DAY 1: HANOI – HALONG BAY (L, D)
Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am. On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a junk for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave. After a short exploration of the cave we start our kayaking time paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach Luon Cave, which is a tunnel thrusting through a mountain. Paddling through the tunnel to explore a beautiful secluded lagoon. We will meet the junk in front of the cave. Aboard the junk for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: KAYAKING HALONG BAY (B, L, D)
After breakfast we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Lunch on support boat in front of the cave. After lunch we paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong Bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches. Cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and overnight on mother boat.
DAY 3: KAYAKING AND TRANSFER TO CAT BA ISLAND (B, L, D)
Breakfast on boat. Transferred by support boat to Lan Ha Bay, where we start paddling across a wide sea channel to reach Dau Be Island, which has a small fishing settlement. To the western side of the island is Ho Ba Ham (Three Tunnel Lake), a deep grotto with three inland "lakes. The grotto is accessible only at low tide by kayak. There are beautiful beaches around, where we could stop for swimming. Optional paddling around the island. Lunch on support boat. In the afternoon we take a short transfer by support boat to Cat Ba Island. Bus transfer from Cat Ba Dock to hotel. Check in hotel and free at leisure. Overnight on Cat Ba Island.
DAY 4: TREK CAT BA NATION PARK (B, L, D)
Breakfast in the hotel before taking a beautiful drive to Cat Ba National Park. Trek thru the park (4 hrs) to Viet Hai Village where you have lunch in a local house. After lunch you walk to the dock and transferred by boat back to Cat Ba town around 5 pm. Overnight on Cat Ba Island.
DAY 5: CAT BA ISLAND - HAI PHONG CITY - HANOI (B, L)
Breakfast in the morning and free at leisure. In the afternoon, we take hydrofoil to Hai Phong City. We meet our bus in Hai Phong and transfer back to Hanoi. Trip completes.. |
You will find this tour a great combination of kayaking and trekking. Kayaking in the wonderland of karst topography with 3, 000 limestone islets and trekking through the national park with great view of Halong Bay from mountains’ summits. We will paddle amongst islets, visit hidden caves, lagoons, unspoiled beaches, floating fishing village and talk with local fish-man. On Cat Ba Island we will trek through jungle and have a chance to see the panorama of Halong Bay from one of the mountain summits we would conquer during the trek. Before heading back to Hanoi via Hai Phong we would have a half day to relax on the beach of Cat Ba. 
