London - Hanoi

Flight from London to Hanoi

Hanoi

Arrival at Hanoi airport.  Transfer to hotel to rest before a guided walk through the old quarter before dinner.

Hanoi - Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Ban Muoi

Depart Hanoi early morning and transfer approx 3 - 4 hours to the start of the trail in Hoa Binh Priovince at Tan Lac. 

Scenic drive passing fields of tapioca and sugar cane, and dazzling rice paddies.

The trek begins just beyond Ban Xom Village, passing along a remote valley to Ngo Luong on a beautiful trail crisscrossed by local footpaths.

Trek steeply uphill to Muoi Village, perched high in the limestone hillside, affording fantastic views down into the nature reserve. 

Overnight homestay in Ban Muoi.

Ban Muoi - Ban Hin

Begin trekking through beautiful undisturbed forest, plunging steeply downhill into a wide lush valley cultivated by the local people.  Along the valley rice fields and vegetable farms are puctuated by idyllic-looking villages.  Overnight in homestay, Ban Hin.

Ban Hin - Ban Kho Muong

Set off early, along with many villagers, en-route to Pho Doan market.  Opportunity to explore the market and soak up the atmosphere before continuing the trek.

Climb gradually uphill to the hidden village of Kho Muong.

Visit historic cave home to rare bats!

Overnight in homestay, Kho Muong.

Kho - Muong - Ban Hang

Todays trekking will be half on village paths and half on a disused, unpaved French road - the original ho Chi Minh Trail.

After lunch in a local home the afernoon's trek is beautiful. There will be some tough sections today through narrow forest paths before reaching Ban Hang, a village nestled between steep karst mountains. Considered by many to be the most beautiful village setting in Vietnam, its also very traditional and well worth the overnight stay.

Ban Hang - Mas River - Hanoi

A leisurely breakfast before trekking via a narrow valley to the fabulous Ma River and the end of the trek.  We then take a short boat-ride upstream, passing a string of villages on the way, before lunch. 

Five hour transfer to Hanoi followed by a celebratory meal. Overnight in Hanoi.

Free Day in Hanoi

Hanoi is a fabulous city to simply wander in, stumbling across crumbling French colonial buildings standing side-by-side with ramshackle traditional houses, temples and modern buildings.

Re-group in the evening for a traditional water-puppet show.  Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi - London

Transfer to the airport for the overnight flight to London.

Arrive London