•The cost: usd 1050 per person
•Countries visited: Vietnam
•Total cycling distance: Approx 265 km
•Destinations:Ha Noi- Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van Valley – Ta Phin Loop – Tam Duong (Phong Tho) – Pa So -Sin Ho – Lai Chau (now Muong Lay)-Tuan Giao – Dien Bien Phu
Summary : Sa Pa District is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 350 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas. This range includes Vietnam's highest mountain, Fan Si Pan, at a height of 3142m above sea level. The town of Sa Pa lies at an altitude of about 1600 m. The climate is moderate and rainy in summer (May—August), and foggy and cold with occasional snowfalls in winter.
Sa Pa is a quiet mountain town and home to a great diversity of ethnic minority peoples. The total population of 36,000 consists mostly of minority groups. Besides the Kinh (Viet) people (15%) there are mainly 5 ethnic groups in Sapa: Hmong 52%, Dao 25%, Tay 5%, Giay 2% and a small number of Xa Pho. Approximately 7,000 live in Sapa, the other 36,000 being scattered in small communes throughout the district.
Most of the ethnic minority people work their land on sloping terraces since the vast majority of the land is mountainous. Their staple foods are rice and corn. Rice, by its very nature of being a labour intensive crop, makes the daily fight for survival paramount. The unique climate in Sapa has a major influence on the ethnic minorities who live in the area. With sub-tropical summers, temperate winters and 160 days of mist annually, the influence on agricultural yields and health related issues are significant.
The minority people can only yield one crop of rice annually, which leads to food shortfalls in many communes at specific times.This shortage of food contributes to malnutrition and other related health problems. The climatic conditions also contribute to many health issues including coughs, colds, and bronchial and respiratory problems that are commonplace throughout the community.
Brief Itinerary
Day1: Arrive Ha Noi - Overnight train to Lao Cai (D)
Day2: Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van Valley afternoon ride (20km cycling) (B,L)
Day3: Sapa - Ta Phin Loop ride full day (30km cycling) (B,L)
Day4: Sapa – Tam Duong (Phong Tho) – Pa So (80km cycling) (B,L)
Day5: Pa So – Sin Ho - Lai Chau (now Muong Lay) (45km cycling) (B,L)
Day6: Lai Chau – Tuan Giao - Dien Bien Phu (90km cycling) (B,L)
Day7: Dien Bien Phu – Hanoi (no cycling) (B,L)
| TOUR INFOMATION | |
| Tour cost | USD 1050 Per Person based on 2 people in sharing room (Single room supplement usd 100) |
| Bike rental | Usd 70 |
| Departure Dates | Guaranteed departures every day with a minimum group of 2 adults. |
| Total Distance | 265kilometers |
| No., of cycling days | 4 full-days and 1 half-day |
| Tour meets | Ha Noi |
| Tour End | Ha Noi |
| Road Surface | Uphill/downhill, steep & forested hillsides, routes mixed of stone, gravel, hard pack clay and paddy fields (jeep track). |
| Support | All buses with A/C and experienced Driver, one 16 seats regarding group size of less 6; one 25 seats of less 12 or two 16 seats regarding group size of less 12; and one 25 seats plus a luggage van for group size of up to 24. |
| Group Size | Minimum 2. Maximum 15. |
| Biking guide | Experienced English speaking-biking guides with enthusiastic, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Biking guides are first aid qualified and can maintain bikes. Their role is to deliver a safe and enjoyable tour to the clients, they manage the group, co-ordinate the driver and support vehicle, buy snacks and fruit along the way, look out for clients needs. They are cultural guides as well as pure biking… |
| Accommodation | Hotels range from standard to superior classes, 2 star and 3 star hotel (big room with partition off) in some remote areas. |
| Food | Included (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Boat & ferry | Included |
| Snacks, fresh fruits, water, wet towels | Provided daily cycling |
| Safety | Our people take the best cares & safety for your trip.The first aid kits are provided |
| Photo taking | You can stop wherever you want for 'Kodak moment'! |
| Cycling pace | Are you a beginner or professional biker? we all care with our best efforts to make your trip superb. Enjoy your riding speed from 10km per hour up to as many more as you can. |
| Climate | Rainy season from May to end of October, dry season is the rest of the year; we bike all year round while raincoat is standby in the rain season. |
| What to bring | Sun Block , Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain Gear , Warm clothes in winter, Original Passport, Bike Helmet ( compulsory ), Small backpack , Shoes and shorts for cycling ,Sunglasses , Gloves , Professional Pedal ,Insect repellent ,Wide brim hat ,Bike water bottle (if you don't want to use Indochina Bike Tours’bottle) |
| What included | English – biking – speaking guide, Accommodation as itinerary, Food as itinerary (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner) (depending on condition of local area, we have picnic for lunch sometimes), Land transport as itinerary (one 16seats van to carry bike & biker), Train ticket Day, Good bikes rental for tour, Water, snacks, fresh fruits, cool towel for cycling days, First aids care and mechanic for bike, All entrance fees; ferry tickets and boat trips. |
| What is not included | Travel insurance,Tip(recommend 5usd/day/person) personal expenses, alcoholic drinks, flight ticket to/from Vietnam, visa to Vietnam...and what is not mentioned as above itinerary |
| Notice: We can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.
Please advise us of your passport details for visa processing at least 15 days working days in advance. The tour price does not include personal insurance so we highly you to take your own insurance before your departure for our cycling trip covering the cost of medical evacuation by air. And you will need a passport valid for six month and appropriate visas to enter our countries. |
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Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Ha Noi - Overnight train to Lao Cai
Airport transfer to Ha Noi capital, exploring the old city on your own and meet at the hotel for trip briefing.
Our van drive you to the train station for catching atrain at 9:00 pm to Lao Cai. Overnight on travel train.
Activities:
• No biking.
• Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van Valley afternoon ride
Arrive Lao Cai in early morning, transfer to Sapa for breakfast, short rest and time to fit bike before riding into the Sapa Valley.
Overnight in Sapa.
Activities:
• 20km biking.
• Meals: breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 3: Sapa - Ta Phin Loop ride full day
Cycle off road track to the village of Ta Phin, when the ride will be more challenging in a loop across a steep and forested hillsides and minority villages.
Overnight in Sapa.
Activities:
• 30km biking.
• Meals: breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 4: Sapa – Tam Duong (Phong Tho) – Pa So
Cycle shortly uphill as warm up to the Tram Ton Pass, before starting a long descent ride to Binh Lu
Ride a truly off the beaten track (jeep track) mixed of hard pack gravel and clay to Tam Duong and Pa So. Overnight in Pa So.
Activities:
• 80km biking.
• Meals: breakfast , Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Pa So – Sin Ho - Lai Chau (now Muong Lay)
Take a brutal ride this day to Lai Chau and Sin Ho and get a reward of truly spectacular views.
The ride is on the main road, uphill and tarmac downhill, mixed of gravel and hard pack clay. Overnight in Lai Chau.
Activities:
• 45km biking.
• Meals: breakfast , Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Lai Chau – Tuan Giao - Dien Bien Phu (90km cycling)
Take a hardest but challenging ride this day to Tuan Giao and Dien Bien Phu, on a rough tarmac terrain all the way, but you will be rewarded with the stunningly beautiful scenery and untouched remote villages.
Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.
Activities:
• 90km biking.
• Meals: breakfast , Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Dien Bien Phu – Hanoi (no cycling)
Take a half morning tour exploring the historical sites of Dien Bien Phu. Late morning flight to Hanoi and transfer into town.
End of tour.
Activities:
• No biking.
• Meals: breakfast , Lunch, Dinner
Note for Accommodation
Note: Prices are based per person, double occupancy, with a separate cost for solo travelers. If you are traveling in a group but prefer single accommodations, a single supplement fee applies. Triple accommodations are not available in many of the destinations we visit.
Note : the letter of approval to get Vietnam visa on arrival 05usd per person
Tour Cost Included & Excluded
The Cost inclusions:
* Private tours with English speaking Cycling Tour Guide
* Entrance fee to any applicable tourist sites
* Accomodation in twins/double rooms with 3 star class
* Support van and first aid kit during the tour
* Meals as mention in the itinerary
* Snacks,local fruite and bottled water during the tour
* Professional bikes (Giant, Trek or Cannondale)
* Government tax and services charge
* Cold water, coca, 7 up, sprite, and towel during the tour
The cost exclusions:
* International airfare
* Travel insurance
* Visa and visa arrangement
* Surcharges for compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons
* Peak season surcharges (which will be advised at time of booking)
* Tip Guide and Driver
* Personal expenses
