Pu Luong nature reserve
Waterfall in Pu Luong
Pu Luong Eco Retreat
Rice terraces in Pu Luong
minority village in Pu Luong nature reserve
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Trang An boat trip
Cycling in Ninh Binh

Pu luong Nature Reserve & Ninh Binh 3 day escape

  • Views stunning rice fields, bamboo waterwheels and local minority villages
  • Explore the best nature in Vietnam by trekking and biking
  • Make a boat trip in Trang An and visit Hoa Lu ancient Capital in Ninh Binh
  • Stay overnight in an stunning eco resort with infinity pool
Day 1
Hanoi - Pu Luong
Mai Chau + Trekking
Day 2
Pu Luong - Ninh Binh
Explore Kho Muong village and Doi Cave
Day 3
Ninh Binh - Hanoi
Cycling, Hoa Lu, Trang An boat tour

Day 1: Hanoi – Pu Luong

Thung Khe Pass, Mai Chau & Short trekking

Morning

Early in the morning between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM you will be picked up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. A limousine bus will take you to Mau Chau. On the way you stop at Thung Khe Pass; one of the 10 most beautiful passes in Vietnam. From here you have stunning views over a valley and there is a local minority market you can visit.

Mai Chau viewpoint

Arriving in Mai Chau you will transfer to another van that can drive you over the road of Pu Luong Nature Reserve to Pu Luong Eco Garden Retreat.

Afternoon

At 12:00 PM your arrive in Mai Chau were you transfer to a van that can drive you over the roads of Pu Luong Nature Reserve to drop you off at the stunning Pu Luong Eco Garden – Mountain Retreat.

At 1:00 PM lunch is waiting for you and you can check in to your room.

After lunch a van will bring you to the starting point of your trekking. Follow the small roads through the terrace rice and sugar cane fields, cross hanging bridges and visit remote rural villages of Thai Ethnic minorities. Stop at the giant waterwheels, ducks farm to learn about the agriculture before getting on a bamboo raft for a relaxing cruise on the Cham stream (cruise depending on weather conditions).

Whater wheels at Pu Luong nature reserve

Learn more about the local agriculture at the giant waterwheels that water the rice fields and at the ducks farms.

Go by bamboo raft over a calm stream to enjoy the countryside of Pu Luong on both sides (cruise depending on weather conditions).

 

At approximately 5:30 PM a van will bring you back to the eco garden were you can spend the time relaxing or swimming in the infinity pool.

At 7:00 PM there is a BBQ dinner in the lodge with local rice win.

Accommodation

  • This eco lodge is located in the mountains of Pu Luong with stunning views
  • Amazing infinity pool
  • Modern and clean rooms in local minority style
  • Three types of room available:
    1. Private ensuite room in villa
    2. Private room in stilt house
    3. Dorm room

Day 2: Pu Luong - Ninh Binh

Explore Kho Muong village and Doi Cave

Morning

Have breakfast in the lodge between 07:00 AM and 08:00 AM. After breakfast there is a trekking to see more of the amazing rice fields Pu Luong has. Visit remote villages and explore Bat Cave, the biggest cave in Pu Luong.

Rice terraces in Pu Luong

Afternoon

At 12:00 PM you can back to Eco Garden Retreat, to have lunch, relax and swim in the pool until you depart for Ninh Binh. The bus to Ninh Binh departs at 2:30 PM, were you arrive at Ninh Binh Retreat around 5:30 PM. Have dinner at the retreat around 7:00 PM.

Accommodation

  • Amazing location with views on the rice fields in the middle of the nature
  • Hosted by a friendly local family
  • Swimming pool
  • Modern and clean rooms in bungalow style

Day 3: Ninh Binh - Hanoi

Cycling to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and boat ride in Trang An

Morning

Enjoy breakfast at the retreat between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM. After breakfast you go biking to explore the beautiful karst mountains with rice fields and rivers in between.

Cycling in Ninh Binh

Your destination to bike to is Hoa Lu. This place used to be the ancient capital of Vietnam. Take time to explore this area, and walk to different temples and hike up to Ma Yen Mountain to visit the King’s tomb with a panoramic view from the mountain.

Hoa Lu

Afternoon

On the way back, stop at a local family to learn about the daily life and culture and have a tea with them. Back at the retreat you check out and have lunch. Next you go to Trang An for a boat trip through some of the most amazing karst mountains in the region. A traditional rowing sampan brings brings you through caves, to temples in a peaceful scenery.

Trang An boat trip

At 4:00 PM you have 3 options:

  1. Take the bus back to Hanoi and get dropped of at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter at around 7:00 PM
  2. You get dropped of at the Ninh Binh Railway Station to continue your trip down south
  3. You get dropped of at the Ninh Binh Bus Station to continue your trip down south

Booking information

Planning

  • Start tour: Hanoi
  • End tour: Hanoi or Ninh Binh (depending on your preference)
  • Duration: 3 days and 2 nights

Including

  • All accommodation described in the itinerary
  • All meals described in the itinerary
  • All transfers described in the itinerary

Excluding

  • Meals and services not describer in the itinerary
  • Personal expanses

Additional information

  • Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation immediately after booking. You will receive a voucher by e-mail within 3 working hours. If you have not received your voucher, please check the Spam or notify us via email or chat.
  • Voucher: Save a digital voucher on your phone. As a sustainable company, we would like to ask you not to print the voucher..
  • Itinerary: The itinerary is subject to change depending on the weather and other conditions.
  • Pick-up: Please arrive at the hotel lobby 10 minutes prior to departure. Please be patient on shared / group tours in case of unforeseen delays along the pick-up route.
  • Cancellation: View the cancellation conditions here.

FAQ

The parts of trekking and cycling in this tour are not very long. If you are in good health, enjoy outdoor activities, and have a moderate level of fitness, you should be able to participate in all activities.
In the 4-day combo option, you have 1 extra day in Pu Luong. This day you make a long trek of about 10 kilometers to a waterfall. Are you fit, do you like walking and do you have the time, we definitely recommend this option.
Unfortunately it is not possible to choose another accommodation for this tour. We do have different room options, including a private room, private ensuite room and dorm room.
The best time to visit Pu Luong is during the dry season, which runs from October to May. During this time, the weather is usually sunny and dry, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and trekking.

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Local support

Local team in Vietnam for questions and help on the spot

Deposit possible

Pay 30% now and the rest to your guide at the start of the tour.

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