Adventure Big North Loop / 12 Days

Day 13: Arrive in Hanoi at around 6:00 AM.

If you live for the adventure and want to see places of Northern Vietnam’s countryside rarely seen by others, this is a trip tailor-made precisely for you. This trip will take you far beyond the standard tourist attractions and introduce you to places of unrivaled, wild beauty. The Northeast and Central North of Vietnam are known for their awe-inspiring mountain ranges and panoramic views and we will show you all of it. Weekly local markets offer a unique chance to interact with the cultures of the many colorfully dressed ethnic peoples and their different traditions. This adventure will take you through rugged dirt roads (more or less off-road depending on your preference), over epic mountain ranges, through spanning rivers and stunning valleys that will keep you in awe all the way. This is the adventure of a lifetime, one you will remember forever and will want to come back to again and again. Don’t hesitate. Book your grand adventure with us. Feel free to message us for full details and special arrangements. We are flexible.

DAY 1: BAC SON 160km

After leaving the big city behind on our side mirrors, we begin our adventure by visiting the Green Village, a famous community eco-tourism area in Bac Giang that attracts many visitors with its beautiful and clean nature. This village was originally the residence of the Cao Lan ethnic group. The locals here live by husbandry (raising cattle) and farming, especially growing yellow and green teas. We will ride through lush bamboo forests and marvel at the rolling tea hills that fill the horizon. From here, we make our way North to the Dong Lam Meadows, a stunning valley surrounded by lush green hills, a sprawling lake, and teaming with wild horses. It is an oasis for nature lovers and a popular camping site. Continuing North through villages and dirt roads, we will reach the beautiful Tien Nu Waterfall, where we will cool off and relax before heading to our base in Bac Son. At the homestay, we will be given a warm welcome by the local host and treated to freshly-harvested food, drinks, and a wonderful musical performance by traditional Vietnamese tribe members.

DAY 2: TRA LINH 190km

Our day begins with coffee and breakfast courtesy of our host homestay. Fueled up and ready to go, we head to a famous hidden cave, a 200 million year-old formation that played a critical role during the Vietnam War. We will do a bit of venturing inside before continuing our journey. From here on, we have a full day of riding as we take to the back roads along breathtaking scenery. We will ride through villages, and along rivers until we reach (THAT KHE), where we will stop for lunch and power up for what comes next. After lunch, we once again take to the backroads, this time along the rolling hills near China’s border. After a long day of riding, a well deserved dip. Our homestay for the night sits in front of a gorgeous lake for your swimming pleasure. It’s the perfect place to grab a cold beer, have a dip, and relax. Plenty of local delicious food and spirits await for our enjoyment. This will be a fun night.

DAY 3: To CAO BANG 140km

Eat well at breakfast, because today is gonna be a FULL DAY. We start by visiting (ANGEL EYE ), a stunning valley overlooking the mountain. Here there will be plenty of photo ops and riding around fun for the more dirt-oriented folks. From here we head to BAN GIOC WATERFALL, ranked amongst some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the World. It is located right at the border with China, and depending on where you stand, you can be in Vietnam or China at any given moment. Truly a sight to behold and enjoy its clear, cool waters. We will take this opportunity to have lunch nearby. After this restful stop, we hop back onto the backroads and once again ride a different section along China’s border and back on the road until reaching the famous PHUC SEN BLACKSMITH VILLAGE, where most of its inhabitants dedicate themselves to knife-making. We will stop at this village to observe a demonstration of knives being made the traditional way. After a full day, we arrive in CAO BANG where there will be a comfy hotel with food and beverages awaiting our arrival.

DAY 4: To BA BE LAKE 150km

Today will be a more relaxed affair, but no less memorable. After a hearty breakfast, we set off to BAC KAN province. We will ride over the absolutely stunning scenery that is the LUNG VIEN mountain range, an unforgettable off-road experience as we climb to towering heights that offer epic views of the surrounding mountain range and valleys below. We will continue riding on and off-road and enjoying the views until we arrive at CHO RA where we will grab some delicious local grub. After lunch, we will ride on-road to our homestay in BA BE, leave our bikes and luggage, and embark on a boat for a scenic trip through the lake, culminating inside of a huge lake-side cave. Another great photo op and swimming to your delight. After a relaxing afternoon at the lake, time for a delicious feast and happy water. (and maybe a musical performance)

