Trekking Mai Chau - Pu Luong Adventure tour 5 Days

Day 1, Hanoi - Mai Chau (L,D) 145km - 4h
Muong & Thai people’s culture, alluring landscapes in Mai Hich, Xam Khoe, Buoc villages

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.

Arrive in Mai Hich, check in accommodation and enjoy authentic food. 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: 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 (B,L,D) 55km - 1.5h
Trek from Pa Co, Hang Kia villages to Cun Pheo valley, immersing into Blue H'mong homeland

Depart from Mai Chau to Pa Co. It is possible to visit a local market on Sundays. Pa Co is located 35 km from Mai Chau, close to the Moc Chau plateau. This is a homeland of the Hmong ethnic people living in the hills. Start trekking from Pa Co to the Hang Kia commune through the green Hmong villages. This ethnic group previously cultivated poppies. However, nowadays they cultivate maize, manioc, and groundnuts. Discover the local life in the Hmong village and visit a family, school and dispensary while surrounded by plum hills, primitive forests, and rice terraces.

Enjoy a picnic lunch then trek down the slopes to reach Cun Pheo Valley in the afternoon. Meet our driver and transfer to your accommodation.

Note: Trekking shoes and sun cream are recommended

Day 3, Mai Chau - Pu Luong (B,L,D) 40km - 1h
Discovering Eo Ken, Ban hang villages, Chieng Lau discovery

8:00 AM: 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 transfer to check in your accommodation in Pu Luong. Have break and enjoy local cuisine. In the afternoon 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.

Get pick up by car and stay overnight in Pu Luong.

Note: Trekking distances as your require, you may want to swim when do bamboo rafting

Day 4, Pu Luong (B,L,D)
Full day trek to the Kho Muong village of Thai people, following the trail to 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.

Note: Good trekking shoes & camera.

Day 5, Pu Luong - Hanoi (B,L) 160km - 4h
Authentic medium hiking route: Leo – Mo – Chu – Danh, admiring the peaceful rural landscape

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.  

Pick up by driver then transfer back to Hanoi. 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 travelling to Hanoi, check in your hotel in the late afternoon.

Services Included

• Four nights of accommodation based on double or twin sharing.
• Two nights in a handpicked 4-star resort, eco-lodge or boutique property in the Mai Chau region and two nights in a premium 4-star eco-retreat or mountain resort in Pu Luong for the Premium 4-Star Trekking Adventure Version.
• Two nights in a selected 5-star luxury mountain retreat in the wider Mai Chau region and two nights in the best available luxury villa, premium suite, boutique eco-retreat or mountain resort in Pu Luong for the Prestige 5-Star and Luxury 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 Cam Luong to Hanoi.
• Private local transfers to and from all scheduled trekking starting and finishing points.
• English-speaking licensed tour guide throughout the journey.
• Professional local trekking assistance during the scheduled village and mountain routes when required.
• Four breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Picnic lunch during the Pa Co, Hang Kia and Cun Pheo trekking program.
• Lunch in a local house or homestay during the Kho Muong trekking program.
• Entrance fees, village-access charges and sightseeing tickets for all scheduled attractions mentioned in the confirmed itinerary.
• Visit to a Muong ethnic community on the road from Hanoi to Mai Chau.
• Scenic stop at Thung Khe Pass, subject to weather and road conditions.
• Guided exploration of Mai Hich and the surrounding White Thai communities.
• Guided trek beside the Ma River through rice fields and small rural settlements.
• Guided visits to Xam Khoe and Buoc villages.
• Private transfer to Pa Co and the Hang Kia trekking area.
• Guided trek from Pa Co through Hang Kia towards Cun Pheo Valley.
• Visit to Pa Co local market when the tour operates on Sunday and the market is open.
• Cultural interaction with Hmong families according to local access conditions.
• Guided walk through Eo Ken and cultural interaction with a local Muong family.
• Guided walk from Eo Ken towards Hang Village.
• Visit to Chieng Lau rice fields and traditional bamboo water wheels.
• Traditional bamboo-rafting experience in the confirmed Chieng Lau area, subject to operating conditions.
• Life jackets and basic safety equipment for the included bamboo-rafting activity.
• Full-day guided trek to Kho Muong Village.
• Guided forest and agricultural trail from Kho Muong towards Uoi and Lan Ngoai.
• Guided trekking through Leo, Mo, Chu and Danh villages.
• Entrance fee and scheduled visit to Cam Luong Sacred Fish Stream.
• Bottled drinking water and tissues during private road transfers.
• Fuel, road tolls, parking fees and driver expenses for the included transportation.
• Local taxes and service charges for all 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, rafting, 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 an additional room required for an odd-numbered group unless included in the confirmed quotation.
• Early check-in and late check-out unless specifically included.
• 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 in the confirmed package.
• Optional spa treatments, wellness programs, cooking classes, textile workshops or additional 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 transportation not stated in the confirmed itinerary.
• Private or exclusive bamboo-raft charter arrangements unless specifically confirmed.
• Swimming activities unless approved by the guide and local operator.
• Tips for guides, drivers, trekking assistants, rafting staff, hotel staff and local service providers.
• High-season, rice-harvest season, weekend, Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year or Vietnamese public-holiday supplements, if applicable.
• Additional costs caused by adverse weather, landslides, road closures, local market changes, trekking restrictions, rafting suspension 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”.