Choose Your Own Hoang Su Phi Adventure Experience

Choose Your Own Hoang Su Phi Adventure Experience

Code:

Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang, Viet Nam

Target Market:

For trekking:

Participants with good levels of fitness and able to hike up to 10km a day over terrain that includes steep and rocky sections.

For mountain biking:

Participants with very good levels of fitness and with previous mountain bike experience.

Trail Types ridden:

Hardpacked single track (hiking trails) and sealed roads.

Tour Length:

4 days

Tour Description

Ride or trek (or enjoy a combination of both) on the narrow dirt single trails that have been connecting villages and villagers for generations.

Those riding will enjoy long dirt singletrack sections ranging from undulating to downhill. Your face will be sore from smiling as you traverse down the side of some of Hoang Su Phi’s most picturesque rice-terraced mountainsides. For this ride we’ve reserved most of the serious climbing for the sealed roads, allowing you to get in the rhythm and recover for the next fun singletrack descent to come. With daily distances ranging from 25-30km, there will be plenty of time to enjoy time off the bike after the day’s ride and stop along the way for photos or just to take in the scenery. And if you like to really stretch the legs and are concerned about the short distances don’t worry – the routes are challenging and you can expect to be worked for your average speed.

For those choosing the trekking option, you will be led by a local guide along some of the best trails in the area. Note that some sections will be covered on moto taxi to keep pace with the cycling group’s daily distances, but trekkers will have ample opportunity to enjoy the sites.

Organised by Helvetas Vietnam / Center for Rural Economy Development (CRED), the entry fee for this awesome opportunity is only 4,000,000 VND per rider* (excluding bike hire). This fee will cover all your travel, food and accommodation costs and will include a free water bottle for all participants. 1,300,000 VND from your entry fee will go directly to the local community through an initiative that we will support as part of the tour.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

THURSDAY, 6TH DECEMBER (-/L/D)

Day 1, Option 1: Off-road cycling (Approx. 3.5km, estimated 100m of Elevation Gain)

06:00	Travel from Hanoi – Ban Luoc commune (Bus).
15:00	Mountain bike downhill on dirt trails from Ban Luoc commune to Suoi Thau CBT village. Demonstration of forging knives and casting tools in Ban Luoc
16:00	Settle into the homestay.
19:00	Dinner at the homestay.
Overnight accommodation: Suoi Thau homestays

Cycling Activity Description

Upon arriving by bus to Ban Luoc enjoy a short but scenic mountain bike ride along downhill and flat dirt trails to the homestay village of Suoi Thau. Stop along the way to admire and photograph the local rice terraces. You will also have the chance to enjoy a demonstration of knives and tool making along the way to Ban Luoc

Day 1, Option 2: Trekking (Approx. 5km)

06:00	Travel from Hanoi – Ban Luoc commune (Bus).
15:00	Hike with a local guide from Ban Luoc to Suoi Thau homestays along village paths (5 km) – 1 to 1.5hrs. Demonstration of forging knives, casting tools in Ban Luoc
16:30	Settle into the homestay
19:00	Dinner at the homestay.
Overnight accommodation: Suoi Thau homestays

Trekking Activity Description

Upon arriving by bus to Ban Luoc take life at a leisurely pace with a hike along the tops of rice paddies, following farming routes to Suoi Thau village. Do not miss the chance to enjoy the demonstration by locals of how they forge knives, and cast tools along the way to Ban Luoc.

Day 2

FRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER (B/L/D)

Day 2, Option 1: Off-road cycling (Approx. 25km or 30km, estimated 1000m of Elevation Gain)

08:00	· Ride from Suoi Thau CBT village to Ban Luoc commune by mountain bike along sealed and unsealed road. (approx. 5 km)
10:00	· Bus transfer to Ban Luoc Pass. · Ride from Ban Luoc Pass to lookout spot for lunch under the marquee. · Continue on to Chien Thang and Tan Phong along sealed road and dirt trails. On this section, a shorter route is available (turning off early) giving riders a 25km option. The detour for this shorter option is shown in blue on the map below.
19:00	· Dinner at the homestay.
Overnight accommodation: Ho Thau homestays.

Note: A picnic lunch and water station will be provided on the trail.

Cycling Activity Description

Get on your bikes and head off from the homestay for a short, climbing ride back to the village of Ban Luoc. There you will load your bikes on the truck and get a bus transfer to the top of the Ban Luoc Pass where you will get some great views of the valleys either side.

After photos, you will again get back on your bike and enjoy a very fast downhill 8km ride on a concrete road towards the 2nd CBT project site of Tan Phong. Just before the village you will turn onto the dirt and do a short but sharp rocky climb before dropping down into the 15km Tan Phong Village singletrack Loop, heading west into the valley and enjoying hardpacked trails through farmland and bamboo plantations. After a few kilometers, those who are starting to fade can take a shortcut and turn back east towards the last climb of the day along a sealed road to the homestays. Those with reserves in the legs can go deeper into the valley and enjoy the remoteness of waterfalls along some more great singletrack before coming back to the same last climb as the short loop riders.

Cycling Map and Elevation Profile

Day 2, Option 2: Trekking (Approx. 5km)

08:00

· Hike from Suoi Thau to Ban Luoc.

· Travel from Ban Luoc to Tan Phong by motor taxi.

· Optional: Demonstration of incense making at Tan Phong village

· Optional: Demonstration embroider of the Red Dao

· Optional: Demonstration of Cloth Weaving at nearby Ho San village.

19:00

· Dinner at homestay.

Overnight accommodation: Ho Thau homestays

Note: A picnic lunch and water station will be provided on the trail.

