CYCLING IN NOTHERN VIETNAM - MAI CHAU TO PU LUONG BIKE TOUR

Day 1: Ha Noi  - arrival - Orientation Hanoi - no cycling – Welcome Dinner (D)

On your first day in Hanoi,  you will meet the Mr Biker team of guides, mechanics, and drivers who will support you throughout your exciting adventure to the mountainous area of Vietnam. At this point, you will also receive a bike fitting before meeting up for the tour briefing and the welcome dinner in the evening.

Airport transfer will be provided upon request.

Day 2:  Ha Noi - Mai Chau

60-70km, 800-1000m elevation gain  (B,L,D)

After an early morning transfer out of the city and a hearty breakfast on the road, we begin the adventure by climbing through remote ethnic minority villages of the Muong people with their green rice fields and terraces.  Hosting both challenging cross-country paths and quiet paved mountain roads, we will be rewarded with fabulous views of misty green karst formations and the massive Hoa Binh  Reservoir.  After several climbs and fast downhills, we enter the magical valley of Mai Chau where steep mountains ring an expanse of electric green rice fields.  

Relax with a fabulous home cooked meal in a very comfortable, traditional homestay.

Day 3: Mai Chau - Pu Luong Nature Reserve 

60-70km, 1000-1200m elevation gain  (B,L,D)

Today's ride is one of our riding community’s most favourite in all of Vietnam with three challenging climbs with stunning vistas, super remote traditional villages and some of the most beautiful rice terraces in SE Asia.  Exploration begins as we pedal off to explore the rest of the beautiful rice fields and bamboo shaded country lanes of the Mai Chau valley. Then the first of three climbs begins as we leave the broad valley below and wind our way into tighter ones, beneath dramatically steep mountains. Following shaded paths beside mountain streams, we enter the Pu Luong Nature reserve and have a special traditional lunch overlooking the village’s rice terraces.  

Don’t eat too much because the monster climb is coming up!  Leaving the village on an x-country track, we enter a remote zone of unrivalled beauty and grades of well over 15%.  There is no shame in “stopping to take a photo!”  Quiet mountain roads provide a rip-roaring descent into another jaw-droppingly beautiful valley of rice terraces beneath towering jagged peaks.  

After a breather of 10 km cycling through green fields and ethnic minority villages, we make one last short steep climb to our homestay where we can chill with a beer in the cool waters of their natural spring before a fantastic BBQ dinner outdoors.

Day 4: Pu Luong - Ninh Binh 

60km, 500m elevation gain  (B, L and Farewell Dinner) 

Today begins with a screaming downhill through the village’s steep rice terraces.  Safely in the valley, we embark on a wonderfully scenic and remote x-country track for 15 Km.  Riverside bamboo forests shade us as we roll on completely alone in nature.  Fortress-like karst formations of Ninh Binh soon appear on the horizon and fascinating traditional villages beckon to admire their ingenious bamboo water wheel irrigation systems.

After an hour of van transfer and a traditional lunch, we ride a collection of quiet country paths and canal roads towards the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ninh Binh.  Amazing views of these limestone towers keep improving, the closer we get!  Arriving at our accommodation for the night just on the edge of this special complex will leave you wanting more!

Day 5: Ninh Binh - Ha Noi

25km, 0m elevation gain, boat tour (B, L)

And more you shall have!  Today after a hearty buffet breakfast, we casually ride through the stunning natural beauty and historic sites of Ninh Binh stopping often for stories and photos.  We trade in our bikes for boats, where we will be paddled by a local guide for a 3 hours tour through pitch black river caves, hidden lagoons and deeper into Vietnam’s history.

After lunch, we transfer to Ha Noi arriving before 6 pm. After checking, you have your own time to discover Hanoi  one of the most exciting capitals in Asia

Day 6: Ha Noi- Departure  [B]

Breakfast is provided, but you will have a chance to make new culinary, cultural discoveries on your own for Ha Noi the capital city or take a city tour with a local guide. If you need to extend your holiday (eg. to visit Ha Long Bay), we are happy to assist.

Airport transfer will be provided upon request.

EXCLUDED:

• Tips for the local team

• Travel insurance (suggest adventure activities such as cycling)

• International flights

• Vietnam Visa stamp fee

• Beverages & other personal expenses.

• Other items not mentioned above

• Arrival and departure airport transfers

BOOKING PAYMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• For a single-day trip, full payment upon confirmation.

• For multi-day trips: Deposit of 50% of total payment is made upon confirmation date /or 14 days before the starting date of the trip.

• The remainder of balance is due 07 days before the starting date of the trip for multi-day trips.

CANCELLATION POLICY 

• 20% of total invoiced payment is charged if the cancellation is made from 10 to 05 days before the scheduled date of departure for the booked itinerary.

• 45% of total invoiced payment is charged if the cancellation is made from 04 to 02 days before the scheduled date of departure for the booked itinerary.

• 75% of total invoiced payment is charged if the cancellation is made 01 day before the scheduled date of departure for the booked itinerary.

• 100% of total invoiced payment is charged if the cancellation is made on DAY 01 or in case of NO SHOW.

• Domestic flight tickets are non-refundable. 

Things to think about:

Even though we provide modern bikes and safety gear, we understand that sometimes customers wish to have their own personal items. We would suggest customers bring their own helmet and cycling gloves for comfort and our mechanics can even fit customer’s own seats and pedals.  All bikes will be labelled with customers’ names so that they have the same bike each day.

Transportation arrangements:

Where-ever possible we will cycle from point A to point B meaning the guests have as much experience as possible exploring on their bicycles. At certain points, we will use our comfortable and modern 16-seater minivan to transport guests safely to start and endpoints. These vehicles are equipped with air conditioning.

If a customer wishes to not continue after lunch, they can be safely transported inside the minivan. The vehicles are present along the way for emergency purposes and can be used as necessary.

Food and Dietary Requirements:

At Mr Biker Saigon we believe in providing fresh and local food wherever possible. This means eating delicious locally sourced and home cooked food and giving the guests a real authentic experience. We can also cater towards allergies and dietary requirements such as vegetarian, vegan or other simple requests.

Food will always be local but with some minor changes to cater towards a Western pallet of tastes. We will also provide snacks along the way such as seasonal fruits and energy food.

Liability and Personal Health Insurance:

Mr Biker Saigon does not provide personal liability insurance to the guests on the trip. We suggest that each guest has the relevant Personal Health Insurance for travelling in Asia and that it covers activities such as cycling.

Customers using our services please carefully read this waiver form in the link below and noted that this form will be signed before your departure:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ewkPPVKtdO6PqIfKcrYmhWR0anEQYn_hYBMtuONu4tk/edit

In the mountains of Northern Vietnam, there is not extensive first aid support such as ambulances and modern medical practices. We provide a support vehicle for such instances.