Topas Ecolodge and Biking Package – 3D/4N

Ref. EB3A
Activity: Mountain Biking
Grade: Easy
Validity: from Jan 1^st - Dec 31^st 2010

Overview:
Topas Ecolodge is located 18 km from Sapa, deep in the Hoang Lien Mountains. The 25 bungalows overlook the entire valley with the ethnic minority villages of Ban Ho and Thanh Phu, 400 altitude meters below you. Sapa, with its snaking roads through picturesque landscapes, has becoming the best destination for. This package has been designed to give you the best Mountain Bike trip as well as the opportunity to to experience the highlights of northern Vietnam: the ethnic communities with their unique cultures, the deep valleys covered by terraced rice fields, the breathtaking mountains...

Short Itinerary:
Day 1: Night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai.
Day 2: Transfer to Sapa. Cycling to Topas Ecolodge.
Day 3: AM: Half day cycling to Thanh Kim.
Day 4: Back to Sapa. PM, transfer to Lao Cai. Train to Hanoi.
Day 5: Tour ends in Hanoi.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi - night train to Lao Cai (-/-/-)
Depart from Hanoi with night train to Lao Cai.

Day 2: Full day cycling - Topas Ecolodge (B,L,D)
The train arrives at Lao Cai Station early in the morning. Here you will take the Topas shuttle bus to Sapa, where you enjoy your breakfast at a local restaurant.
At 9h00 you will be transferred uphill to Heavens Gate (Tram Ton Pass), the highest pass of Vietnam. From here you will have the bird’s-eye view of the breathtaking Muong Hoa valley, where you will have opportunity to pass by during the day’s cycling trip. You will get on your bike and start descending into the Sapa valley, observing the fantastic scenery of mountains and rice paddy fields along the way. After leaving Sapa town behind for a while, you make a turn and follow a dirt road to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai.
From Lao Chai the road will take you to a village inhabited by the Giay tribe. You stop in a local house where you will enjoy lunch and have time to explore the village. After lunch you continue your ride along the valley. You arrive at Topas Ecolodge in the mid afternoon. You check in to your bungalow and enjoy the view over the valley and dotted mountain surroundings.
Dinner and overnight at Topas Ecolodge.

Approx: Total distance: 35 km
Up / straight / down: 1 km/ 8 km/ 26 km

Day 3: Topas Ecolodge - Biking to Lech Dao village – Topas Ecolodge (B,L,D)
After breakfast, you will start the cycling trip by following the main road for three kilometers to Lech village of the Red Dao minority, observing the magnificent valley view on the way. Here you will leave your bikes and take a short walk on dirt road to visit a traditional Red Dao family, where you experience the culture of the minority villagers who are living peacefully the same way of life as their ancestors. Back at the parking place, you will take a further ride to the new Lech village, where you will take a longer break to learn how the women in their doorways doing their embroidery, which the Red Dao people are very famous for. From the village, you head back to the Lodge for lunch.
The afternoon is at your leisure. Dinner and overnight at Topas Ecolodge.

Day 4: Topas Ecolodge - Sapa - Lao Cai (B,-,-)
The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge.
At 09h00 you will take the Topas Ecolodge shuttle bus to Sapa. The afternoon is at your leisure to visit the town. At 17h30, you will take the shuttle bus to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.

Day 5: Arrival in Hanoi (-,-,-)
The train will arrive in Hanoi around 4h30 am. End of trip

Inclusive:

• English/ French Speaking Guide during excursions.
• 2 nights at Topas Ecolodge (twin shared Deluxe bungalow)
• All indicated meals (B as breakfast, L as lunch, D as dinner)
• Return train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi (soft sleeper in a 4-berth AC cabin).
• All indicated transfer by Topas Ecolodge Shuttle Bus.
• Bicycles, helmets and biking gloves
• All entrance fees to the indicated places.

Exclusive:

• Insurance.
• Pre and post trip accommodation.
• Private expenses.
• Drink and Beverage.
• All other services not mentioned as inclusive.

Note: Other meals in Topas Ecolodge are recommended to be booked in advance.

Promotion: Topas Ecolodge is running the Summer 2010 promotion of stay 3 nights pay 2 nights only from 6th May to 30th Sep. 2010. The promotion is also applied to the package in case you extend your stay in Topas Ecolodge to at least 3 consecutive nights.