Search

Hidden Trails: 3-Day Adventure in Ba Be National Park

The signature hike of Ba Be National Park threads its way along the spine of the Pia Booc Range, traversing passes, alpine lakes, and featuring intimate glimpses of iconic craggy summits. You will get to experience boating on the river, hiking through the forest, staying with two different ethnic families, cooking traditional food, trekking in the mountains, kayaking in the lake, and visiting a local school. This is without a doubt a trip filled with action and excitement that lets you enjoy both natural beauty and authentic experiences meeting local people.
 
Type of tour: Private
Tour code: BBT08E
Departure date: Daily
Destination: Ba Be National Park
Duration: 3 days

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi – River trails – Dao villages
Day 2: Trekking to remote areas – Mr Linh's homestay
Day 3: Kayaking on Ba Be lake – Hanoi
Day 1
Hanoi – River trails – Dao villages (L, D)
Hidden trails of Ba Be national park, trekking
Your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi in the early morning, starting your journey to Ba Be National Park. We’ll drive along Highway 3 passing through Thai Nguyen City (where we stop for local lunch) for about 5 hours in a comfortable car. Once you reach Ba Be, you will continue on foot along the Nang River until you reach Puong Cave, located in a Dao ethnic village. From here you continue your hike through thick rainforest while keeping an eye out for local wildlife. Eventually you’ll reach the summit which offers amazing panoramic views of the countryside below, before visiting some Hmong villages followed by our destination for the day, a Dao ethnic minority village. Here you are invited by your host family to participate in preparing your traditional dinner, cooked on an open fire and served with local corn wine. If you’re not much of a chef, don’t worry, this activity is entirely optional. After dinner you will stay overnight in the traditional Dao house.

Highlights and activities: a 7-10 km hike and 3 hours boat trip
Accommodation: Mr Hung's Homestay
Meals: Lunch, Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 2
Trekking to remote areas – Ba Be Lake (B, L, D)
Hidden trails of Ba Be national park, H'mong village
Start by enjoying a traditional local breakfast, which may consist of noodles, pancakes or an omelette, with a banana on the side, considered a luxury in this remote area far from where they’re grown. Then we’ll set out on our 10km hike to a H’mong village, where we’ll spend some time in a local school, interacting and playing with the children. Often our guide will bring some sweets, pens and notebooks to give out as gifts to the kids, something that always greatly excites them and brings a giant smile to their little faces. Our guide will also pack a basic but tasty picnic lunch that we’ll enjoy here. After lunch we set out for another 10km of trekking to reach Coc Toc village. This last leg of the trek can be somewhat challenging and will present a great workout for anyone who’s not in perfect shape. We’ll cross Coc Toc Stream, where you’ll see local fishermen plying their craft, and this is a great place for a quick rest and refreshing swim before continuing on. Once we arrive in Coc Toc, we’ll check in at our guesthouse run by Mr Linh and his family, which specializes in cooking the most delicious and authentic local dishes, which you’ll get to enjoy for dinner before staying overnight in this traditional Tay stilt house.

Highlights and activities: a 18-20 km trek
Accommodation: Mr Linh's Homestay
Meals: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch, Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 3
Kayaking on Ba Be lake – Hanoi (B, L)
Hidden trails of Ba Be national park, kayaking Ba Be lake
Breakfast will consist of pancakes and Vietnamese coffee, served on the open-air balcony overlooking stunning views, if the weather permits. Then we’ll hop in our kayaks and paddle across the lake, giving you ample time to enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding the lake before we have to say goodbye to this slice of paradise. We will take you along roads snaking through mountain passes as we return to Hanoi and stop for a quick lunch in an area rarely visited by tourists where the locals there probably showing a big interest in you and your group, before arriving in Hanoi shortly before dark.

Highlights and activities: a 1-3 hours kayakak
Accommodation: Not included
Meal: Breakfast at homestay. Lunch at local restaurant.


The facts…
We take you to the parts others can't reach!

Climate
From July to September, the climate is usually humid and hot.
From October to June the weather is cooler and more pleasant.

Transport
Boat
Kayak
Vehicle

Tour Guides
Our experienced and friendly Tour Guide(s) speak excellent English.
They are extremely knowledgeable about local cultures, history and the environment.
 
Tour price includes
Private door-to-door pick-up & -off services.
All private transfer and transportation
Homestay
Experienced English speaking guide.
Private boat trip
Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast ; L: Lunch ; D: Dinner)
All sightseeing tickets.
No extra charge after confirmation
24/7 hotline support guaranteed

Tour price excludes
Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Beverage
Other services not mentioned above.

What to take
Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat...
 
Have a great journey!

In Association With