4 DAYS CYCLING TOUR TO HOA LU - CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK- MAI CHAU

4 DAYS CYCLING TOUR TO HOA LU - CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK- MAI CHAU

(Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu - Kenh Ga - Cuc Phuong National Park - Hoa Binh - Mai Chau)

Private tour (BN4): Daily departure from Hanoi with English speaking guide.

DAY 1   HANOI- NINH BINH- TAM COC- HOA LU     (-/-/-)
(Cycling distance 24 km)

Departing Hanoi early morning by private transport, it is a two and a half hour drive to the rural town of Ninh Binh. The Ninh Binh region is one of the most beautiful parts of Vietnam with its dramatic scenery, historical intrigues, religious pilgrimage sites and endangered animal sanctuaries. The town of Ninh Binh itself does not overflow with alluring sites, but it serves as an ideal place to venture out on small day trips.
Arriving in Ninh Binh, you will discuss the day’s activities whilst enjoying a cool drink. You will then depart by car to Tam Coc. Ninh Binh’s rice fields become other-wordly in the Tam Coc (Three Caves) area. The mountains have earned the area the nickname “Halong Bay without water”, a moniker borne out by the limestone karsts which dominate the landscape. You will take a boat to and through the caves, past spectacular cliffs, Lilliputian villages, and lonely farming communities.
Around Tam Coc there are some great restaurants to enjoy some local food specialties. You may try ‘mien luon’ (eel in noodle soup), ‘ca ghem muo’ (local pickled vegetable), or ‘thit de nuong’ (grilled goat) for lunch (own account).
After lunch, the guide will assist you with your bicycles in preparation for your cycle tour of Hoa Lu. The bicycle tour is a round trip of 24km through spectacular scenery of rice fields, karsts mountains and quaint rural villages. Leaving the restaurant you will pass glowing lime kilns fed by the mining of the limestone mountains.
Hoa Lu is the site of the former capital of the Vietnamese state, post Chinese rule in the first millennium. The site was chosen for its geographic location, which made it virtually impenetrable and served as the capital from AD 968 until it was moved to present day Hanoi in 1011. Nothing remains of the capital; however, the attraction is the raw beauty, temples dating back to the 17th Century, the King’s Tomb and the simple life of the farmers in the region.
On completion of the cycle tour you will return to your hotel and an opportunity to have a cool drink to refresh. You may want to ask your guide for directions to Ninh Binh’s local markets where you will see typical Vietnamese trading without the tourists.
Accommodation at hotel in Ninh Binh (simple hotel).
DAY 2   NINH BINH- PHAT DIEM/KENH GA- CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK  (B/-/-)
(Cycling distance 21-28 km)

Over breakfast you will discuss the day’s activities with your guide.

Option 1 – Phat Diem:
A 28km bicycle ride will take you through striking rural scenery where you will see rural churches of grand proportions and a rare Japanese covered bridge. Once you arrive in the village of Phat Diem, you will be able to take a break and cool drink in one of the local cafes. The streets of Phat Diem are worth exploring for their numerous sewing shops, a great local market and the majestic Catholic Cathedral, which illuminates the surrounding streets. Phat Diem Cathedral is the centre for Vietnamese Catholicism and one of 30 churches in the area built by French Jesuits. The cathedral blends Chinese with Western styles in its solid grey stone and wood architecture. Its peaceful gardens and magnificent bell towers attract thousands of Vietnamese Catholics from surrounding dioceses. After your tour of Phat Diem it is a return drive to Ninh Binh in your private transport.

Option 2 – Kenh Ga: 
A 21km bicycle ride will take you through striking rural scenery. Once you arrive in the village of Kenh Ga your guide will organize a private boat. Many travelers to Kenh Ga justifiably refer to the area as “Halong Bay with rice fields”, but for others, there’s no comparison; the magnificent natural beauty of the town’s surroundings knows no equal. Still largely undiscovered, Kenh Ga remains an amazing sight to explore without getting lost in the flocks of tourists. Though the boat tour is named after the floating village, the excursion captures much more; it encompasses a trip past the spectacular limestone mountains that jut out from the rice fields and the river that gently meanders through them. While passing through the rivers with their cliff-side homes, visitors are charmed by smiling, waving children, and the occasional mother holding a baby while paddling along with her feet. There is also an opportunity to explore a water-carved cave with thousands of year of mineral and rock formations. After your tour of Kenh Ga it is a return drive to Ninh Binh in your private transport.

