Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh Adventure tour 5 Days

Day 1, Hanoi - Mai Chau (D) 145km - 3h
Alluring landscapes in Mai Hich & Xam Khoe, learning Thai people’s culture

8:00 AM: Meet tour guide and driver then depart to Mai Chau. On the way, visit a Muong village. Continue to Thung Khe pass where you can view magnificent panoramic views of the valley before arriving in Mai Chau town. Mai Chau is a beautiful valley located 145 km away from Hanoi. It is great place with harmonious landscapes, green mountain ranges, rice terraces and White Thai ethnic villages.

Arrival to Mai Hich, have a rest and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon explore Mai Hich by walking along the trails and concrete roads. You will be seduced by the gorgeous landscapes as the villages, rice fields, mountains and streams are in perfect harmony with one another. Do not miss the opportunity to communicate with the friendly local people who are always willing to welcome you into their house to enjoy a cup of tea.

Continue trekking along the Ma River, passing the rice field and small communities to Xam Khoe and  Buoc village, a Thai villages that is still not touristic. Enjoy the harmony of nature's beauty and rich human culture. At the end, get a pick up by driver then transfer back to your accommodation.

Note: For more interacting with local people and get authentic experience, we invite you stay at homestay with basic equipment: clean mattress, pillow, mosquito net, blankets, outside WC and hot water shower but hotel service is also available, please contact us to get good advises.  Private traditional music and dancing show by local people is available with extra cost of $35/group. Please ask our guide to reserve if you are interested in.

Day 2, Mai Chau - Pu Luong (B,L,D) 40km - 1h
Discovering Eo Ken, Ban hang villages, Chieng Lau discovery

Depart from Mai Hich directly to Eo Ken, 30km away, where the Muong ethnics live. Walk down the slope and enjoy the spectacular view of Pu Luong Nature reserve, rice field terraces and mountains. Visit a Muong ethnic family in Eo Kenvillage and discover their authentic life. Continue walking through this beautiful landscape and cross a stream to reach HangVillage.

Pick up by car then travel to Pu Luong to enjoy lunch. Later transfer to Chieng Lau, a beautiful rice field area with bamboo water wheels. Walk through the field to the village and encounter the locals to discover their life, culture and customs.

Come back to your accommodation. Stay overnight in Pu Luong.

Note: Distance of trek is flexible

Day 3, Pu Luong (B,L,D)

Full day trek to the Kho Muong village of Thai people, following Uoi, Lan Ngoai villages

8:00 AM: Start a trekking day to discover the Pu Luong Nature preservation and its inhabitants. Transfer 5 km from your accommodation on 15C road on direction to Kho Muong village. Start to trek on the path to the most remote village in Pu Luong, located in the valley and surrounded by the beautiful lime stone mountains and rice terraces. Kho Muong is home to Thai ethnic group. Haveyour camera ready to capture the breathtaking scenery of rice terraces and encounter the locals en route.

Lunch will be served in the homestay at Kho Muong Village. In the afternoon, continue following the trails in the forest and the manioc field to reach Uoi village, a beautiful village home to another Thai ethnic group who still preserve their thatched houses. Keep walking to Lan Ngoai Village before transferring back to your accommodation.


Day 4, Pu Luong - Ninh Binh (B,L,D) 160km - 4h
Visiting Leo, Mo, Chu, Danh villages, admiring the beautiful rice terrace, transfer to Ninh Binh

8:00 AM: Enjoy breakfast before saying good-bye to the host, then walk down to the spectacular rice terrace valley. Hike through small paths and to reach four picturesque villages, Leo, Mo, Chu and Danh. Don't forget your camera to capture these unforgettable moments. During the hike, you will enjoy the changing landscapes of rice terraces, villages, wild fields, ponds, streams and mountains. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.  

In the afternoon, transfer to Ninh Binh. On the way, visit the sacred fish stream in Cam Luong. This place is well known for a special kind of fish that populate the stream. It's called a sacred fish for the many mysterious stories created around this special creature. Continue travel to Ninh Binh, check in your accommodation in the late afternoon.


Day 5, Ninh Binh - Hanoi (B,L) 100km - 2h
Biking & boat trip in Van Long nature reserve

Enjoy breakfast and peaceful morning in the countryside. take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century.

Continue to take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit Lang Van village and its church.

