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Magical Islands and Hill Hikes- Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island -During this module, you will float dreamily about Halong Bay, an enchanting archipelago of 3000 limestone islands. Most of the islands are uninhabited, some are covered in tropical forest, and others are bare rock. Drifting among the islands by boat, you will get stunning views of the scenery and a glimpse into the daily lives of the locals. You'll spend one night on the boat and one night on Cat Ba Island, a national park overgrown with virgin countryside. A guide will take you hiking through the dense, tropical jungle on the island, past Frog Lake, and down to the dragon rocks that rise from the rice paddies. There will also be ample opportunities for swimming and relaxing on the shore. You can also choose to do the module as a completely individual trip, with a chauffeur-driven car and a private boat in Halong Bay. See below for details. |
| Duration: |
3 days - 2 nights offered daily from Hanoi |
Accommodation: |
1 night in a private cabin aboard a boat, 1 night in a simple but comfortable hotel on Cat Ba Island accommodation category 1-3 |
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| Price: |
from $179 per person- based on 2 people sharing |
Includes: |
transport from Hanoi to Halong, 2 nights accommodation with breakfast, main meals whilst on the boat cruise, hike on Cat Ba Island |
| Transport: |
air-conditioned minibus, boat |
Excludes: |
all other meals, 8 US dollar entrance fee |
Day 1: Departure for Halong Bay - Cruise - Cat Ba IslandYou'll leave early this morning at about 8.00 AM for Halong Bay by air-conditioned minibus (3 hrs). The first part of the journey will take you through the hectic city, which has already been awake for hours. Hundreds of mopeds will speed past your window laden with rice, pans, tyres, vegetables, live chickens and even pigs. From Hanoi you'll head east and you'll have a short rest break. After a few hours you'll eventually see the picturesque landscape of Halong unfold in the distance. Here, more than 3000 bizarre craggy islands rise dramatically from the clear waters of the breathtaking bay. Some are thickly forested, others are bare rock and many have secluded sandy coves for a sneaky dip. Erosion over millions of years has given the rocky islands their rugged, majestic character. You'll drift lazily through this incredible landscape by boat, relaxing and marvelling at your surroundings. The captain will also give you plenty of opportunities to dive into the turquoise waters and swim with the colourful marine life. During the cruise a guide will take you through many hidden caves and if the weather permits, you'll be able to have the first of your Vietnam hiking experiences and climb to the top of Titop Mountain. Lunch and dinner will be served on this boat on which you'll also spend the night. Before enjoying the delightful Vietnamies delicacies you'll be able to look out over the amazing Vietnamese landscape. Your cabin on board of the boat will have air conditioning and a private bathroom. |
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Day 2: Cat Ba National Park HikeBreakfast will be prepared for you early in the morning and afterwards the boat will set course for Cat Ba Island. You'll be able to wake up peacefully in this area. This morning your Vietnam hiking experience will continue when you head out with a guide to explore Cat Ba National Park. The park is situated on the largest island of the Cat Ba archipelago, with a limestone ridge towering at a height of 150 metres. The highest point on the island is Cao Vong, reaching an impressive 322 metres. There is a huge diversity of flora and fauna in the park- 745 different plants belonging to 123 families, including 300 kinds of medicinal plants. There are also 32 different species of mammals, 69 species of birds and 20 types of reptiles. The 2,5 hour hike is the perfect opportunity to see most of this exotic plant and animal life. |
Day 3: Cat Ba Island - HanoiYou'll awaken early in the morning to a spectacular sunrise or if you like to you can sleep in for a bit. Check out is at 08:45 AM. A bus will take you back to the pier from which you'll sail lazily from Cat Ba Island back to the mainland, absorbing the spectacular views for the last time. After lunch on the boat you'll travel back to Hanoi by bus. The bus ride should take approximately 3 hours and will include a short rest stop. You'll arrive in Hanoi at the end of the afternoon. After this module you can choose from all sorts of options, including more Vietnam hiking experiences. We consider a hill tribe trek in the north west as a must, so we can highly recommend the Hill Tribes of Sapa module. Alternatively, if you're a little strapped for time, you can head south via Classic Hoi An. |
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