In-depth discovery of Halong Bay (5 days)

The confusion is often made between Halong Bay and what we could call the entire Halong Archipelago. The archipelago is an endless, picturesque maze of limestone rocks emerging from emerald waters, while the Bay is just one piece of the puzzle (as are Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha Bays). When the fame of one name makes a destination overly popular and when hundreds of boats therefore confine themselves to the same area, it is our great pleasure to offer you an alternative. Grab your paddle and get on our original renovated fishing-boat - we take you on unique cruising and kayaking routes through another part of the archipelago right in the heart of a protected maritime reserve. Make the ecofriendly choice to explore deserted lagoons, unspoiled nooks and beautiful sandy beaches.

Name	In-depth discovery of Halong Bay
Duration	5 days / 4 nights
Price from	- USD / pax (based on 2 pax)
Itinerary in short	Day 1 : Hanoi / Halong Bay Day 2 : Kayak Halong Bay Day 3 : Halong Bay / Ho Ba Ham / Cat Ba island Day 4 : Trek Cat Ba National Park Day 5 : Cat Ba Island / Hai Phong / Hanoi

TRAVEL NOTES
• Depending on the weather conditions on the sea and on Cat Ba Island, the programme is subject to modification. Whatever the change is places, we’ll maintain the kayaking activity as this is the highlight of this tour
• Tides and weather conditions may alter the times of meals and other activities.
• In line with our responsible vision of tourism, please note that we do not include the most popular caves of the bay in our program. We consider that they are an insult to heritage preservation.
• On the way to Halong and back to Hanoi, we will stop at a place with food, beverages and souvenirs for sale. This is not to trick you and that will be the only times of the whole trip you may feel in the tourism mass. But that is the only place on the way, where you, your driver and your guide can use clean toilets without being forced to buy anything. Thanks for your understanding.

DAY 1 : HANOI / HALONG (-/L/D)
After breakfast, check out of the hotel, meet your guide for your 3 ½ hour transfer to Halong Bay where you board your junk in time for a sumptuous seafood lunch. Your boat cruises Halong Bay passing beautiful limestone seascape, floating fishing villages and visiting Sung Sot Cave. In the late afternoon we anchor in a beautiful cove. Tonight relax and enjoy dinner on board the Junk with the other guests

DAY 2 : KAYAK HALONG BAY (B/L/D)
Today is a fantastic day exploring caves, villages and lagoons. After breakfast paddle to Luon Cave and Trung Cave where you have time to discover these dark tunnels carved inside lime stone mountains. Lunch is served on the support boat before we paddle to Van Chai Floating village, the biggest community of fishermen in Halong Bay. Here we visit the school to donate much needed school materials and meet a local family before we continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing 200 metre long cave by kayak which opens up to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Late afternoon return to the junk and relax on the sundeck soaking up the dramatic natural scenery with a cold beer!

Kayaking : 5h , moderate grade
Make a difference : Visit a floating fishing village to donate school materials

DAY 3 : KAYAK HO BA HAM / CAT BA ISLAND (B/L/D)
After breakfast on the Junk we transfer to the support boat to Ho Ba Ham, a deep grotto with three inland “lakes”. The grotto is accessible only at low tide by kayak and there’s opportunity to swim at beautiful beaches. In the afternoon if time and weather permits we can paddle in Lan Ha Bay and continue on to Cat Ba Island where we take a bus to our hotel. Check into the hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring the restaurants and bars of Cat Ba

Kayaking : 5h, moderate grade

DAY 4 : CAT BA NATIONAL PARK (B/L/D)
Breakfast in the hotel before we head off on a beautiful drive to Cat Ba National Park. This morning we trek four hours through the park to Viet Hai Village where you have lunch in a local house here you can enjoy panoramic views of limestone karst towers. After lunch walk to the dock for a boat trip back to Cat Ba Island for free time in the evening.

Trekking : 4h, moderate grade

DAY 5 : CAT BA ISLAND / HAI PHONG / HANOI (B/-/-)
This morning is free to wander around Cat Ba Town. In the afternoon, we take a hydrofoil to Hai Phong City where we meet our private vehicle in Hai Phong and drive 3 ½ hours back to your hotel in Hanoi arriving around 5:00pm.

This is a sample itinerary so the cost really depends on the number of people in your group and time of travel. Please send us your enquiry for availabilities & the most up dated price.

INCLUSION
• Transportation in private air-con vehicle
• 2 overnights on board of a traditional junk, on twin sharing cabin, with daily breakfast (B)
• 2 overnights at 3-star hotel on Cat Ba Island, on twin sharing room, with daily breakfast (B)
• Meals as specified in the program (L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
• Kayaks and safety gear
• Dedicated support boat for the second day
• Tender boat
• The services of an experienced English-speaking guide
• All entrance fees
• 24/24h assistance from our company
• Service charges and government tax

EXCLUSION
• Travel insurance
• Visa
• Drink and beverage
• Personal expenses
• Camera fees (if any)
• Tips for guide & driver
• Surcharge in peak season (Christmas, New Year, local public holidays)
• Other items than mentioned in the program
• Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (typhoon, floods), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc.