NORTH EAST MOUNTAIN BIKE -TRAILS OF TONKIN ALPS ( 75% off road free ride)
This extreme 10 days trip takes you to the very heart of the north Vietnam mountain . You will discover some of the finest cycling trails in Vietnam has to offer. Beginning in Hanoi , we will cycle and climb five major passes from 1,500m to 1,800m.
This allows you to reach one of the most delightful parts of the Northern Top in Vietnam where you’ll find big rolling hills, great views and speedy open descents with good sight lines. A single track in the middle reminds you what real mountain biking is all about. At its end, it lands you on a steady climb that takes you over some grand hill tops and more amazing views for some excellent descending . With enough left in the legs the day can be rounded off by dragging yourself up and ripping down trails. By that stage in the day they are usually are pretty empty. The images below were taken on a series of visits. They say more than I could about the type of riding and atmosphere on the route.There’s no doubt I’ll be returning just as many times.
We are supported by a sturdy transit van on the main road , motorbike is perfectly equipped support for the terrain . Some day we not riding from hotel to hotel but not an entirely comfortable passenger vehicle and participants should sign up expecting to ride as much of the tour as they can.
This trip is 8/10 difficult mountain bike with off road ,terrain, dirt trails , single track, tough…. That is REAL mountain bike trip.
Day 1: Hanoi- Yen Bai -LaoCai (L,D) ( riding 90km)
Meet in hotel ( 7: 00AM), driving out of Hanoi city. Start riding ,It’s a fascinating ride past many minority villages as we climb onto a higher plateau. We ride pass of rice field and tea plantations before arriving in the Doan Hung for lunch, continue biking to Yen Bai city. Take long transfer (2hours ’) to LaoCai. Night in Hotel in Lao Cai
Lao cai hotel
Day 2: Laocai – Cocly -Bac Ha
Distance: 45 Km.
D+: 1250m
D -: 500m
15 km offroad
Breakfast in Local restaurant with rice noodle soup , banana pancake, breads, coffee, tea… Transfer by van to An Ho stating riding to Phin Giang- Bao tan- Coc ly with 2 of climbing with 10% , more than 3 and 5 km per one climb. After more than 20 km we arrival Coc ly where we will take 60 minutes boat trip on Chay river. Bike will put on boat with clients. Arrival Bao Nhai , Coc Dao riding up to Bac Ha ( 38 km off road ) no minibus stand by behind group until to the hotel. Overnight in hotel. Dinner in local restaurant. Arrangement by client (B ,L )
Hotel in Bac Ha
Day 3: Bac Ha – XinMan – Hoangsuphi
Distance: 70 km.
D+: 1100m
D-: 1600m
38 km offroad
After breakfast in Hotel, clients start biking directly from hotel, climb above Bac Ha through Di Thau. Then ride off road in the mountain on a wide track to a mountain pass and long asphalt downhill to Xin man. Lunch with pasta and fruit.
In the afternoon, clients bike on asphalt about 15-20 km along River Chay before final transfer to Hoang Suphi.
People motivated and very feet can ride all the stage long to Suphi (75 Km).
Overnight in Suphil. (B ,L,)
Very basic Hotel
Day 4: Hoang Su phi – Viet Lam – Ha Giang
Distance: 50Km.
D+: 1100m
D-: 1230m
After breakfast clients start biking directly from hotel on flat asphalt road.
About 5 Km, an off road track (pretty wide) start climbing on the left. After many villages and a beautiful narrow suspension bridge, we enjoy a long single track section, starting on terraces by long climb, leading to an off road pass (about 1300m of elevation) and finishing on a long downhill through waterfalls and rain forest. Lunch with noodle soup and breads, fruits, tea coffee.
Then we get to the asphalt where the minibus is waiting at Vang Luong , take short transfer (15’) to hot spring. Clients take relax with bathing in there.
One Motorbike will assistance group until meet mini bus.
Minibus goes with Guest from this meeting point to a small asphalt pass (tough climb and long steep downhill)
Then, small transfer (about 30’) to Ha Giang. Night in Hotel. (B ,L )
HaGiang hotel
Day 5: HaGiang- Yen Minh
After breakfast , We cycle up to the QuanBa pass on the asphalt road, We start with a relatively easy 7km ride , then we stat climb some mountain pass until we get on the top of Quan Ba pass, 1,230 m . before we hit the first of two major down hill. As we start the down hill, we slowly start to witness the beauty of Yen Minh highland . overnight in Yen minh hotel.
Note:
Lunch in local restaurant or support by our food assistant.
Mini bus always standby with group
Total distance about 92 km, the biker could ride as far as they want, max altitude 1500m
Yen Minh hotel is simple , clean, twin share, hot water.
Distance: +- 100Km. D+: 1500m D-: 1230m ( B,L)
Yen Minh Hotel
Day 6: YenMinh – Meo Vac
Distance: 80Km.
D+: 700m
D-: 530m
It is no supposed to be an off road day ( 10km ). Today we head for Meo Vac.
