Trekking the Limestone Mountains and Handicraft Villages of Cao Bang
Trekking the Limestone Mountains and Handicraft Villages of Cao Bang
Code: VRT_003_4d
Hanoi – Cao Bang – Hanoi, Viet Nam
Located in the remoted area of Northern Vietnam, Cao Bang attracts tourists by its rustic beauty of multicolourful minority groups and breathtaking landscapes. The mystical charm is made up from limestone mountains, rice terraces, wild rivers, waterfalls and caves. All of these make Cao Bang a perfect destination for tourists who seek an authentic and adventurous travel experience.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- Limestone mountains interspersed with vast fields, creating unique sceneries of Cao Bang.
- Trekking routes across huge limestone mountains, villages, meadows.
- Canoe on beautifully jade-blue Quay Son River.
- Experience indigenous people’s life by making crafts in craft villages: making incenses, weaving basket,etc.
Trip Itinerary
06:00 | car transfer Hanoi – Cao Bằng – Trưng Vương Lunch on way to Cao Bằng |
13:30 | hiking Trưng Vương – Phia Thắp (3 hours, about 6km) / possible car pick up on the way if needed |
19:00 | dinner / homestay at Phia Thắp village |
- Leave Hanoi from early morning.
- After a long journey by bus to Cao Bang, start hiking uphill in the steep idyllic valley of Trung Vuong.
- We will pass through limestone mountains, rice terraces and maize fields to reach Phia Thắp village which is surrounded by limestone pinnacles creating a spectacular scenery.
Spend your first night at homestay in Phia Thap. You can join homestay owners for preparing dinner or enjoying beautiful sunset from homestay’s balconies.
- Enjoy a delicious home-made breakfast which will be prepared by homestay hosts.
- Early morning you will climb to the top of a limestone mountain behind the village from which you can enjoy the stunning view over Phia Thắp village and its surrounding mountains.
- After that, start trekking to Lan Duoi village, weaving of baskets village, where you will not only see baskets being made, but also have a go at making one yourself.
- Say goodbye to Lan Duoi village and continue trekking to Lung Ri where we will enjoy a delicious meal cooked by a local family. The trekking path acrosses a meadow that offers irresistible views over maize fields and a fairy-tale landscape of limestone pinnacles covered in lush vegetation.
- After lunch, you will have the chance to experience the tile making process before trekking to Pác Rằng village which is specialised in the crafting of blacksmith products.
- Watch a blacksmith at work before being picked up by car back to Phia Thắp village.
- After a home-made breakfast, watch incense making demostration at Phia Thắp village. Test your craftmanship skills and try making your own incense sticks.
- After that, you will drive to Quây Sơn river for canoeing. Gliding through the jade-blue waters of the river along a spectacular scenery of limestone mountains and green rice terraces will be an awe-inspiring and relaxing activity.
- Lunch will be served in a homestay at Lung Niec village.
- After that, climb up a mountain next to the village that offers a spectacular view over Ban Gioc waterfall and the nearby pagoda. On the way to the peak we will visit a limestone cave. Admire breath-taking scenery from the peak, we then hike downhill to the waterfall where you have time to enjoy one of most beautiful natural attractions of Vietnam before.
- In the late afternoon, head back to the homestay for dinner.
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by homestay owners, then start your last day in Cao Bang by visiting Nguom Ngao cave, admire delicate formations of stalactites.
- After that amazing trip, you will be picked up by car and go to Cao Bang city. After having lunch there, come back to Hanoi. You will reach Hanoi around 8pm.
TOUR PRICE | |||
Group of 2-3 pax | Group of 4-6 pax | Group of 7-10 pax | |
Price per person (US$) | 469 | 291 | 231 |
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.
Not Included
-
- Beverages and personal expenditures;
- Local cultural performance/show and activities not mentioned in the itinerary;
- Other transfers not mentioned in the program;
- Other meals not mentioned in the program;
- Other services not clearly mentioned in the program;
- Travel insurance;
- Banking fees;
- Tips for guides and driver.
General terms and conditions
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.
Please see the General Terms and Conditions before booking a tour.
Note
We recommend to bring good walking shoes, raincoat, jacket, insect repellent, long sleeved clothes, hat or umbrella, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Comments
Be Inspired
Travel Tips
Do's
Investing locally
Saving energy & water
Protecting wildlife
Protecting culture
Don'ts
Animal cruelty
Exploitation
Mass tourism
Code of behaviour
- Travel with respect and genuine desire to learn about the local people and culture, encourage villagers pride to maintain their traditions.
- Respect holy, cultural, archeological places; do not remove any artifacts, do not touch or move religious objects
- Ask for permission before you take pictures or make video tape in the village.
- Avoid activities that are not fit for ecotourism such as singing karaoke, playing gambling, playing loud music...
- You could buy local products to help improve the lives of local people.
- Avoid giving gift directly to children which may encourages begging.