Great loop: landscapes and peoples of the North

Unusual and alternative discovery of Hanoi by bike. You discover the city of the Hanoians outside the tourist axes. From the Long Bien bridge & the Red River nurseries to the pleasant district and temples of West Lake… Most of the time you will be pedaling on secondary roads with little traffic. Lunch with local specialties. Free time at the end of the day to stroll through the 36 streets of corporations, where many trades come together.

Trip to the southwest of Hanoi. Stay in a guest house with bike ride in the countryside of the Red River Delta. Visit of the ancient architecture village of Duong Lam. Strolling through its narrow alleys around century-old houses really gives the impression of stepping back in time… Traditional foot massage and initiation into ancestor worship with your host family.

Initiation to Tai Chi in the morning before hitting the road to Nghia Lo. Visit of a tea plantation before arrival in the afternoon. Accommodation in a homestay in a village of the black Thai minority. Walk in the village to discover the way of life of the inhabitants. Dinner and overnight with the locals. Simple comfort

Hiking day. Departure for the magnificent Tram Tau valley through beautiful rice terraces and villages of black Thai and green Hmong. Easy 4-5h walk. Night in a standard guesthouse.

Continuation of the exploration of this magnificent region towards Mu Cang Chai where undoubtedly the most beautiful rice terraces of the country are located. You will make another hike of 2 hours in the middle of rice fields and ethnic villages. Dinner and overnight with a Thai resident in a beautiful house on stilts.

Trip to the west and Lai Chau. The small valleys along the trail are populated by the White Thai and especially the Hmong. As we approach Lai Chau, we meet the black Dzao, the Lu whose teeth are lacquered in black. Then we will climb a pass at 2000m altitude to reach Sapa where we will arrive around noon. Magnificent landscapes on the way. Short hike in the Sapa valley, then free end of the day to stroll in the charming town appreciated for its fresher air.

Road to Bac Ha. On Sundays you can discover the weekly market there. All the minorities of the region flock there to trade, dressed in their magnificent traditional hand-embroidered costumes… In the afternoon, a lovely walk in the village of the Red Hmong and the Tay. Dinner and overnight at the local Tay’s.

Departure for the region of Ha Giang by a beautiful road. Walk among the Tay and the Pa Then along the way. End of the day at the Tay’s where we will spend the night with the locals.

Day hike in Ha Giang in an area dotted with rice terraces and palm trees. We climb regularly to discover a beautiful view of the Cao Bo valley, where the landscape is magnificent. Picnic lunch then descent to join our vehicle. Dinner and overnight with the local Tay.

Scenic drive to Dong Van. Turn after turn, the landscapes of this region are opening to you. This region is part of the Geoparks classified by Unesco, with its characteristic relief dotted with black rocks between which the Hmong manage to cultivate corn in incredible conditions, on sometimes vertiginous slopes… Stop at the white Hmong who weave raw flax. Continuation to Dong Van, stop to visit King Hmong Palace. Arrival in the small town of Dong Van, walk in the old town to visit the old houses with adobe walls. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Road to Meo Vac via the Ma Pi Leng pass after which you will discover breathtaking views. On Sundays, a large weekly market bringing together the populations of the surrounding villages is held in Meo Vac and Dong Van. The women then put on their finest costumes for the occasion … Lunch then drive to Bao Lac in the regions inhabited among others by the black Lolo. Arrival at Bao Lac in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Early morning departure for the Ba Be Lake area. En route visit to a black Lolo village nestled in the mountains. Arrival at Pac Ngoi village on the shores of Ba Be lake, check in with our host family and exploring of the surroundings before sunset. A visit to this small village will allow you to get to know the unchanged way of life of this ethnic group for centuries. Overnight at a homestay in a Tay house on stilts by the lake.

Peaceful cruise on the Nang River to Ba Be Lake to explore the national park. Stopovers at Puong Limestone Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall. Walk through the villages on the banks. We discover an authentic way of life made up of a little agriculture, breeding and fishing. Trip to Hanoi, arrival at the end of the afternoon. Free evening and night at the hotel.

Charming cruise in Halong Bay. The mythical dragon bay and its thousands of islets …! Thien Canh Son island, swimming, sea kayaking. Delicious lunch and dinner of seafood. Friendly evening on board and night in a comfortable cabin.

This cruise takes a different route than the other 500 boats that cruise the bay, ensuring you have a peaceful cruise. This company is a local player in responsible tourism.

Last morning of cruise with a visit to a floating village by boat. The majestic junk resumes navigation to bring you back to the port. Last lunch on the boat before disembarking. Road to Tam Coc. Arrival in Tam Coc in the late afternoon. Overnight in Tam Coc

Tam Coc, the terrestrial Halong Bay. Early in the morning, we embark on a small boat to discover the site, a set of limestone peaks planted in the middle of the rice fields… Another atmosphere, just magical… Road to Nho Quan, where we will sail peacefully by boat to the floating village of Kenh Ga located in the middle of a vast area flooded several months a year. Visitors are won over by the tranquility of the place, especially at sunset, as well as by the authenticity of the isolated life of the peasants. Overnight in Tam Coc.

In the morning, we offer you a cooking class given by our host, in a friendly atmosphere. Lunch with your culinary preparations. Then a beautiful bike ride in the surrounding countryside, magnificent with its rice fields, rocky peaks and small temples nestled in the mountain. Return to Hanoi at the end of the day. Installation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Free day before transfer to the airport. International return flight.