10 Day Sapa Biking To Northwest

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 : Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Su Pan – Sapa ( L ) - Biking 25km

8:00 AM starting to ride from your hotel and tour through the villages of Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Su Pan. The tour includes visits to local communities and lunch at a local restaurant. The day’s ride ends in Ban Ho before returning to Sapa by vehicle. The local tribes explored during the tour include Black Hmong, Red Dzay, and Tay.

Accommodation : None

Day 2 : Sapa – Binh Lu – Than Uyen ( L , D ) - Biking 85km

8:00 AM .We will leave Sapa town after breakfast and travel on smooth roads through lush hill farms, taking in the mountain views and small hills. We will pass Silver Waterfalls and reach the Sapa Heaven Gate, which offers stunning natural beauty and panoramic views of Fansipan peak and the highest mountain passes of Hoang Lien Son in North Vietnam. 

We will then enjoy a thrilling ride down winding roads to Tram Ton Pass and continue off-road, riding on small gravel roads that wind through stunning tribe hamlets of Thai, surrounded by breathtaking jungle scenery, and through tiny towns where we will have lunch. After riding off the beaten track for 13 km, we will return to national road 32 and enjoy the mountain landscape and green farmlands, with more downhill than uphill, until we reach Tan Uyen. We will follow small roads along the mountain range, explore back Thai and Mong tribes, see verdant rice terraces, end today’s ride at a rural market, and transfer to Than Uyen.

Accommodation : Love Hill Resort

Day 3 : Than Uyen – Huynh Nhai – Tuan Giao ( B , L ,  D) - Biking 85km

Today, we will begin our journey early with a 2-hour transfer on winding roads, avoiding mountain hills and passing by Thuy Dien Lake and the mountain range, as well as the Ban Chat Hydropower station. The ride is scheduled to start at 9:00 am, and we will mostly be on a quiet national road 279, covering 80 km to Tuan Giao. This day’s ride will be more adventurous, as we will be challenged by the Cap Na Pass, experience the Thai Ethnic culture, and enjoy stunning downhill scenery through Muon Gion. We will cross the Da River on the new Pa Uon bridge and take a lunch break in Quynh Nhai.

After our lunch break, we will continue our bike ride through the town and its outskirts on mostly flat roads surrounded by rice paddies. We will then ride through the jungles on winding roads, enjoying the breathtaking views of the valleys and tiny villages along the way to Minh Thang. We will take a coffee break at a small market before embarking on a thrilling 12km downhill ride along the river to Tuan Giao.

Accommodation : Tuan Giao Hotel

Day 4 : Tuan Giao – Pha Din Pass – Son La ( B , L ,  D)- Biking 75km

The Pha Din pass, situated at an altitude of 1,680 meters above sea level, has gained legendary status due to its crucial role in the victory at Dien Bien Phu. Originally a small trail, it was used by the Viet Minh, the precursor to the Viet Cong, to transport weapons and food. The trail was also the primary route used to transport artillery from Som La to Dien Bien Phu, and its challenging terrain required the use of human power. It was the shortest and most important route that enabled the Viet Minh to defeat the French in Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

We will begin our cycling journey by riding 5 kilometers through small towns along the river before taking on the Pha Din pass, which boasts some of Vietnam’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes. As we venture through the spectacular karst mountains to the peak, we will be able to take in the stunning natural beauty of the area. We will then descend to Binh Thuan, with two roads to choose from, one of which is a new road that is 13 kilometers long, while the other is an old, well-maintained road of a similar distance and with no traffic. We will cycle uphill for approximately 13 kilometers before enjoying a 17-kilometer downhill ride.

We will support you in choosing which route to take on the challenging ride, and we will accompany you throughout. The afternoon ride is more relaxed and allows us to appreciate the scenery at a leisurely pace. We will pass through the Black Thai hill tribes, lush valleys, observe buffalos on farms, and see fields brimming with farm produce. In the late afternoon, we will return to Son La city by vehicle.

Accommodation : Green Hotel

Day 5 : Son La – Luong La – Mu Cang Chai ( B , L , D ) - Biking 85km

After breakfast, we will take a short transfer to a rural village where we will start our morning ride to Muong La. During the first half of the ride, we will be mostly dependent on national road 106. We will pass through small towns and ride on roads that undulate through terraced rice fields, mountains, and along small rivers. We will also challenge the small mountain pass of Cao Pha and enjoy the downhill section that follows. As we make our way through the lush farms and terraced valleys, we will have the opportunity to see H’mong and Thai hill tribes living in the area. Our ride will take us through untouched Muong Bu village.

Following breakfast, we will embark on a brief transfer to a rustic village, where we will commence our cycling journey towards Muong La. During the morning, we will predominantly traverse national road 106, meandering through quaint settlements and pathways that meander amidst terraced rice paddies, peaks, and beside petite streams. Our route will also encompass tackling the diminutive Cao Pha mountain pass, followed by a pleasurable downhill ride amidst verdant farmland, stepped valleys speckled with H’mong and Thai hill tribe settlements, and the pristine village of Muong Bu.

