markets, towns and villages. It will be a whole new way of experiencing the splendors of the country.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Hanoi
• Honda XR150 motorcycle rental
• Ride to the stunning Ba Be National Park
• Visit to Widow's Island and traditional villages
• Tranquil boat trip on Ba Be Lake
• 4 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi to Na Khan (180 kilometers / 112 miles, 8 hours)

   This Motorbiking Tour begins with a quite long drive but easy (early departure is better) from Hanoi to Na Khan 180 km. The road is sealed all the way until Bac Kan and the last part from Bac Kan to Na Khan is wild and little bumpy. Na Khan (Chiem Hoa - Tuyen Quang) is a Tay village, lost in the middle of the primitive forest. Mr. Lo, the chef of the village will welcome us in his house.

2. Day 2: Na Khan to Ba Be National Park (50 kilometers / 31 miles, 2 hours)

   You will have a short drive from Na Khan to Ba Be National Park on a bumpy road. Lunch will be at the captain's house. Enjoy easy boating on the lake and river. If you arrive during the day, go to the market. Stop at Widow Island for a jump and a beautiful swim. You could visit the village and a small school (only a few pupils during the summer) then return home where you will enjoy dinner. You will spend the night at their friend's stilt house. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided.

3. Day 3: Ba Be National Park to Quang Uyen (170 kilometers / 106 miles, 8 hours)

   Cross Ba Be lake to return to the captain's house. Then have a beautiful ride up to Cao Bang province. There are a few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but with many curves. You can stop a lot. Altogether, stop for drinks and food because it should be an eight-hour journey. Then ride one more hour to reach the beautiful village of Quang Hoa in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of the Nung An people. Spend the night at their friend's house. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided.

4. Day 4: Quang Uyen (100 kilometers / 62 miles, 2 hours or 30 kilometers / 19 miles, 1 hour)

   Option 1: Having obtained permission from the border police we make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam's most impressive waterfalls. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50 m high falls hit the river. Option 2: Na Tau is a completely unknown area that we propose to discover it by raft and motorbike. Rivers and waterfalls everywhere are extremely beautiful and wild. It is only 15 km from Quang Hoa.Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided.

5. Day 5: Quang Uyen to Hanoi (300 kilometers / 186 miles, 9 hours)

   Ride from Quang Hoa to Hanoi via Lang Son. Lunch in Lang Son. The road is asphalted almost of the way and it takes 9 hours to ride back to Hanoi.

Ride Details

Terrain

mix of off-road and asphalt (rugged, mountainous terrain, dense woods, lush and tranquil valleys)

Bike

rental bike (Honda XR150)

Total mileage

approximately 800 kilometers / 497 miles

Daily rides

approximately 30 to 300 kilometers / 19 to 186 miles / 1-9 hours

Riding gear

included: rain gear, helmets, motorbike jacket

Meals

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners

Accommodation

Please note that the hotels mentioned in this list are for reference only. Depending on availability and your preference, they can be changed. If we are unable to book any hotel, it will be replaced by another hotel at least of equivalent standard and value.

Food

The price includes four breakfasts, five lunches, and four dinners. All foods are cooked by the local people using fresh, healthy ingredients with the aim of offering customers the most delicious and traditional taste of each region's specialty. Because of Ba Be’s favorable farming and fishing conditions, the food is varied and fresh. From locally grown vegetables to free-range meat and fish from the lakes and rivers, the feasts you will enjoy with your hosts are sure to leave you wanting more. Vegetarians will also be catered for, but please request this at the time of booking.

Getting There

This motorcycle tour will take place in Vietnam, covering Hanoi, Na Khan, Quang Uyen District, and Ba Be National Park. Ba Be National Park sits peacefully in the northeast province of Bac Kan, a haven of extraordinary scenery, fascinating biodiversity, and rich culture. The ethnic minority communities live in small hamlets throughout the and still maintain a simple way of life, living off the lan