Day 1: Hoi An to Ba Hom Village
Delve into the heart of central Vietnam with this 3-day Hoi An Motorbike Adventures excursion. We set off from Hoi An this morning on what promises to be an unforgettable voyage of rugged roads, rustic villages and stunning highlands. Pack your sense of adventure and leave behind those preconceived notions of touristy villages: this motorbike journey is the real deal. With the wind in your hair, we zip through the Hoi An countryside to Marble Mountain where the thrill-lovers among us can opt for an abseiling adventure into Hell’s Cave. We then head west and climb our way into the mountains.
Midday we’ll arrive at Ba Hom, a traditional Co Tu village where we will stay for the night. Little has changed in the past hundred years in Ba Hom and it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Central Vietnam. A light trek through the village outskirts takes us over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to a set of therapeutic hot springs where we can go for a refreshing dip. The evening is highlighted by a superb dinner of Co Tu traditional dishes and a chance to interact with the villagers, gaining more insight into their rich culture. Afterwards, retreat to your stilted Co Tu hut where the serene setting and clear mountain air will lull you to sleep. (110km)
Day 2: Ba Hom to Hue
Day two of your motorbike adventure begins with breakfast in the village and a chance to watch the morning activities of the Co Tu. Bidding farewell to our hosts, its then back on the bikes to resume our adventure through the rugged highlands of Central Vietnam. This time we follow a new section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail toward the Lao border, crossing through lush rainforests and over mountain passes on roads perfectly suited to bikes. Keep your camera handy as the views are certainly photo-worthy.
Midday we take a break for a picnic lunch in the shade of a mountain waterfall. Take a swim in the cool waters or simply lay back and relax in the solitude.
We then begin the last stretch of today’s jeep journey, descending down to Hue. But the adventure isn’t over yet. The landscape continues to change as we make our way to the flatlands, passing through A Shau valley - an area that played a key role during the American war - before catching glimpses of the iconic Perfume River from the hills. We cruise into Hue’s centre in the early evening. (195km)
Day 3: City Tour in Hue
On day three we do a comprehensive motorbike tour of Hue. The tour visits the citadel, royal tombs while snaking through the back streets of Hue. A delicious vegetarian lunch prepared by Buddhist nuns is served at a local pagoda. After lunch we experience the rural surrounds of Hue, stopping to see traditional handicrafts being made, as well as visiting some US war sites. (40km)
Day 4: Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass
Rise and shine, 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 the gorgeous Vietnam 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 famed China Beach. (190km)
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
* Hai Van Pass
* Local cuisine
* Picnic lunces
* Old-growth rainforest
* Mountain waterfalls
* Ho Chi Minh Trail
* Hamburger Hill
* World Heritage sites
* Sight-seeing tour in Hue
* Marble Mountain
* Optional Abseiling |
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