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Highlights
Embark on a two-wheel journey from Mai Chau to Pu Luong with a guided group
Immerse yourself in cultural experiences with local hill tribes
Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Mai Chau Valley
Visit the beautiful Ninh Binh's Rivers Basin for some stunning views
Embark on a jungle adventure in the Pu Luong Nature Reserve
This intermediate-level tour is short but sweet, showing off some of the most beautiful nature Northern Vietnam has to offer in just 4 days. You’ll start in the Mai Chau Valley, which is awe-inspiringly beautiful with its rust-coloured dirt roads and its electric green rice paddies.
You’ll continue to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, an exotic locale that will deliver a true jungle adventure. Then you’ll go to the snaking rivers of Ninh Binh, a natural wonder that is many Vietnamese people’s favourite place in the country.
This tour offers an exciting cycling experience due to its highly varied terrain, but it’s also a unique cultural journey; the minority hill tribes of the area and their lifestyle are unlike anything else in Vietnam. The combination of the two is perfect for those who are serious about cycling and won’t shy away from a challenge but also want to spend some of their excursion taking it easy while enjoying the local atmosphere.
This intermediate-level tour is short but sweet, showing off some of the most beautiful nature Northern Vietnam has to offer in just 4 days. You’ll start in the Mai Chau Valley, which is awe-inspiringly beautiful with its rust-coloured dirt roads and its electric green rice paddies.
You’ll continue to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, an exotic locale that will deliver a true jungle adventure. Then you’ll go to the snaking rivers of Ninh Binh, a natural wonder that is many Vietnamese people’s favourite place in the country.
This tour offers an exciting cycling experience due to its highly varied terrain, but it’s also a unique cultural journey; the minority hill tribes of the area and their lifestyle are unlike anything else in Vietnam. The combination of the two is perfect for those who are serious about cycling and won’t shy away from a challenge but also want to spend some of their excursion taking it easy while enjoying the local atmosphere.
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Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Hanoi to Mai Chau
In the morning, a van will transfer riders outside of town where they will be treated to a hearty breakfast and a bike fitting. You then begin our adventure by climbing through the remote ethnic minority villages of the Muong people, all the while weaving through terraced rice paddies. Hosting both challenging cross-country paths and quiet paved mountain roads, you will be rewarded with fabulous views of misty green karst formations and the massive Hoa Binh Reservoir. After several climbs and fast downhills, you 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.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Mai Chau
Distance: 60-70km, 800-1000m ascent
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2 Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Today’s ride features two challenging climbs that pass by stunning vistas, remote traditional villages and some of the most beautiful rice terraces in Southeast Asia.
The first climb is a long uphill that will take you out of Mai Chau Valley and onto an elevated plateau in the mountainous part of the region. Following shaded paths beside crystal clear streams, you’ll then enter the Pu Luong Nature reserve and have a traditional lunch overlooking the village’s rice terraces.
After a breather of 10 kms cycling on flat terrain through green fields and ethnic minority villages, you will make another short but steep climb to our Pu Luong homestay, where you can chill with a beer in the cool waters of their natural spring before a fantastic BBQ dinner outdoors.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Thanh Hoa Vietnam
Distance: 60-70km, 1000-1200m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Pu Luong to Ninh Binh
Today begins with a bang: a screaming downhill through the village’s steep rice terraces. Safely in the valley, you embark on a wonderfully scenic and remote x-country track for 15 Km. Riverside bamboo forests shade you as you roll on, completely alone in nature.
You’ll then take an hour-long van transfer before cycling towards Ninh Binh, a UNESCO world heritage site. You’ll pass by limestone formations on the way. You’ll finally reach the Ninh Binh homestay in the evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ninh Binh
Distance: 60km, 500m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4 Ninh Binh to Ha Noi
After a hearty buffet breakfast, you take a leisurely ride through the stunning natural beauty and historic sites of Ninh Binh, stopping often for stories and photos. You trade in our bikes for boats and will be paddled by a local guide for a 3 hours tour through pitch black river caves and hidden lagoons while learning more about Vietnam’s history.
After lunch, you transfer to Ha Noi and arrive in the capital before 6pm. Check-in at your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and dress up for our farewell dinner!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ha Noi
Distance: 25km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5 Hanoi Departure
Breakfast is provided, but you will have a chance to make new culinary and cultural discoveries on your own in Ha Noi. You may also choose to 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.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour Price and Dates
This tour can be run as a custom tour, please enquire for custom pricing. Extras- Single Supplement USD185
- E-bike Surcharge: USD60
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Accommodation on Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour
This tour is based in 3-star hotels or homestays. The hotels on this tour provide all the common modern necessities to make your trip more comfortable. Homestays provides a stay with a local family in their home.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners are included. Water, snacks, soft drinks, fresh fruit on biking days are also included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 4 nights are included. You can book additional nights before and after the tour for an extra charge.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes the services of an air-conditioned van for transfers and support, as well as support vehicle to carry gear, luggage, first aid.
Also Included
- Services of cycling guides and mechanics (number depends on group size)
- Entrance fees, boat trips
- All biking gear (High quality mountain bike, helmet, tool kit, water cage)
- Free flow cold beer at the end of the tour
Not included
- Airport transfer
- Visa
- International airfares
- Hotel early check-in / late check-out
- Overweight luggage
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Tipping
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Upgrade to E-bike (instead of MTB)
- Single room surcharge
- How hard is the Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam?
- Are meals included on the Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Hanoi to start this tour?
- Is the Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour in English?
- Where does the Mai Chau to Pu Luong Biking Tour end?
- Can I rent a bike?
- Can I bring my own bike?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Vietnam?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Vietnam?
We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. You will be cycling up to 70 km daily on dirt roads and rugged terrain. However, it’s possible to cut daily rides short.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners are included. Water, snacks, soft drinks, fresh fruit on biking days are also included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover biking. Get your travel insurance.
Fly into Hanoi Airport (HAN).
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends where it starts, in Hanoi.
Bike rental (high quality mountain bike) is already included in the tour package. You can upgrade to e-bike for an extra charge.
Yes. You can also bring over your seat and pedals that can be fitted to the bikes provided.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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