Afterward, we will bask in the tranquil scenery of Da River on our way to Muong La township, where we will pause for a midday meal. Later in the afternoon, we will embark on the picturesque narrow road 109, cycling along the mountainside base and past stilted dwellings in small communities. During our journey, we will relish the breathtaking vistas of the rice terraces and tiny hamlets before speeding alongside the reservoir to capture endless photo opportunities. At the Hot Springs, we may choose to take a coffee break or unwind for thirty minutes before proceeding on the last 13 km through the agricultural landscape to Ecolodge Mu Cang Chai. The route inclines slightly through the woodland and grassy hills, but the captivating sights of Mu Cang Chai’s rice terraced fields, as we descend, make the uphill climb well worth the effort.

Accommodation : Mu Cang Chai Homestay

Day 6: Mu cang Chai – Tu Le – Nghia Lo ( B , L , D ) - Biking 75km

Situated on a charming hill within a magnificent valley, Mu Chang Chai Ecolodge boasts captivating terrace fields and ethnic tribal villages. Rise early in the morning, relish the serenity of your expedition, marvel at the valley’s extraordinary natural splendor, and prepare to discover Khau Pha Pass and Tu Le, the homelands of the Thai, Mong, and Dao ethnic communities.

Following a hearty breakfast, we will cycle over gentle hills for approximately 6 km until we reach road 32, where we will turn right and continue our uphill ride for about 4 km until we reach the pinnacle of Khau Pha Pass. The pass, situated between Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai districts, is the lengthiest and most arduous on National Highway 32, stretching over 30 km. It provides an ideal vantage point for capturing endless photos of the breathtaking valleys before indulging in a fabulous downhill ride, with the longest downhill stretch covering 30 km, until we reach Nghia Lo. The remaining stretch to Nghia Lo comprises more downhill than uphill sections, with undulating paths.

In this region, you can relish a leisurely pace and take numerous stops to immerse yourself in nature, particularly in Tu Le commune situated in Van Chan District. The area is enveloped by mountains and inhabited by vibrant Thai, Mong, and Dao tribes, renowned for their special sticky rice. Some stunning destinations en route include the charming villages of Ma Tun and Nam Bun, the meandering path leading to the magnificent Ban Hoi valley, and the scenic town of Nghia Lo.

Accommodation : Nghia Lo Hotel

Day 7 : Nghia Lo – Ta Xua Natural Reserve - Bac Yen ( B , L , D) - Biking 85km

On Day 8, we will embark on a picturesque journey through secluded hamlets, jungle-clad hillsides, quaint towns, and Ta Xua Nature Reserve, along road 112. The first 30 km of the ride in the morning is a tranquil passage, encompassing small rolling hills, rice paddies, rural farms, and small rivers. We will enjoy a mid-day meal en route before commencing our ascent up the mountain passes through the forested slopes of Ta Xua Natural Reserve. 

The preservation of tropical forests is crucial for the preservation of flora and fauna, and Ta Xua boasts a delightful climate, with weather that can rapidly shift between sunny, foggy, cloudy, and light rain in a day, with clouds that gracefully waft across the mountains. Our ride will conclude with a scenic descent through lush rural farms on an incredibly winding road leading to Bac Yen.

Accommodation : Bac Yen Local Hotel

Day 8 : Bac Yen – Moc Chau ( B , L , D ) - Biking 85km

Moc Chau plateau, located in the Son La district, is renowned for its tea, plum, and plantations set against undulating terrain and mountains. The Kinh people make up 35% of the population, while the remaining are colourful tribal people, mainly Thai, Mong, Kho Mu, Dao and Tay. We will traverse the vast uneven plantations and charming countryside of Moc Chau.

Our journey today begins from the hotel, as we pass through small towns and into the countryside, pedaling through agricultural lands and exploring the daily lives of locals residing along the Tac River. After lunch, we will take a ferry across the Da river before venturing to explore the picturesque Moc Chau Plateau. We will marvel at the verdant rows of tea plants lining the hillsides and observe how the locals meticulously produce tea, step by step, with an opportunity to learn more about H’Mong culture in the villages. Our night will be spent in Moc Chau, surrounded by stunning scenery.

Accommodation : Moc Chau Hotel

Day 9 : Moc Chau – Mai Chau ( B , L , D ) - Biking 55km

After an early breakfast, we will start cycling from the hotel and make our way through the town before turning onto a small road that leads to the countryside. As we cycle through tea plantations, flower fields, and fruit orchards, we will eventually reach the old national road 6, which we will follow for the rest of the day. Along the way, we will pass through many small towns and lush valleys, green hills, and extensive vegetation. The fertile soils of Moc Chau Plateau and its cold climate provide the perfect environment for various fruit orchards, tea, plum, avocado, and strawberry plantations. The rural villages in Moc Chau are also home to a variety of flowers and vegetables.

We will stop for lunch in a small town on the way, and then continue exploring the undulating plain of the Moc Chau Plateau on the well-maintained and less trafficked snake roads. The support vehicle will be following us throughout the ride. Our cycling journey will end at Chien Yen village and downhill to Mai Chau, arriving in the late afternoon.

Accommodation : Mai Chau Homestay

Day 10 : Mai Chau - Hanoi ( B ,L ) - Biking 45km

Today a leisurely morning followed by our last ride out of Mai Chau (a steep but short climb), then rolling countryside and towns. We'll pause to visit a local school, meeting with the children who will be eager to test out our bicycles. Reaching Hoa Binh, we'll pack up our bikes for the two hour drive back to Hanoi, arriving in time to freshen up before venturing into the Old Quarter ( Hanoi ) End The Tour .

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