Mai Chau valley vs Pu Luong Reserve

Pu Luong nature reserve is all about nature and deeply rooted ethnic cultures. This trip offers a wide array of natural sceneries: jungle, terraced rice fields, forested limestone mountains, rivers, cascades, and natural pools. It is beautiful and the local hospitality from Thai people is recognized throughout the country. Get ready for an unforgettable trip. And because we are some kind of perfectionists, we will harmoniously balance the rhythm of the tour with a stage in Mai Chau valley.

• Theme tour: Adventurous explorer
• Kids friendly: Yes
• Destination: Less traveled

• Leisure cycling across Mai Chau valley
• Trekking to remote and wondrous ethnic villages
• Fantastic, rugged mountainous scenery

• Sun & rain gear (including sun cream, brimmed-hat)
• Insect repellent
• Warm clothes in winter (mid Nov to early Mar)
• Cycling shoes/sandals
• Daypack for hiking
• Toiletries, towel and flashlight
• Original passport

Meals: lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Mai Chau

8:00 AM – pick up from your hotel. On the morning drive to Mai Chau, we’ll leave the city behind and pass through craggy, mountainous landscape. We drive up a massive pass and end in the mountainous circus of Mai Chau around noon time. Lunch will be served in a local Thai house.

In the afternoon, we’ll have a small walk around Mai Chau valley before getting a quick transfer to a small remote village of Mai Hich. Weather permits there’s a chance for a small cycling around the green village. Afterwards, we return for dinner and overnight in the stilt house with our friendly Thai hosts.

Your overnight accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-silts. There’s no private room and you’ll sleep on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow and mosquito net. The restroom is at international standard and a few steps from the main house.

Upgrade accommodation to private bungalow at the Sol Bungalow (or similar resort) is available.

Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Pu Luong

We leave our hosts after breakfast and drive East for about 15 km before entering the Pu Luong nature reserve. You’ll then get down the car for 2-hours trekking on single trail through Thai villages and rice terraces, with the opportunity to take a break at local houses en route.

Meet your car again for a quick transfer to our lunch stop at a small lodge. In the afternoon, we step into the wild with an awesome hike on trails across the second half of the reserve to reach its Western edge. The hike is not too hard and lasts 3 to 4 hours. It makes it an intermediate-level trek. Plan to bring along good shoes and batteries for your camera.

After a demanding afternoon, we get to Ban Hieu village, check-in a local house and go for a refreshing swim in the cascades and natural pools nearby. Homemade dinner before a well-deserved time for rest.

Today accommodation is at the same standard as previous night in Mai Chau. 

Upgrade accommodation to the Pu Luong Retreat (or similar eco-lodge) is available.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: not included

Easy morning, depending on the season and your preference, you can stay at the lodge and relax, go for a walk to a waterfall nearby. It is pretty easy, accessible to most of people and offers a unique experience in North Vietnam.

We have an early lunch at the village and then walk for about an hour and half to the road where our car can access. We drive back to Hanoi on the Ho Chi Minh road and should be there around 18:00.