THE BIG LOOP – BABE LAKE, CAO BANG & NORTHEN HA GIANG LOOP
6 DAYS 6 NIGHTS
SUMARY
The whole of northen Vietnam offers so much to discover. While all mountainous it also presents alot of variations in landscape and sughts to take in. On our “Big Loop” we ensure to cover three of the most famous sights and areas – the Ba Be lake (entrancing) fresh-water lake surrounded by the high limestone mountains and primeval juggle and retains border of Vietnam/China will stun any visitor.
Accomodation will be in a mix of ethnic minority homestays and hotels.
This tour maybe done clockwise or anti-clockwise around the loop and will be depend on driving skills, seasons and market-days.
Itinerary
Night 1: Transportation from Hanoi to Ha Giang by sleeper bus
19:30 – 20:00: Our team will pick you up from your hotel to transfer to Ha Giang by sleeping bus.
04:00: Arriving Ha Giang, getting free hostel to sleep over till 6:00
Day 1: Ha Giang – Bac Quang – Na Hang – Ba Be Lake, 245km drive
After breakfast, we on a “marathon loop”, but even if there are many kms to covers, it is for a large part on easy roads, where we make up distance at quite a speed. We go south out on highway QL 2 till we reach Viet Quang, where we turn into road TL 279 and we will reach the small town of Na Hang, where we stop for lunch.
After lunch, we finally meet beautiful mountains roads taking us over a spectacular mountain pass before reaching the town of Cho Ra in late afternoon, where we branch of and go down Ba Be lake.
Checking in a nice homestay by the lake, which provides us a wonderful dinner, bed and breakfast.
Day 2: Ba Be Lake
We spend the full day on and around the lake. After breakfast, we will enjoy a boat ride and explore the lake and its surroundings. The lake has a lot to offer, including waterfalls, rivers, valleys and caves all set admist picturesque landscape.
Lunch and dinner at homestay.
Day 3: Ba Be – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 205km drive
After breakfast, we travel north up and down the “snake pass” and stop for our lunch in Cao Bang city. We continue towards the Chinese Boarder, where at the end of the day meet the breath-taking – Ban Gioc waterfall which spans over 300 meters, split half and half betwen Vietnam àn China.
We spend the night in a Nung ethnic homestay and enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner.
Day 4: Ban Gioc – Cao Bang – Bao Lac, 210km drive
Get a traditional breakfat and start the day by discover the Nguom Ngao cave, an impressive natural wonder with a cave that stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredibale stalactites and stalagmites.
Then it is time for a ride through beautiful landscape and nice roads until we reach the small town of Ba Lac, where we take into a hotel for the night.
Day 5: Ban Lac – Meo Vac – Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass – Dong Van – Lung Cu – Dong Van, 145km drive
From Bao Lac town we continue north and connect to QL 4C or “Road Of Happiness” and start driving north towards Meo Vac, where we have lunch.
Climbing up the majestic Ma Pi Leng, where will reach the most northen town of Vietnam – Dong Van. We continue to reach the north pole – Lung Cu an its famous flagpole tower which we climb and view China from the top. We return towards Dong Van to stay overnight in hotel or homestay.
Day 6: Dong Van – Sa Phin – Yen Minh – Tam Son – Ha Giang city, 150km drive
If we are waking up on a Sunday in Dong Van, we will join a weekly big local market before or after breakfast. More ethnic minority groups than you can count, they come from near and far to shop for their another week. The market will be full of corlor from many types of traditional ethnic groups custom.
Going down the Highland of Stone and reach Yen Minh, where we take lunch and then climb a mountain pass covered in pine forest and sweeping rice terraces along our drive. Down to the Song La river valley until the road takes us up to Tam Son, over the Quan Ba mountain pass and back to Ha Giang.
Price includes (All-inclusive tour)
- Transportation Ha Noi – Ha Giang
- English Speaking Tour guide
- All meals, as indicated in the itinerary (local Vietnamese food)
- Accommodation (mix of ethnic minority homestay and hotel (shar by two – single room for extra fee
possible) - Quality genuine Japanese Motorcycles
- Full cover bike damage insurance
- All fuel cost
- All entrance tickets & permits
- Full or half-helmet, protective knee and elbow gear, basic rain clothes
- Bungee cords & plastic cover for your bags
- Free storage of excess luggage
- Free dorm bed, when arriving on a night bus, at Ha Giang Loop Tour (03.00-08.00)
Price excludes
- Gratuities & tips
- Alcoholic beverages if not served on behalf of third party like homestay
- Personal expenses
- Personal travel insurance
