DAY 1,Arrival Day: Hanoi

No biking

Welcome to Vietnam’s french-inspired capital city! We’ll transfer you from the airport to the city (45 minutes) and check you into the tour hotel. Depending on your arrival time today, a city tour is on offer this afternoon taking you past various places of interest including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays) and the Temple of Literature. We have the opportunity to see a traditional water puppet show and this evening, we’ll meet each other over our first group dinner.

Meals: Dinner,

DAY 2,Hanoi to NghiaLo

Biking: approx 55 km (4+ hrs riding)

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive north from Hanoi to ThuCuc. At ThanhSon, we have a refreshment break before our first bike ride, which is a reasonably easy 40–50 km and a good warm-up. We stop for lunch back in ThuCuc, and in the afternoon we have the option of cycling up to another 60 km towards NghiaLo, a small town in a big valley inhabited by ethnic Thai people. There are no single trail options today, but your guide can take you on quiet dirt roads through some small villages. We overnight in a simple but comfortable hotel in the Nghia Lo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3,NghiaLo to ThanUyen

Biking: 30–55 km+ (approx. 4hrs+ riding) + optional 80 km

There are several riding options today which your guide will discuss with you in advance. After breakfast we suggest you cycle the winding dirt roads past several villages, before traveling in the backup vehicle to peaceful TuLe. From here, it is 80 km to ThanUyen, in Vietnam’s least populated province, LaiChau. You can choose to cycle or ride part way in the vehicle. This is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in North Vietnam, with imposing mountains and rice terraces. It is also home to the colourful Hmong, Dzao and Tay hill tribes, who we’ll meet along the way.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4,ThanUyen to SaPa

Biking: 87 km (1520 m up, 590 m down), 5–7 hours riding

We warm up on a single trail around ThanUyen before driving through mountainous countryside to ThanThuoc for lunch. As we approach HoangLienSon peak, Vietnam’s tallest, we cycle on the main road between 1000–3000 m mountains, finally reaching Vietnam’s highest pass (1900 m). You can, of course, choose to ride in the support vehicle. We then descend to the beautiful mountain town of SaPa (at 1600 m). The deeper into the mountains we go, the more hill tribes we will see, wearing amazingly elaborate and colourful costumes with huge earrings.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

DAY 5,SaPa to MuongBo to SaPa

Biking: 87 km (5–7 hours riding)

Today offers a half-day trip on dirt roads and single trails, plus a steep downhill (1000 m). We will be walking and/or cycling from village to village, meeting Hmong and Tay hill tribes. Trails sometimes pass through locals’ backyards (don’t worry, they don’t mind!) and they will often gather excitedly to watch cyclists as they pass. After our picnic lunch at a waterfall, there’s time for a refreshing swim before we drive back uphill to SaPa. The rest of the day is free explore this beautiful mountain town of about 140,000 people near the Chinese border.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6,Sapa to BanKhoang – LaoCai (Chinese border) – BacHa

Biking/Elevation: 79 km/900 m up, 2250 m down (5–6 hours riding)

We are normally surrounded by deep blue skies and fluffy white clouds as we leave SaPa, travelling through the beautiful village of BanKhoang. We’ll wind our way up higher and higher into the mountains on a country road. We will be cycling at high altitude for half a day at 1400–1600 m, followed by a long descent to the city of LaoCai on the Chinese border. We finish with a drive to the stunningly beautiful village of BacHa (1400 m). This border town is known for its colourful weekly markets. The drive takes about 2 hours, and we’ll overnight at a hotel here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7,BacHa

Biking/Elevation: 25 km/370 m up, 560 m down (2.5 hours riding)

The Sunday market here is a great opportunity to view local lifestyles and meet the people. Make sure you bring your camera! The scenery and the ornate clothing is amazing. Around midday we’ll cycle on trails through villages for up to 4 hours, admiring beautiful mountains and forest. The main tribe we will see today is the Flower HMong, one of the most colourful and richly dressed in Vietnam. We’ll be a major focus of attention wherever we go. Even seemingly in the middle of nowhere, people will suddenly appear from the hills.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8,BacHa to LaoCai to Hanoi

Biking/Elevation: 54 km/600 m up, 1600 m down (5–6 hours riding)

Amazing single trail riding is the order of the day. You’ll travel along ridges through evergreen forests and past ancient hill tribes. Lunch is likely to be at a small local restaurant. At the end of the ride we’ll have earned a snack and a cold beer. After packing up our bikes we drive to LaoCai for a refreshing shower, before boarding the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9,Hanoi to DaLat

No biking

After an early morning arrival in Hanoi (approx 5 am), we’ll have a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around the old town, before being transferred to the airport. We say goodbye to our first guide and support crew before our early afternoon flight to DaLat, home of flowers, coffee plantations and mountain lakes. We will be met at LienKhuong Airport by our new guide, who will transfer us to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for exploring this attractive mountain city. Please note: Today’s flight is not included in the tour price. However, we can arrange it for you.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10,DaLat

Biking: 45 km. Mostly rolling hills — very little flat riding

Today’s ‘Skid Tracks’ ride starts from the hotel and follows single trails through farmland and pine-forested hills — a great challenge for most. This agricultural highland has some of Vietnam’s best mountain biking trails. After a picnic lunch we can visit one of the many flower farms, and ride back to DaLat. We can stop at Golden Valley (a 10 ha public park) and the unique and beautiful Railway Station building. There may be time for a visit to the XQ Embroidery village, housing some of the country’s finest embroidery. Tonight: a hard-earned and lovely meal at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11,DaLat

Biking: 30–50 km, hilly terrain

Again we have another day of great riding in this beautiful area as we start from the Hotel and bike the ‘northern 8’ tracks. Today is all about fantastic scenery and a good mixture of terrain in this region of lakes, forest and farmland. On the way we can stop to visit the beautiful Domaine De Marie Church, the gothic-style DaLat Church, and the Crazy House, built by DaLat’s Crazy Lady (you’ll have to see it to believe it!). There are options for shorter or longer rides before returning to DaLat, with dinner tonight at a different local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12,DaLat to DiLinh to MuiNe

Biking: options up to 100 km,,An early start today sees us descending from DaLat to TaNung village, and then to NamBan on 15 km of single trail. Next, a 1.5 hour transfer to DiLinh town passing numerous coffee, tea, banana and rubber plantations. The Central Highlands produces some of the world’s finest tea and coffee, so we take time out for a taste. After a short 10 km transfer, we bike to a picnic spot (at 1224 m). Our undulating ride continues through the villages of GiaBac before a fast 10 km downhill on a steep track to MaLam Town. An easy flat road (or a ride in the support vehicle) takes us MuiNe Beach.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13,MuiNe (Rest Day)

No biking

A free day to explore in the popular coastal resort area of MuiNe. Take time out to relax by the hotel pool, or at the sandy surfing beach. Rest those weary cycling legs or perhaps explore the shops and many restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 14,MuiNe to Saigon Airport

No biking

This morning, we’ll drive 3–4 hours to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for a short sightseeing tour (depending on your flight time). Then, a transfer to the airport (or to your post tour accommodation), where it is time to say goodbye to your fellow group members.

Meals: Breakfast