6 Days Sapa Biking To Dien Bien Phu - Son La - Mai Chau

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 : Sapa to Tam Duong - 41 miles today (73 kilometers) ( L, D )

8:00 AM pick up from your hotel in Sapa and starting with a group photo in front of your hotel before leaving the other tourists behind. We begin with moderate six-mile climb out of town over the highest paved pass in Vietnam (below Fansipan), passing small villages, waterfalls and cliffs before enjoying a splendid 15-mile descent. After rollers and another six mile climb into Tam Duong. This section of road is one of Vietnam's most beautiful, with lush scenery and the added mix of colorful hilltribes who we'll frequently stop to visit. Dinner in town.

Accommodation: Muong Thanh hotel.

Day 2 : Tam Duong to Old Lai Chau ( Muong Lay ) - 62 miles, with a wonderful 10-mile descent ( B, L , D )

Rolling hills and dirt road. The route to Lai Chau is spectacular mountain and river valley scenery. Black Thai villages are numerous in this area and we may see Black Dao and H'mong, especially nearing the Tam Duong market.

Overnight at Hoa Binh hotel.

Day 3 : Muong Lay to Dien Bien Phu- 60 miles, about 10 miles in climbs, flat to rolling over "highway" 12. ( B, L , D )

Long dirt sections, lush scenery of ferns, banana trees, and jungle foliage. White Thai, Red and White Hmong villages dot the lush landscape. Arrive in famous Dien Bien Phu where the French faced their final defeat.

Overnight at Him Lam Resort

Day 4 : Dien Bien Phu to Son La,- 54 miles and Pha Din Pass legs permitting. ( B , L ,  D )

After breaking in Tuan Giao, we'll conquer the 16-odd miles of Pha Din Pass over highways 279 and national route 6 to Tuan Giao, bicycling up the switchbacks on this long Alpine-style climb. A beautiful ride with little traffic, through gorges lined with steep cliffs part of the way. Showers and food in Son La. Late afternoon bus transfer to Son La (2 hours). Son La is a remote post and administrative center. Few if any tourists here but loads of bureaucrats eager to meet and take photos with us.

Overnight at  Green Hotel

Day 5 : Son La to Mai Chau, mostly downhill ride down a newly improved.( B , L, D )

Passing along the Ma River, karst scenery passing by as we ride through the countryside, small farms and villages en route to Mai Chau, a fertile river valley, the most beautiful one we've seen the entire trip. After a refreshing dip in the hotel pool, we'll stroll to a nearby hilltribe village for a traditional dance show and dinner.

Overnight at  Mai Chau Homstay

Day 6 : Mai Chau to Hanoi ( B , L )

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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