End of the day, transfer from Ninh Binh to Hanoi. Enjoy the journey passing Red River delta with a lot of chance taking pictures of rice fields, peaceful countryside.

Note: Available to cycle one or two way to Thung La Temple

Services Included

• Four nights of accommodation based on double or twin sharing.
• One night in a handpicked 4-star hotel, eco-lodge or resort in Mai Chau, two nights in a premium eco-resort or boutique retreat in Pu Luong and one night in a 4-star hotel or resort in Ninh Binh for the Premium 4-Star Nature and Adventure Version.
• One night in a selected 5-star mountain retreat in the wider Mai Chau region, two nights in the best available luxury eco-retreat in Pu Luong and one night in a 5-star hotel or resort in Ninh Binh for the Prestige 5-Star Nature Retreat Version.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver throughout the five-day journey.
• A comfortable seven-seat private vehicle for four travellers or a private minibus for five to six travellers, subject to luggage requirements.
• Private pick-up and drop-off at a centrally located hotel in Hanoi according to the confirmed itinerary.
• Private road transfers from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Mai Chau to Pu Luong, Pu Luong to Cam Luong and Ninh Binh, and Ninh Binh to Hanoi.
• Private local transfers to and from scheduled trekking starting and finishing points.
• English-speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary.
• Local trekking support during the scheduled village walks and mountain trails when required.
• Four breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners as indicated in the program.
• Lunch in a local house or homestay during the Kho Muong trekking program.
• Entrance fees and sightseeing tickets for all scheduled attractions mentioned in the confirmed itinerary.
• Visit to a Muong ethnic village and scenic stop at Thung Khe Pass.
• Guided walking and trekking through Mai Hich, Xam Khoe and Buoc villages.
• Guided walking experience along the Ma River and through White Thai communities.
• Guided visit to Eo Ken and Hang Village.
• Visit to Chieng Lau rice fields and traditional bamboo water wheels.
• Chieng Lau bamboo rafting experience, subject to weather, water levels and local operating conditions.
• Full-day guided trek through Kho Muong, Uoi and Lan Ngoai villages.
• Guided trekking through Leo, Mo, Chu and Danh villages.
• Entrance fee and scheduled visit to Cam Luong Sacred Fish Stream.
• Bicycle rental for the scheduled cycling route in Ninh Binh.
• Visit to Thung La Temple and the scheduled local cultural experience when available.
• Van Long Nature Reserve sampan boat trip.
• Visit to Lang Van Village and its church according to the final itinerary.
• Bottled drinking water during private road transfers.
• Fuel, road tolls, parking fees and driver expenses for all included transportation.
• Local taxes and service charges for included ground arrangements.
• 24/7 local assistance during the journey.

Services Not Included

• International flights to and from Vietnam.
• Domestic flights requested as part of a customised extension or modified itinerary.
• Accommodation in Hanoi before the tour begins or after the tour ends.
• Airport transfers in Hanoi unless specifically included in the confirmed quotation.
• Vietnam visa stamping fee or e-visa fee, if applicable.
• Personal travel insurance, including medical, trekking, cancellation, emergency evacuation and baggage coverage.
• Drinks, alcoholic beverages, minibar, laundry, spa treatments, telephone calls and personal expenses.
• Meals not clearly mentioned in the confirmed itinerary.
• Single room supplement or additional room required for an odd-numbered group unless included in the confirmed quotation.
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels or resorts unless specifically included.
• Hotel room upgrades, suites, private pool villas or premium room categories unless requested and confirmed.
• Private traditional music and dance performance in Mai Chau unless specifically included.
• Optional spa treatments, wellness programs, cooking classes, private cultural workshops or resort activities.
• Private porter services during trekking activities.
• Trekking poles, specialised hiking equipment, personal rainwear and footwear.
• Additional four-wheel-drive vehicles, motorbike transfers or special local transportation not stated in the confirmed itinerary.
• Privately chartered boats or exclusive boat arrangements in Van Long Nature Reserve.
• Tips for guides, drivers, boat rowers, porters, hotel staff and local service providers.
• High-season, rice-harvest season, weekend, Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year or public holiday supplements, if applicable.
• Additional costs caused by adverse weather, landslides, road closures, bamboo rafting suspension, boat restrictions, trekking restrictions or force majeure events.
• Additional transportation, meals or accommodation required because of unexpected road, weather or safety conditions.
• Any service not clearly listed under “Services Included”.