HANOI

Check-in, dump the bags and head out to Hanoi’s Old Quarter for your first dose of sensory overload. Wander the alleyways, check out the serene Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the heart of the city, jump on a rickshaw, get some Phở and savour the taste of this ancient city. If you are want to join, there will be a light 20km ride on offer around Hồ Tây Lake and a visit to a good local bike shop. Finally we have our evening meal, which serves as the official welcome to the tour.

HANOI - THAI NGUYEN 60km / 150m

The first full day of the tour sees us transfer to the outskirts of Hanoi, then ride a light 60km to Thái Nguyên. This ‘leg opener’ will give you your first taste of rural life in north Vietnam!

THAI NGUYEN - LANG SON 165km / 2500m

This day’s ride is the perfect introduction to cycling up north of Hanoi, as we weave our way through a variety of landscapes, heading east to Lạng Sơn, near the Chinese border. First we pedal through the early morning bustle of Thái Nguyên then soon turn off the main road and into the verdant countryside. There’s a gentleness to the terrain here that beguiles, and the villages en route offer our first opportunity to glimpse the karst hills that define the route. After a light lunch, we head to Lạng Sơn.

LANG SON - CAO BANG 164km / 2894m

This is a long day in the saddle but a rewarding one. As we leave Lạng Sơn and we move deeper into the tranquil countryside, you feel the thread connecting you to modernity and its attendant stress becoming ever-thinner. The kilometres pass quickly as this remarkable landscape unfolds before your eyes, as we ride now right by the karst hills we saw from afar on Day 3. Here, the rice fields stretch on for several kilometres, and we observe the rhythm of daily life going on as we pass by the farmers in the paddies. We finish in Cao Bằng, get cleaned up, then head out to eat and and chat about the day just gone and the day ahead.

CAO BANG - BAO LAC 93km /2090m

A shorter day, but again we climb. And what climbs they are. We cycle over two of the region's most renowned mountain passes: Ta Nenh and Khau Cốc Trà, defined by stunning views and thrilling descents. As we traverse these iconic passes, you’ll realise that Minh was right when he said that each day is more beautiful than the previous. The roads here settle upon the hillsides as if made of ribbon. This is a breathtaking ride in every sense, and the landscape will stretch the capacity of your senses. After reaching Bảo Lạc, we'll enjoy a hearty and filling evening meal.

BAO LAC - DONG VAN 95km - 2905m

The ride begins from our hotel in Bảo Lạc, leading you through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in northern Vietnam. This day will be again filled with challenging climbs, including the renowned Mã Pí Lèng Pass, known for its breathtaking views and steep inclines. Here you’ll see the views you’ve seen online, that are, remarkably, even better when seen first hand. Free up space on your phone - you’ll be taking a ton of photos on this day! Đồng Văn, our destination, is a small town in the highlands that features a great pizza restaurant - after this ride, carb-loading for Day 7 is highly recommended.

DONG VAN - HA GIANG 135km / 3380m

The ride to Hà Giang is a special one. The landscape is very rugged, looking almost like a giant rock garden in places up on the karst plateau. The local houses too have a different look about them, and as we climb it is evident that living up here requires a certain fortitude. The descents steal the show in terms of the riding, with long smooth curves that allow us to flow through the corners. These descents and the amazing views make the climbs all the more worthwhile. Past the halfway point on this stage we begin the approach to Hà Giang, the sleepy hill town. This is a big ride, but it’s truly a highlight, and tomorrow on Day 8 we will rest up before our final push on to Sa’Pa.

HA GIANG 40km / 603m

An easy ride awaits those who want to get back on the bike, with the other option being not to ride and instead visit the local market and food stalls.

HA GIANG - SAPA 161km/ 2960m

Our final day of riding begins with a 1 hour drive from Hà Giang to Việt Quang, where we will get the bikes from van whilst you fortify yourselves with a coffee for the ride ahead. We aren’t a fan of transfers either, but the first 50km from Ha Giang is congested with large trucks, and it’s simply safer to start at Việt Quang. From there, we ride through sleepy valleys and alongside a long reservoir before turning right to head to Lào Cai. All that is left before us is the final climb to our final destination: Sa’Pa. Famed for its iconic rice terraces, the mountaintop village is now a bustling little town, with an array of restaurants and bars, serving as an ideal place to wind up our incredible adventure.

SAPA - HANOI / Transfer

We have a decent stretch of road to cover here, some 350km, which wil take roughly 4.5 to 5 hours. We will stop on the way to grab some refreshments, and thankfully our vans are very comfortable and allow for sleep. We’ll head to the same hotel that we began our trip at just over a week earlier in Hanoi, and then the next day is departure day.

HOTEL - AIRPORT

And it's bon voyage and hopefully we will meet again...