Trek Pu Luong Nature Reserve (7 days)
Hanoi – Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Mai Chau
Highlights
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Pu Luong Nature Reserve trek
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Homestay with Thai & Muong ethnic minorities
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Mai Chau markets
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Hanoi
Overview
This cultural adventure combines trekking with homestays 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 |
Arrive Hanoi and check in to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to explore Vietnam’s capital city. |
Day 2 |
Drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve via picturesque Mai Chau valley. Commence trek after lunch, stay with a Thai family in a traditional stilt house. |
Day 3 |
Trek through working rice fields, villages and jungle. Overnight with a Muong family. |
Day 4 |
Trek deeper into the Nature Reserve as we climb the Pu Luong Range passing small hamlets. Stay with a Thai family. |
Day 5 |
Walk out of the forest and continue through villages and rice fields. Spend the night in a Thai home. |
Day 6 |
Trek to Pho Doan town markets, passing Ma River and the water wheels, finish at the road head. Drive to Mai Chau. Overnight in a White Thai guesthouse. |
Day 7 |
Free morning to visit Mai Chau local markets or take a walk around the valley. After lunch drive back to Hanoi where your expedition ends. |
Prices
Price Per Person |
Twin Share |
3 to 4 people
|
$810 |
2 people |
$985 |
| Single supplement | $115 |
Validity |
31 March 2009 |
Prices are in Australian dollars based upon the number of people travelling together. Price reduces as your travel group size increases. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. Prices beyond 31/03/09 available on request. See Booking Conditions for more details. See Booking Conditions for more details. Call 1300 43 10 69 for information and bookings.
Includes:
- Hotel accommodation in Hanoi based on twin share.
If a single room is required a single supplement will apply. - Airport transfer upon arrival to Hanoi to your hotel
- 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
- One bottle of water per day for trekking
- Entrance & sightseeing fees
- Donation for teaching materials to village school
- Equipment as listed in 'Trip notes'
Meals:
- 6 Breakfasts
- 6 Lunches
- 5 Dinners
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 notes
Hotel & homestays
In Hanoi you stay in a centrally located and comfortable hotel with private facilities. Standard hotels have a three star rating. For an additional cost you can upgrade to a 4 or 5 star hotel. It is possible to leave some luggage in a secure storage room at the hotel while you are trekking in Mai Chau.
Homestays in villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You are provided with a mattress, pillow, sleeping bag and mosquito net. Accommodation and amenities may be shared with the host family. Toilets are usually western-style.
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
Sleeping bag, 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.
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 .
