Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Mai Chau Valley
Your guide picks you up after breakfast and you'll head west toward Hoa Binh Province, with a stop at a local market on the way. You'll have lunch in a Thai stilt house in Pom Coong village, then hike through Pu Luong Reserve walking past rice fields and mountains while visiting a few local villages. The day wraps up with dinner and an overnight stay with a Thai family in their stilt house.
- Start point
- Hanoi, Vietnam (Hanoi old quarter, 07:30 - 08:00)
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in a typical Thai house built on stilts in Pom Coong village), Dinner (Dinner with local Thai family)
Included Activities
- Local market visit
- Hike through Pu Luong Reserve (5-7 km)
- Visit traditional Thai villages
- Dinner and overnight stay with local Thai family in stilt house
Landmarks/POIs Pu Luong Reserve - Day 2
Mai Chau Valley Trek
After breakfast prepared by your Thai host family, you'll trek for about 5 to 6 hours through different terrain. The hike has steep climbs and river crossings early on, and you'll see valley and rice terrace views along the way. Lunch happens at Hin Village, then you'll continue to Hieu Village before reaching Kho Muong village where the eco homestay gives you time to explore or just rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast made by local Thai people), Lunch (Picnic lunch at Hin Village)
Included Activities
- Trek through Mai Chau Valley (12-15 km)
- River crossings
- Visit Hin Village
- Visit Hieu Village
- Visit Kho Muong village
- Access to eco homestay at Kho Muong
Optional Activities
- Stroll around Kho Muong village and talk to locals
- Relax at eco homestay
Landmarks/POIs Hin Village Hieu Village Kho Muong village - Day 3
Cuc Phuong National Park
Following breakfast, you'll drive to Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh province. The morning includes a visit to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center with over 140 rescued primates from 15 species, and then you'll walk through Prehistoric People Cave to see ancient dwellings, bat colonies, stalactites and stalagmites. After lunch, a 2.5 hour trek takes you to a 1000 year old tree while a guide explains the local plant and animal life, plus insects you'll see.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Cuc Phuong National Park)
Included Activities
- Visit Endangered Primate Rescue Center
- Explore Prehistoric People Cave
- Trek to 1000-year-old tree (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Nature education walk through park (5-7 km total hike)
Landmarks/POIs Cuc Phuong National Park Endangered Primate Rescue Center Prehistoric People Cave 
- Day 4
Ninh Binh
After breakfast, you'll drive to Ninh Binh and walk through the rice fields and village of Ninh Xuan on foot. Then comes a scenic two hour rowboat ride along the Ngo Dong River through the Thung Nang cave system with karst scenery. In the afternoon, you'll cycle through the UNESCO listed Trang An area with limestone peaks, rivers, caves, and villages. Lunch is with a local family, followed by an easy hike through rice fields before dinner and overnight stay.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local family), Dinner (Dinner in Ninh Binh)
Included Activities
- Stroll through rice fields and Ninh Xuan village
- Scenic rowboat ride on Ngo Dong River (2 hours)
- Explore Thung Nang cave system
- Cycle through Trang An
- Easy hike through rice fields
- Lunch with local family
Landmarks/POIs Ngo Dong River Thung Nang cave system Trang An Ninh Xuan village - Day 5
Cat Ba Island
After breakfast, you'll drive to Cat Ba island, traveling through Cat Hai port and Hai Phong city to get there. Once you arrive, lunch comes first, then you'll trek through the national park to Viet Hai Village. The trek goes through pristine forest around Frog Lake where you might spot native cats, squirrels, spotted deer, snakes, butterflies, and possibly rare Cat Ba Langurs. Dinner and an overnight stay in a bungalow in the village finish the day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on Cat Ba Island), Dinner (Dinner at Viet Hai village)
Included Activities
- Trek to Viet Hai Village (10-12 km)
- Explore Frog Lake
- Nature observation in Cat Ba National Park
- Dinner and overnight in bungalow at Viet Hai
Landmarks/POIs Cat Ba Island Viet Hai Village Frog Lake 
- Day 6
Lan Ha Bay Cruise
Breakfast is at 7:30 AM, then you walk to the top of Marine Hill for views of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Back in Viet Hai Village, you can relax or try a fish massage if you want, then cycle to Viet Hai Harbour. You'll board a boat to explore Lan Ha Bay weaving through limestone peaks, with lunch served on board. After that, kayaking around Hang Luon Cave, and if weather cooperates, swimming and snorkeling at wild beaches happen before dinner and an overnight stay on the boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast served at 07:30), Lunch (Lunch served on board), Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Walk to top of Marine Hill
- Panoramic views of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay
- Cruise around Lan Ha Bay
- Kayaking around Hang Luon Cave
- Dinner and overnight on boat
Optional Activities
- Fish massage at Viet Hai Village
- Swimming and snorkeling at wild beaches
- Relax at Viet Hai Village
Landmarks/POIs Marine Hill Ha Long Bay Lan Ha Bay Hang Luon Cave - Day 7
Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi
The day starts with breakfast on the boat as the sun comes up, then you'll keep cruising around Lan Ha Bay among the limestone peaks. You'll visit a fish and shellfish farm and the colorful floating village of Cai Beo. Lunch gets served on board, or on land if new passengers are boarding. You'll disembark around 11:30 AM and head back to Hanoi, ending the tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on boat with sunrise views), Lunch (Lunch served on board (or on land if new passengers embarking))
Included Activities
- Breakfast on boat
- Cruise around Lan Ha Bay
- Visit fish and shellfish farm
- Visit floating village of Cai Beo
- Lunch on board
Landmarks/POIs Cai Beo floating village