You may have lunch at local restaurant (own account), then drive 45km to Cuc Phuong National Park. On the way you will pass pineapple farms, ethnic minority groups, beautiful scenery and rural villages. Arriving at the gates at Cuc Phuong NP you can take the opportunity to view the informative Visitor Information Centre. Cuc Phuong NP offers numerous hikes, ethnic minority groups, the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre and rare wildlife. 
The late afternoon provides the best time to take one of the short treks through the NP. Public treks in Cuc Phuong include the ‘Ancient Tree trek’ or the ‘Thousand Year Old Tree trek’. These treks vary in difficulty and depend on how active you are feeling. Your guide will be able to provide you with information on difficulty.
Accommodation at the National Park Guesthouse.

DAY 3   CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK - HOA BINH - MAI CHAU  (B/L/-)
Depart early for a 200 km drive to Hoa Binh. In Hoa Binh you will join a private boat and cruise up the Song Da River. Along the way, you will visit and the ethnic minority Muong village of Vay Nua and the minority Dzao village of Duong. Have lunch on board the boat (06 hours on the boat).

At the end of the boat cruise, you will arrive in the village of Mai Chau. Surrounded by steep mountains and stunning rice paddies, tiny Mai Chau is an uplifting and refreshing holiday from a region packed with challenging travel opportunities. Just outside of town, the White Thai villages of Ban Lac and Pom Coong allow visitors to step into Thai life by observing rural life and their traditional stilt houses. You will have an opportunity to explore the villages and the local markets.
Accommodation in Ban Lac, Maichau (simple stilt house).
In the evening, you may request a performance of a local folk dance troupe and join them in their traditional dance.

DAY 4   MAI CHAU - HOA BINH - HANOI      (B/-/-)

After an early breakfast, your guide will arrange bicycles for a tour around the local area or depart for Hoa Binh for the cycling tour with points of interest including:
ê Kim Boi Hot Springs – the spring water allegedly has medicinal properties in addition to being suitable to drink. Water is pumped into two large indoor swimming pools filled with gossiping locals.
ê Xom Mon Village – Muong village
ê Local markets
Back to Hanoi late afternoon. Drop off at your hotel (accommodation in Hanoi not included in tour price)

CANCELLATIONS
• Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

• FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  According to the costs incurred will be charged
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 25% of package price
• Between 14 days and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of package price
• Between 07 days and 2 days prior to departure: 75% of package price
• 1 day prior to departure or no show:   100% of package price

• GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Happy Go Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

• HOTEL ONLY
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  no charge
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price
• Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price

• Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.
PLEASE NOTE
• For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.
• Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.
• Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.
• This is a quotation only and neither reservations for services nor hotel bookings have been made.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

CONTACT INFORMATION OF HAPPY GO TRAVEL
HAPPY GO TRAVEL - HANOI HEAD OFFICE:
Address:  5th floor,  130F Thai Thinh str, Trung Liet, Dong Da,  Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone during office hours:  +84 24 32 686 686; +84 24 32 898 898
Fax:  +84 24 32 171 783

EMERCENCY CONTACTS (ENGLISH AND GERMAN-SPEAKING)
Mobile: Mr. Thang (Managing Director) (+84) 934556056

IMPORTANT NOTICE
 Certain parts of the tours on offer are provided by independent third parties, such as airlines, hotels, transport operators and local tourist offices. Happy Go Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused thereby to the tourists, including those occurring outside of the normal touring programmes. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accident, natural disaster, political actions and unrest shall be borne by the tourists.
 Programmes, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of proposal submission and are subject to change thereafter without advance notice until all services have been paid in full.
 We strongly advise to leave valuable items (money, passport, credit cards, jewellery, sensitive documents, laptop computer, etc.) in the hotel safe. During excursions and roundtrips, personal belongings, especially money and valuables should NEVER be left on vehicles, even during short breaks, and carried around at all times. Happy Go Travel is not responsible for any loss or theft.
 Vietnam being a developing country is in full process of upgrading its infrastructure. Therefore, driving overland can be cumbersome due to ongoing road constructions.

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