- English speaking guide
- 420 km
- Accommodation included
- All meals included
SUMMARY
On this tour, we explore one of the most fascinating motorcycle loops one can imagine -the Northern Ha Giang Loop. There is nothing ‘standard’ when venturing out on these roads, and there is no ‘standard’ of putting the roads together or what sights to explore more in-depth. It all comes down to what one wishes to put priority on interests, seasons, and driving skills. On this tour, there is the possibility to include some shorter ½ trekking if that is of interest; on this tour, there is the possibility to include some shorter ½ trekking if that is of interest. For those interested in photography, this tour progresses at a space where there is more time for these opportunities both during the day of driving and when arriving for the afternoon final stop.
The tour will make sure to cover the common highlights of the loop, such as Heaven’s Gate, the Highland of Stone, and the Fairy Hills. Dong Van, the Ma Li Peng mountain pass, and the backroads of the spectacular inner Ha Giang mountains. The tour would also give the opportunity to cherry-pick exploration of further sights without stress, such as visits to the Lung Khuy Cave and Lung Tam female weaving cooperative possibility to self-drive or to ride a pillion (behind a guide/driver). If self-driving, we recommend sound prior motorcycling experience. Accommodation will normally be a mix of ethnic minority homestay and hotel (choice of doing all nights in homestay)
ITINERARY
The tour may be done clockwise or anti-clockwise around the loop and will depend on driving skills, seasons, and market days. For the tour to include Dong Van or Meo Vac in the weekly Sunday market, it needs to start on a Friday morning.
DAY 1: Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Du Gia, approx. | 120 km drive
After some breakfast, we will go out on the Road of Happiness and start driving north out of Ha Giang City. We climb up the Quan Ba mountain pass, enter the Dong Van Geopark, reach the Heaven’s Gate, and pass the Fairy Hills. In or around the small town of Tam Son, we’ll have our lunch. Thereafter, we’ll venture deep into Ha Giang mountains and reach the picturesque village of Du Gia. Here, we will stay with an ethnic minority family at their homestay. We will have dinner and breakfast with the family. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 2: Du Gia – Meo Vac – (Ma Pi Leng) – Dong Van approx. 110 km drive
We say thanks to the family of the homestay and head north, passing some of the most magnificent mountain passes you will ever have seen, pass the town of Meo Vac (where we take lunch), and move slowly up the majestic Ma Pi Leng mountain pass before reaching Dong Van, the most northern town in Vietnam. If one is up to it, we can climb up to the ruins of the French fort and get a stunning view of the town and its surroundings. Exploring the Old Quarter off Dong Van might be something others may enjoy after a long day on the bike. Stay in a hotel or homestay as agreed for the tour. Maybe a Hot Pot for dinner?! (The day includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.)
DAY 3: Dong Van – Lung Cu – Sa Phin – Yen Minh – Nam Dam, approx 150 km drive
If we wake up on a Sunday in Dong Van, the big weekly local market meets you before or after breakfast. More ethnic minority groups than you can count travel on Saturday or are extremely colorful, and people from near and far do their weekly shopping and gossiping. Thereafter, we go to the North Pele. Anyway, that is what the most northern point of Vietnam is jokingly called – Lung Cu. We can climb the Lung Cu Flagpole and view China from the top, then we turn south, and when we reach Sa Phin, we visit the one-hundred-year-old palace of Vuong Chinh Duc – the King of H’mong people.
We go down the Highland of Stone and reach Yen Minh, where we take lunch and then climb a mountain pass covered in pine forest and sweeping rice terraces along our drive. We will go down to the Song La River valley until the road takes us towards the village of Nam Dam, where we check in with a lovely Dao ethnic minority family in their home and enjoy dinner and breakfast with them. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 4: Nam Dam – Luong Khuy – Tam Son – Ha Giang, approx 70 km drive
We enjoy village life after breakfast, walk around the village, and maybe go up to the local waterfall. Then, we will explore the Lung Khuy cave. We take lunch in Tam Son, after which we will explore a stunningly beautiful side-loop that connects us back to the Road of Happiness and back to Ha Giang City, where the tour ends. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch)
Disclaimer: While the above itinerary outlines the broad and most likely inclusions. At Winds House , we are not firm believers in absolute programs. There are many reasons why things might have to be modified to situations and facts that may be both within our control and beyond when we embark on a tour.
PRICE INCLUDES (ALL-INCLUSIVE TOUR)
- English Speaking Tour guide
- All meals, as indicated in the itinerary (local Vietnamese food)
- Drinking water, water or soft drinks during lunch, coffee and a smoothie where they can be found
- Accommodation (mix of ethnic minority homestay and hotel (shared by two – single room for extra fee possible)
- Quality genuine Japanese Motorcycles
- Full cover bike damage insurance
- All fuel cost
- All entrance tickets & permits
- Full or half-helmet, protective knee and elbow gear, basic rain clothes
- Bungee cords & plastic cover for your bags
- Free storage of excess luggage
- Free dorm bed, when arriving on a night bus, at Winds House (03.00-08.00)
