Pu Luong Nature Reserve Village Trek (6 days / 5 nights)
Hanoi – Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Mai Chau - Thai and Muong Ethnic Groups
10% DISCOUNT off internet rate for travel between 01 May - 20 Sept 2010. (No other discounts apply.)
Highlights
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Pu Luong Nature Reserve trek
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Home stay with Thai & Muong ethnic minorities
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Mai Chau markets
Overview
This cultural adventure combines trekking with home stays in the North Vietnam province of Hoa Binh. From Hanoi, you drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve an area of outstanding beauty, cultural interest and high biodiversity. The region is blessed with rich forest, limestone panoramas and rice terraces. On this trek observe the everyday life and culture of the farming communities of Thai and Muong ethnic minorities. For an authentic Vietnamese experience, you stay with local families in their traditional stilt wood homes. Your trek ends in Mai Chau, a peaceful valley with pancake flat rice fields trimmed with jagged mountains. Here you can wander the morning markets in search of locally woven scarves, bags, tablecloths and clothes. Your expedition finishes in Hanoi.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 |
Hanoi to Mai Chau to Hang Village |
Day 2 |
Trek to Kho Muong Village |
Day 3 |
Trek to Cao Hoong Village |
Day 4 |
Trek to Cao Village |
Day 5 |
Trek to Canh Nang town, transfer to Mai Chau Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay |
Day 6 |
Mai Chau to Hanoi |
Prices
Private tour |
$AUD price per person |
$AUD 10% DISCOUNT |
3 to 4 people
|
550 |
495 |
2 people |
680 |
612 |
| Single supplement | 1145 |
1030 |
Validity |
31 December 2010 |
01 May - 30 Sept 2010 |
Prices are in Australian dollars based upon the number of people travelling together. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. Credit Card payments incur an additional 3% surcharge. 10% discount subject to travel validity and no other discounts apply. See Booking Conditions for more details. Prices beyond the validity available on request. Call 1300 43 10 69 or email us for a booking form.
Includes:
- Return private transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Local English speaking guide for trekking
- Local guide/s, porter/s & cook for trekking
- Home stay permissions
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- One bottle of water per day for trekking
- Entrance & sightseeing fees
- Donation for teaching materials to village school
Excludes:
- Airfares and departure taxes
- Travel insurance
- Visa, passport and vaccination costs
- Other meals not specified in itinerary
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities
Trip grade
MODERATE: If you are seeking fun and adventure and you like active travel, this is for you. A mixture of long and shorter activity days of four to five hours duration. A good level of fitness is required.
Trip notes
Home stays
There is no better way to immerse in local culture than experiencing a village home stay. Not only is this a wonderful cultural exchange, it offers the visitor great respect for how people live without all the comforts and appliances of the West. By staying with a family we ensure that the economic benefits of our travel filter down to the villages and families that most need it. Home stays in villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You sleep in a dormitory style room and are provided with a mattress, clean sheet and pillow. Amenities are shared with the host family. Toilets are usually western-style, but expect some squat toilets in more remote areas; hot water is not available for showers.
Food
A local cook accompanies your trekking tour. All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price. When you are trekking, the emphasis is on healthy and nutritious fresh local produce, for example; Vietnamese spring rolls, eggs, chicken, pork, rice and noodles. Please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.
Local guides
English speaking guides support your sightseeing and trekking activities. These guides love their job and are on hand to ensure you have a great trip. They have extensive experience in guiding outdoor tours in Vietnam and have internationally recognized first aid qualifications.
Porters + cook
Local porter/s and a cook accompany you when trekking Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
The trekking day
A typical trekking day starts at around 8.30am. We aim to reach the next overnight stop between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. During the trek you have short breaks for rests, snacks and there’s plenty of opportunity for photographs.
What to bring
Pack lightly for the trek, no more than 10kg. We recommend using a small sports bag for your overnight luggage. Use your day pack and travel wallet to carry your personal items and important documents. We recommend using a sturdy day pack with good back support and a waterproof cover.
Your luggage should include: trekking boots or walking shoes, thongs or comfortable slip-on shoes for night time, light weight shorts & long pants, shirt & t-shirt, warm clothes for at night, raincoat, hat, sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent, toiletries, flashlight, water bottle, small towel, camera & spare batteries/charger, pen & paper, original passport, small amount of money for shopping in markets, toilet paper, zip lock bags, barley sugar or lollies for sustenance and personal medication. (Optional: light weight sleeping bag.)
Equipment provided
Silk inner sheet, first-aid kit, walking pole and gaiters (on request).
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village or for any other factor that may impact client safety.
Your group + share accommodation
Prices are based upon twin share accommodation. A single traveller pays the single supplement price for sole use of a room. If you are travelling in a group of three and are happy to share a triple room and a triple room is available, you will not be charged the single supplement price. For groups of five or seven people, the single traveller pays the single supplement price if a triple room is not available or you do not want to share. The number of single rooms and triple rooms available may be limited – so book early to avoid disappointment.
Tipping guidelines
It is customary to express a personal thank you to your guide and driver at the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with excellent service. As a guideline only, we suggest tipping around AUD$4-$5 per day for the guide and AUD$2-$3 per day for the driver. You can pay this in local currency or US dollars. Of course whether you tip and how much is always at your discretion.
Vietnam visa
Most visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Inner Journey Expeditions offers a Vietnam visa on arrival service where you obtain an entry visa stamp on arrival at HCMC, Hanoi or Danang International Airports. We arrange a Vietnam visa authority letter which you present with a valid passport, passport photo and your visa stamp fee to the Visa Landing Counter. This service is inexpensive, easy to arrange, only takes four working days and is all done on email - no need to mail your passport.
For more details, CLICK HERE.
Climate
Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the South are hot all year round with average day time temperatures at 30 degrees Celsius. The hottest period is from March to May with average temperatures of 35 degree Celsius. The wet season runs from May to November where it down pours for an hour or so in the afternoon. Hanoi and Northern Vietnam experience four seasons. Summer from May to October can be hot and wet with regular downpours and occasional typhoons. July to August is the hottest months with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius. Winter runs from November to April with cold and humid conditions. December and January can be particularly cold with temperatures ranging between 10 – 20 degrees Celsius.
Health issues
Good medical advice usually recommends vaccinations in advance of travel to Vietnam. We suggest you consult with your doctor to discuss health care needs specific to your holiday.
Insurance
You must have comprehensive travel insurance to travel with us. Insurance should include cover for personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Your trip notes + vouchers will not be issued until you confirm possession of appropriate insurance. Better be safe than sorry!
Pre + post tour arrangements
We can arrange additional hotel nights at the beginning or the end of your tour or if you are interested in doing additional touring we can organise a private tour to cater to your interests and time frame. Check out the IJE website for more details.
Handy travel tips + travelling responsibly
For more information on how you can participate in sustainable tourism go to Handy Travel Tips. For assistance in planning your trip go to Vietnam Visa + Travel Guide.
What next
To reserve a place on this trip, contact us now and we will send you a booking form. To guarantee your booking you must email the first section of the booking form to us and pay your non-refundable deposit of 30% of total tour cost. The balance of payment is due 50 days prior to departure. Once your booking is confirmed and you have paid in full, you will receive your tour voucher and detailed itinerary for this tour.Book now
> CLICK HERE + request a booking form
> Get in touch with us via EMAIL
> Live in Australia call 1300 43 10 69
> Find out more about our other trips at www.IJE.com.au
> About Inner Journey Expeditions