Van will transfer biker to mountain and we stat biking on the road after that we go ahead with car track, broken road, some part are very bad but we are biking in the most of beautiful track in Vietnam in that is truly mountain bike . Night in very basic hotel in Meo Vac.
Lunch in local restaurant or support by our food assistant.
Motor bike or Russian jeep standby with group.
Distance: +-78Km. D+: 1500m D-: 1230m(B ,L)
Day 7: Meo Vac- Bao Lam
We are transfer to the top of mountain by van , with (15 Km) and start riding . Jeep only standby around 20km, minibus will meet you in Bao Lam
We cross the Gam river and start a long climb to a small asphalt road pass on a building track. We cross some Dzao villages and keep of road all the time. Up and Down stage that leads to the Dzao people, Lunch in local restaurant or support by our food assistant. Transfer to hotel in Bao Lam
Distance: 55 Km (40 Km if transfer first). D+: 1500m. D-: 1600m. (B,L )
Day 8: Bao Lam – Babe lake
We are transfer by van , with (15 Km) and start riding . Jeep only standby around 20km, minibus will meet you in Babe Lake
We cross the river and start a long climb to a small asphalt road pass on a building track. We cross some Dzao villages and keep of road all the time. Up and Down stage that leads to the Babe River and Lake. Our trip to get close to the east side (Na Mam side) of the lake where our minibus is waiting for us. We driving 20km to PacNgoi village for home stay. Dinner and overnight in Tay minority people .
Lunch in local restaurant or support by our food assistant.
Moto bike or Russian jeep stand by with group
Distance: 55 Km (40 Km if transfer first). D+: 1500m. D-: 1600m. (B,L )
Day9 :Ba Be – Khuoi Phi – Dam Hong – Vinh Loc( Chiem hoa ).
Distance: 43 Km (73 Km if start riding in Ba Be Guest House).
D+: 450m.
D-: 300m.
Tough riders (only !) . We riding to Nam Cuong village ( 27 km ) and start biking in there to Khuoi Phi ( 15km ) . That would be a pretty long warm up before we take tough cycling day
Then in the village of Khuoi Phi, a short but steep climb and down section of track leads to the nice and a bit lost village of Ban Thi. Then we are use broken asphalt road for a while before getting to the intersection (cross road) of Ban Cau. Minibus will take different road and meet you in Ban cau. Lunch in Ban Cau and then continue biking in the afternoon in very good single track section, very long and nice riding leads through gorges and lost villages to Dam Hong where the minibus is waiting for you.
Then, transfer to Vinh Loc. Night at hotel and dinner at restaurant. (B ,L )
Hotel in Vinh Loc
Day 10: Vinh Loc – Yen Son – Tuyen Quang – Hanoi
Distance: 30 Km. D+: 300 m.
D-: 350m.
We start biking directly from hotel on flat asphalt road few kilometers and then, cross the Gam river and turn right to follow it half a day.
The Assistance is not necessary in the morning during the stage as it is almost flat, not very long and not technical.
We use wide track to ride inside a nice countryside area, following either the Gam river (next to it) or its direction only. We ride through Pho Trinh, along sugar can farm , sometimes on bamboo bridges and get after 25Km to an asphalt road where our minibus will be waiting for us. Then, transfer to Tuyen Quang for lunch and way back to Hanoi Hotel.
End of tour. (B ,L )
Extension tour , visit website http://marcopoloasia.com/ 2 days sleep in wooden boat in Halong bay = from 190 to 450 USD one cabin for 2 people with lunch, dinner , breakfast , Shuttle bus around trip .
Tour overview
Tour Cost
Price :1,685 USD /person group of 2 people
price : 1,200 USD/person group tours
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.
Best time to go Sep to Apr
WHAT’S INCLUDED
English speaking local guide
Accommodations in home stays and local hotel around trip as mention ( some hotel very basic standard )
Meals as noted : B= breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Drink as water, coffee, tea, energy drink by nutritional gel, juice for cycling tour.
Sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary
Ground transportation with 100% stand by
Additional guides where necessary
Entrance fees and permits
Basic medical
WHAT NOT: International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; Vietnam visa; insurance other than basic medical ; optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; international airport taxes; cost of medical immunizations; items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).Bike Hire
Cannondale F2 lefty pay 180 USD whole trip
Cannondale F3 Fatty pay 140USD whole trip
Full suspension Cannondale RZ one twenty 3 pay 200USD for whole trip
Bikes suggest : XC Race, Freeride , All mountain
If you bring your bike please ensure that you bike is in good working order before you leave on tour. If you are not the most mechanically minded we suggest that you get your bike looked at by a professional bike mechanic. In particularly we would suggest looking and adjusting all wheel spokes, greasing all your bearings, checking your brakes/gears cable, tighten all nuts and bolts, check chain, quick release clamps, tires and put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn. In addition make sure the bike is well serviced and ride it with as much care and attention as possible.
Biking Grade Extreme
Scenery : 5 star
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