DAY 5: To BAO LAC 160km

After a hearty breakfast prepared by the host, we will depart for Bao Lac. We will take a small road that runs along the Pac Nam River through rice and corn fields which leads to LUNG PAN, an enchanting bamboo forest unlike anything you’ve ever seen. While here, we will visit a nearby local’s home for a short break and an explanation of the farming method that allows the local farmers to grow and harvest this precious resource to be used as raw material for various handcrafts. The next highlight of this day will be driving through a 15-loop zigzagging road akin to a coiling snake ready to strike, connecting the upper and lower valleys. Dinner will be a treat as we visit a famous local restaurant with careful preparation of traditional dishes cooked by the best chef in town. After dinner, we will head to our hotel for the evening.

DAY 6: To DONG VAN 130km

Today will surely be another memorable day as we ride through rugged dirt roads to reach the NHO QUE river where a bamboo raft will be waiting to take our motorcycles to the other side. At the peaceful small town of MEO VAC we will stop for lunch. The town’s population is split between HMONG and LOLO tribes, and their influence can be seen throughout. MEO VAC also marks the beginning of HANH PHUC ROAD (HAPPY ROAD), most famously known as the HA GIANG LOOP, where the road winds through jaw-dropping canyons and breathtaking mountain passes. The HA GIANG LOOP road is one of immense significance, one that took thousands of locals 8 years to build, and now is the sole lifeline for many of the northern region’s ethnic minority communities, connecting them with the modern world. As we traverse this wonderful landscape, we will come to MA PHI LENG pass, a looping stretch of road that offers a jaw-dropping view of the valley below. This is a popular place for photos. Following that, if time and weather allow, we will try Heaven’s Road, a harrowing mountain pass with spectacular views that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. At last, we will reach our lovely homestay in DONG VAN for a most deserved rest.

Day 7: To Du Gia 160km

We have a very interesting sight-seeing day today. We start by visiting LOLO ANCIENT VILLAGE, a cultural heritage site where traditional homes over 100 years old are commonplace. We will drink tea with the locals before continuing. From there we reach LUNG CU Flag Point, the Northernmost spot in Vietnam. We can see into China from the tower. The flag on the pole is the largest in Vietnam, with a total area of 54 square meters, symbolizing the 54 ethnic groups living together in Vietnam. Now we start our journey south towards the second half of the HA GIANG LOOP. But first, a stop in a historical site, VUONG PALACE, which was home to the King of the Hmong People for 80 years during the 19th and 20th centuries. Next stop on our itinerary is PHO BANG OLD TOWN, the former capital of Dong Van district. Living here are mainly Hmong and Chinese ethnic communities which still maintain centuries old traditions and lifestyles. Continuing South on the Loop, we arrive at Yen Minh city where lunch awaits. After a relatively chill morning, time to get dirty. We will tackle wonderful off – road tracks of various difficulties, but nothing too hard. Arriving at our homestay in TO DAY DU GIA Village.

DAY 8: To HA GIANG 150km

This morning we have the opportunity to get up early to catch the sunrise with a cup of hot coffee while breakfast will be prepared at the Homestay. About 1.5 km from our homestay, there is a very beautiful waterfall. There’s nothing like a cold dip in the morning to get us ready for the day ahead. First stop will be a hand-woven brocade linen factory in LUNG TAM village – the only hand-woven facility preserved by indigenous people and passed on to the younger generations to follow. After that, we will head to the beautiful QUAN BA village, where we will climb to uppermost peak to get a stunning panorama view of its surroundings. We will then head down to the village for lunch. The rest of the day we will be on the back road of QUAN BA to THAM LUONG, a road which offers a breathtaking view of BAC SAM Pass that very few tourists know about. Arriving at HA GIANG city later that afternoon, we’ll stop by the hotel to unload and shower before heading out to dinner.

