Itineraries >>
Kayak in Vietnam 12 days
Ha Noi
- Babe lake -
Ha Long bay -
Cat Ba Island
Explore the magical islands, caves
and grottos of Halong Bay by kayak, stopping to swim on isolated
beaches, sleeping and dining on a traditional red-sailed junk.
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi
In Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, our guide will welcome you
with flowers Check in at the hotel. Evening, welcome dinner at
Le Tonkin restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi (D)
Day 2: Hanoi
Morning tour of this charming city, including visits to Ho
Chi Minhs Mausoleum and House, the One Pillar Pagoda and the
Temple of Literature. Lunch at Hoa Sua vocational training
school.
Afternoon, visit the Fine Arts Museum, and then take
a cyclo tour through the old quarter. Balance of the day free
until a water puppet show in the evening.
Overnight in Hanoi
(B, L)
Day 3: Hanoi - Babe Lake
(L,D )
Ba
Be National Park
Drive north about six hours (180 miles) to Ba Be National Park, situated
in Bac Kan province of northern Vietnam (picnic lunch en route). Ba Be,
a relic of natural lower mountain forests that once covered all the
mountain ranges from east to west north of the Red River delta, covers
an area of some 90 square miles, of which more than half is strictly
protected and the remaining is in a forest restoration zone. The park's
densely forested area is a refuge for unique flora and fauna (410 plant
species and 300 wildlife species), and surrounds the only natural lake
in Vietnam (it is actually three linked lakes). The area is home to Tay,
Hmong, Dao, and Nung ethnic groups, who have lived on the shore of the
lake and in the surrounding mountains for hundreds of years. We will
arrive in the early afternoon and cross the lake by boat (30 minutes) to
a Tay village where we stay in a wooden stilt house on the edge of the
lake.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Home stay
Day 4: Babe Lake Biking
(B,L,D )
Biking Dao hill tribe village
Roundtrip biking in the mountains road visiting to a remote Dao hill
tribe village that still retains age-old cultural traditions. (Well
carry a packed lunch.) Return to the Tay village for overnight. ( 6
hours biking ; 26 miles.)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - Home stay
Day 5: Babe Lake Kayaking
(B,L,D )
The many limestone mountains surrounding Ba Be have numerous caves and
under-streams, including the Nang River, which flows through the
100-foot-high, 1,000-foot-long Puong Cave all the way to Ba Be Lake.
Today we will paddle an inflatable kayak right through the cave on a
navigable 14-mile section of the river.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Over night in Ba Be National Park Lodge
Day 6: Babe Lake - Hanoi
(B,L )
Am: Return drive to Hanoi, with the afternoon free to explore the city
and its Old Quarter.
Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 7: Hanoi - Catba- Halong (B, L, D)
Morning drive to Ha
phong stopping en route at a craft village, then hydrofoil
boat to Catba, . Board our traditional red-sailed junk for a sumptuous
seafood lunch before sailing to Ba Men Temple, deep in the bay.
Disembark at its beautiful beach to receive instructions on
kayak safety procedures. Afternoon, paddle to a series of hidden
lagoons. Barbecue seafood dinner on the beach, followed by
moonlight kayaking.
Overnight on board
Day 8: Dau Be Three Peach Island (B, L,
D)
Morning, kayak around Dau Be Island, passing a hidden floating
fishing village on the way, then paddle around the limestone
crags emerging from the sea or stop for a swim at an isolated
beach before meeting the junk for lunch. Afternoon, kayak across
Lan Ha
channel to Three Peach Island, a
wonderful place for swimming, fishing and sunbathing. Dinner on
board.
Overnight on board.
Day 9: Three Peach Island (B, L, D)
After breakfast, kayak around the incredible karst peaks near
Three Peach Island before paddling out to one of the most
isolated areas in the huge bay of Halong. Lunch on board. Visit
the oyster farms and hidden coves around this corner of the bay.
Evening, dinner on the boat.
Overnight on beach
Day 10: Three Peach Cat Ba
(B, L, D)
Breakfast on board while the boat cruises to Cat Ba Island.
Check in at hotel and lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon,
drive across the islands forested interior stopping at fishing
and gardening villages. The balance of the day is free to
explore Cat Ba.
Overnight in Cat Ba
Day 11: Halong Bay Hanoi (B, L, D)
Morning, Free
time as leisure . Farewell lunch before back to Hanoi. Farewell dinner at Indochine
restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 12: Departure
Free morning until transfer to the
airport for departure flight.
End of services (B)
What’s
Included
-
English
speaking local guide
-
accommodations as boat and hotel
-
mother boat
and sea kayaking arrangements
-
meals as
noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
-
sightseeing
and activities as noted in the itinerary
-
ground
transportation
-
additional
guides where necessary
-
entrance fees
and permits
What’s
Not
International
airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; Vietnam visa;
insurance other than basic medical ; optional
tipping to local guides and local staff; excess baggage
charges; international airport taxes; cost of medical
immunizations; items of a personal nature (alcoholic
beverages, laundry, etc..)
|
Duration: |
12 days
|
|
Accommodation: |
5
nights at 3
stars hotel,1 night 2 stars hotel, 2night home stay and 3 nights on board |
|
Activity: |
Easy sea
kayaking |
|
Best
time to go |
October, November, December, March, April, May, June,
August. |
|
Price: |
|
Group Size |
2 |
4-
6 |
7-10 |
|
Price /person |
1,439USD |
1,180USD |
950USD |
Note:
Prices are based per person, double occupancy, with a separate
cost for solo travelers. If you are traveling in a group but
prefer single accommodations, a single supplement fee applies.
Triple accommodations are not available in many of the
destinations we visit. |