This itinerary includes a morning of trekking and experiencing local daily life of the region’s ethnic minority communities. In the afternoon, focus on demonstrations of handicraft making by local people

Trekking Activity Description

Get the blood pumping early as you climb 5km out of the valley back to the commune of Ban Luoc. Lunch will be served along the hiking ways. You will spend the whole afternoon experiencing the local daily life. Take the chance to watch demonstrations of incense making, Red Dao’s embroider and cloth weaving techniques.

Day 3

SATURDAY 8TH DECEMBER (B/L/D)

Day 3, Option 1: Off-road cycling (Approx. 25km, estimated 650m of Elevation Gain)

08:00	· Ride downhill from Tan Phong to Nam Son (approx. 8km) · Ride up climb from Nam Song to Nam Ai Pass along the concrete road to the lunch spot (approx. 7km).
After Lunch	· Mountain Bike from lunch spot to Kinh’s Homestay in Nam Hong (approx. 8.8km) · Optional: Demonstration of traditional paper making
19:00	· Dinner at homestay.
Overnight accommodation at Nam Hong homestay.

Note: A water station will be provided at Nam Ai Pass.

Cycling Activity Description

Leaving the Tan Phong homestay on your bike you follow the line of the river along a new concrete road to the Nam Son Bridge. You will enjoy 8km of nearly all downhill riding with only a few sharp but short pinches along the way. As you drop down the final 200m to Nam Son you get a great view of the river before you ride (or walk your bike) across the suspension bridge.

It’s then time to get into a rhythm for a 7km climb out of Nam Son along sealed road to a little shop at the top of the pass and a picnic lunch.

After lunch it’s back on the bikes for the last stage of the day, along the edge of the valley to Kinh’s Homestay (the final destination for the day) on some awesome singletrack. In the afternoon, participants can join to watch local people making traditional paper.

Cycling Map and Elevation Profile

Day 3, Option 2: Trekking (Approx. 10km route)

08:00

· Travel by moto taxi to Nam Ai along local roads

· Hike from Nam Ai to Nam Hong

· Optional: Demonstration of traditional paper making

19:00

· Dinner at homestay.

Overnight accommodation at Nam Hong homestay.

Note: A water station will be provided at Nam Ai Pass.

Trekking Activity Description

Travel by moto taxi from Tan Phong – Seo Phin – Le Hong Phong – Nam Ai, and then start the great 10km hike to Kinh’s Homestay at Nam Hong where you can enjoy a well-earned beer. Do not forget to join the group to watch local people making traditional paper in the late afternoon.

Day 4

SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER (B/L/-)

Day 4, Option 1: Off-road cycling (Approx. 22km, estimated 500m of Elevation Gain)

07:00	Ride from Kinh’s Homestay (Nam Hong) to Phin Ho tea village along sealed road and dirt trails (approx. 8km) Visit Phin Ho Tea Factory and test the Shan Tuyet tea here
	Ride from Phin Ho tea village to Thong Nguyen along a mix of concrete roads and dirt trails (approx. 14km).
10:30	Lunch and Event Close at Thong Nguyen
12:00	Bus departs Thong Nguyen for Hanoi
18:00	Arrive in Hanoi

Note: A water station will be provided at Phin Ho Tea Village.

Cycling Activity Description

Today’s ride starts with a 6.5km climb along sealed roads and singletrack before you get to enjoy 1.5k of sweet undulating trails that drop you down into the picturesque village of Phin Ho, famous for growing tea. Here you will get a chance to top up your water bottles and grab a banana for the final sprint home. In this tour, you will have chance to visit Phin Ho Tea Factory and test Shan Tuyet tea, the specialty of Ha Giang here.

Leaving the serenity of the Tea Village you push your legs for a short climb out of the valley along a sealed road, and then after another 400m turn left off the main road back onto dirt single track. This is where all the efforts of the day’s earlier climbing pay off, as you get to enjoy a nearly entire descending 4.7km trail (and maybe new concrete road) back to the main sealed road. On the way down you can enjoy a cooling off at one of the biggest waterfalls on the tour route, and stop to take in the great view down the valley. Once back on the sealed road it’s a fast-downhill descent to the bottom of the valley floor and an easy flat ride following the river to Thong Nguyen where you will meet up with the trekking group for the Awards Ceremony and lunch before we head by bus back to Hanoi.

Cycling Map and Elevation Profile

3D map of Kinh’s Homestay to Thong Nguyen:

https://www.relive.cc/view/949952667

Day 4, Option 2: Trekking (Approx. 4km route)

07:30	Hike from Nam Hong to Thong Nguyen · Visit Phin Ho Tea Factory and test the Shan Tuyet tea here
10:30	Lunch and Event Close at Thong Nguyen
12:00	Bus departs Thong Nguyen for Hanoi
18:00	Arrive in Hanoi

Note: A water station will be provided at Phin Ho Tea Village.

Trekking Activity Description

Today’s hike takes you from Kinh’s Homestay at Nam Hong downhill to Thong Nguyen. An optional choice is to visit Phin Ho Tea Factory and test Sahn Tuyet Tea, the specialty of Ha Giang. Lunch will be served in Thong Nguyen where you will meet up with the cycling group. After lunch, we head by bus back to Hanoi.

Print your schedule

Note
We recommend to bring good walking shoes, raincoat, jacket, insect repellent, long sleeved clothes, hat or umbrella, sunscreen and sunglasses.

Included

Tours and transfers as mentioned in the itinerary (air conditioned vehicle)
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
2 water bottles/day/pax. For environmental protection the empty bottle needs to be returned for recycling.
English speaking guide; local guide
Entrance fees for all visits and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
Community fund: 10% of your homestay fee will contribute to the community development fund.