DAY 9: To THONG NGUYEN 140km

This day we bid farewell to the HA GIANG LOOP as we make our way South to Thong Nguyen district. It will be a different experience as we ride the small, flat, winding road along the LO RIVER through various ethnic villages. Occasionally we will come across very old-style wooden stilt houses where curious locals will wave a friendly hello as we ride by. Next stop it’s a plywood factory: This wood is grown by local people and processed locally to bring high value. After that, time for lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will head Northwest where to witness the most spectacular rice terrace fields in all of Vietnam. Truly a sight to behold, these terraces are a world-renown Vietnamese landmark. A final highlight of this day will be our accommodations, a beautiful bungalow-style homestay featuring an infinity pool which offers panoramic views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

DAY 10: To BAC HA 140km

Each day will be more special than the day before – you can see that right after admiring the beauty of today’s journey. Don’t forget to fully charge the camera battery before setting off. After breakfast, we continue to follow the backroads; there are a few bumpy sections that are a bit difficult, but after crossing you will see a spell-binding valley of terraced fields appear right in front of your eyes. This is a great place to take photos and make new memories. We will stop for lunch at XI MAN. After our meal, we will spend the afternoon zig-zagging through breathtaking trails and over mountain passes alongside China’s border. At the end of our day we arrive at the lovely town of BAC HA where a comfortable hotel and tasty meal await.

DAY 11: To SA PA 180km

We will get an early start today and visit the famous BAC HA market in the morning. Sundays are special at the market because of the influx of mountain-dwelling tribes that come to the market for trade, bringing all of their unique products with them, from exotic fruits to a myriad of hand-crafted goods. After the market, we’re back on the saddle as we head deeper into the mountain into remote areas, through a beautiful mountain range covered in pine trees. MUONG KHUONG is where we will stop for lunch and enjoy some local delicacies. In the afternoon, we will commence our ascent towards the misty city, SA PA. As we ride on winding roads, you will notice the air getting cooler (so best to bring a light jacket), and if we’re lucky we will pass through a cloud or two on the way. At the end of this day, a cozy hotel awaits us. We will shower up and go out to dinner. We’ll explore the city in the morning.

DAY 12: To LAO CAI 80km

Our train back to Hanoi leaves at 8pm tonight, so we have all day to explore SA PA and its surroundings. Wear regular clothes: we’re going sight-seeing. First stop is PHAN XI PANG (FANSIPAN), the highest place not only in Vietnam but in all of Indochina, with an altitude of 3,143 meters (10,312 feet). We will take the SUN WORLD cable car from SA PA up to the absolutely stunning Buddhist temple on top of the mountain. From here you will get one of the most incredible views you will see in your life, as the altitude makes it possible to view the great surrounding mountain range for many miles in every direction on a clear day, with the clouds just seemingly within grasp. The temple will awe you with its traditional Chinese architecture, as will the many statues from Buddhist mythology. Have your camera ready! We will spend the morning in FANSIPAN, then head back SA PA for lunch. The cuisine in SA PA is some of the best in Vietnam. After lunch we will start our ride towards LAO CAI. Along the way we will come across TRAM TON PASS, another awe-inspiring lookout from which to make memories in the form of photos. Finally we come to LAO CAI. Another very interesting city, LAO CAI sits right at the border with China. We will have coffee and refreshments while looking across the Red River at the Chinese city of HEKOU ZHEN located on the opposite bank. Our Flamingo Team in LAO CAI will take care of arranging our bikes on the train that will bring us back to HANOI. In the meantime, we will clean up and have dinner while sharing our favorite parts of the journey. We are sure that this trip will leave an indelible mark on all of you, with an incredible story to bring back home and sights you will want to experience again and again! See you soon.

DAY 13: Arrive in HA NOI at around 6:00 Am

P.S: When booking the tour, please be sure to let us know if you’d like to spend 1 or 2 extra nights in SA PA so we can accommodate you.

We are also able to arrange HA LONG BAY TOURS from HANOI for you, another must-see destination.

Tour Includes

• 01 motorbike per person
• All petrol (gasoline)
• Rain gear, helmets
• Motorbike jacket
• Local English Speaking guide
• 2 nights in local stilt house, 9 nights in Hotels in twin share room, 1 night in the train.
• 11 Breakfast (B), 12 Lunches (L), 13 Dinners (D)
• Train tickets for personal and motorbike.
• Entrance fees.

Tour Excludes

• Visa to Vietnam
• Any other transportations are not mentioned in the itinerary
• Insurance
• Drinks
• Meals are not mentioned in the itinerary
• Tip for guide
• Other personal expenses

What to bring

• Passport
• Good sunglasses
• Good shoes for walking
• Other personal needs and some cash for drinks or souvenirs.

Prices are quoted in US Dollar/ per person in group of: