FULL ITINERARY:
DAY 1: HANOI - PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE (-/LUNCH/DINNER)
07:00 – 07:30 Pick-up at Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to go to Pu Luong Nature Reserve by Limousine bus.
09:00 Short break in Luong Son (Outside of Hanoi).
11:00 Stop at the local market of the Muong Ethnic Minority; enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thung Khe Pass (One of the 10 most beautiful passes in Vietnam).
12:00 Arrival in Mai Chau and transfer to a van to go to Pu Luong Reserve nature
13:00 Check in and lunch at Pu Luong Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat.
14:30 – 17:30 Board the van to the starting point. Following the small road through the terrace rice and sugar cane fields, cross the Hanging Bridges to visit other remote rural villages of Thai Ethnic. Stop at the giant waterwheels, ducks farm to learn about the agriculture before getting on the Bamboo Raft for a relaxing cruise on Cham stream (cruise depending on weather conditions).
17:30 Pick up the van to go to the Eco Garden – Mountain Retreat. Enjoy swimming in the Infinity Pool.
19:00 BBQ Dinner at the lodge, enjoy some local rice wine. Have a quiet night in the middle of the Reserve.
DAY 2: PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE - HIEU WATERFALL (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
07:30 – 08:30 Have breakfast at Pu Luong Eco Garden. Enjoying the breathtaking view from the lodge.
09:00 – 12:30 Board the van to Pho Doan to start your trek. (Visit local market of Pho Doan only on Thursday and Sunday morning) From there, follow the small road, trail through the terrace rice fields, jungle to reach Hieu Waterfall. Have lunch by the waterfall.
Afternoon: Free time to relax and swim in the waterfall or trekking to explore the surrounding village and jungle.
17:00 Board the van to go back to Pu Luong Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat
18:00 – 19:00 Free time to relax by the infinity pool.
19:00 BBQ Dinner at the lodge, enjoy some local rice wine. Have a quiet night in the middle of the Reserve.
DAY 3: EXPLORE KHO MUONG VILLAGE AND DOI CAVE - NINH BINH (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
06:30 – 07:30 Breakfast at the homestay, check out and say goodbye to the lovely hosts.
07:30 – 08:30 Board the van and back to the lodge
08:30 – 12:00 Trek 6km following the small roads through the terrace rice fields and cross the stream to visit remote hidden village of Kho Muong to learn about the local people in Pu Luong. Explore Doi Cave (Bat cave), this is the largest cave in Pu Luong. (Depending on the weather condition)
12:00 Back to the Eco Garden - Mountain Retreat, check out.
13:00 Have lunch and have free time to relax in the Infinity pool or walking around the village before boarding the c ar to go to Ninh Binh at 14:30..
17:30 Arrive in NinhBinh Retreat, check in and have free time.
19:00 Have dinner at the retreat
DAY 4: NINH BINH - CYCLING TO HOA LU ANCIENT CAPITAL AND BOAT RIDE IN TRANG AN - HANOI (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
7:30 – 8:30 Am: Have breakfast at the Retreat
8:30 - 12:00 Pm: Cycling through the limestone karsts to reach Hoa Lu - the historic capital of Viet Nam and the famous ancient temples of the Le and the Dinh Dynasties. Then, hike up the Ma Yen Mountain to visit the King’s tomb in 10th century and enjoy the panorama view from the mountain. On the way back, we will visit a local family to discover the local lifestyles and cultures and enjoy a tea with them.
12:00 -13:30: Check out and have lunch at the Retreat
13:30 -16:00: Take a boat trip to visit Trang An Complex - inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will head to Trang An, embark on a traditional sampan through an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif and the numerous caves: Hang Toi ( Dack ) cave - 320 meter long, Sang (light) cave - 90 meter long, and Hang Nau Ruou (Cooking wine) cave - 250 meter long…
16:30: Take the returns shuttle bus to Hanoi.
19:00: Arrive back in your hotel. Tour ends.
