Day 1: Hoi An to Ba Hom
Setting off from Hoi An this morning on your Hoi An Motorbike tour it is quickly apparent that this is going to be a journey like none other. The Vietnam countryside comes alive in a whole new way as you pass through the fields and villages of Hoi An on a motorbike.
The route takes us away from the coast and into the hills, an area often inaccessible by normal car. As we wind into the mountains we’ll come across ancient Cham ruins and famous American war sites, hopping of our bikes to snap photos and explore the tourist-free areas. At midday we’ll reach Ba Hom, where our Co Tu hosts will welcome us to their village. Lunch will be served in the village and then we’ll venture further into the mountains with a light trek. The route crosses over the original Ho Chi Minh Trail and leads us to a therapeutic hot spring where we can swim and relax in the healing waters.
This evening our hosts will prepare a traditional Co Tu feast. Dining in the village on the local cuisine and sleeping in their stilted houses gives us the rare chance to experience firsthand the traditions of Vietnam’s ethnic minority people. This is a true taste of authentic hilltribe culture: an experience that is increasingly difficult to find. (110km)
(Accommodation: Guesthouse)
(Meals: Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: Ba Hom to Khe Sanh via A Luoi
Rise and shine for day two of our Hoi An Motorbike Adventure. After breakfast in the village, we say goodbye to our hosts and resume our bike ride to Khe Sanh. Today’s journey traverses the historic Ho Chi Minh Highway through lush rainforests and over magnificent mountain passes.Take a refreshing dip in a mountain waterfall at midday, where we’ll break for a picnic lunch.
We begin the afternoon winding through the A Shau Valley, a ruggedly beautiful valley that became famous during the American War as the site of many battles - the most famous being Khe Sanh - where we stay for the night. Before we check into the hotel we visit the Museum and former combat base, which was under siege for 67 days. (235km)
(Accommodation: Hotel)
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Khe Sanh to Hue via Vinh Moc Tunnels
Driving along Highway 9, we pass famous American war sites like the Rock Pile and Camp Carol, before crossing the former border between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. We arrive at the Vinh Moc tunnels, where an entire village went underground in the 1960s to survive the bombing. After exploring the tunnels, we head to a local beach where you can cool off with a swim.
After lunch we drive along the coastline and arrive in Hue late afternoon. (220km)
(Accommodation: Hotel)
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Hue to Hoi An
On your bike - it’s time to set off on the final day of our Motorbike Adventure. Today’s bike journey takes us back to Hoi An by a different route, trading in the mountains for Vietnam’s gorgeous coastline. We head east from Hue and then travel parallel to the sea, passing through fishing villages and along pristine sandy beaches for the first part of the drive. The salty air and refreshing sea breezes are a dramatic contrast to the mountain air from the previous days. We’ll stop often to dip our toes in the sea, chat with fishermen and to take photos. At the half way point of our drive we climb to Highway 1’s highest point, Hai Van Pass, where panoramic views of the coast are all around. The road then winds down toward Hoi An, passing through Danang city and the famous China Beach. (190km)
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Optional Abseiling at Marble Mountain on day 1:
We
walk up Marble Mountain into the rappelling area, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
The first rappel is a short walk from the practice area and enjoys a fantastic view of the ocean. This 22 meter line has great exposure, fantastic scenery and makes you feel like you are much higher than you actually are.
Then we do our final rappel; a monster 50 meter drop into a gaping hole so deep and dark that you can’t see the bottom. This fantastic cave rappel drops right out of the jungle down into a temple chamber. Get ready for a full on Tomb Raider experience! |
Highlights of the tour
* Ethnic minority villages
* Cham temple
* Hai Van Pass
* Local cuisine
* Picnic lunches
* Old-growth rainforest
* Mountain waterfalls
* Ho Chi Minh Trail
* Hamburger Hill
* Khe Sanh combat base
* Khe Sanh museum
* Crossing the 17th parallel
* Historic Vinh Moc tunnels
* World Heritage sites
* Optional Abseiling
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