Day 1: Mai Chau valley trek
After breakfast drive an interesting four hours to beautiful Hoa Binh Province, located in the mountainous area south east of Hanoi. It is region dominated by limestone karst scenery and is populated by Thai, Hmong, Muong and Dao ethnic people. Descend the last 14km along a steep mountain road into the stunning valley of Mai Chau. Hot lunch will be served by our trek cooks and our host family in one of the small villages dotting the valley floor. After lunch there will be a warm up walking of approximately 3 hours passing through many picturesque villages and lush paddy fields to a quaint Thai village.
Overnight in comfortable Thai house on stilts. (L,D). End of the first day of Ultimate trek Pu Luong
Approx: 3-4 hours walking
Day 2: Mai Chau –Ban Te – Bao La –Ban Buoc
Take a short transfer of 25 minutes to Nhot village then begin trekking uphill 300m to the villages of Na Mo and Na meo, home to white Thai minority people. Descend again into a beautiful valley and hike through Ban Te village. Lunch here at Te village. After a rest and relax continue hiking on narrow trails alongside a river and across rice terraces, bamboo gardens and crossing a rickety suspension bridge. Overnight in Buoc village.
Overnight in Thai house on stilts. (B,L,D).
End of the second day of Ultimate trek Pu Luong
Approx: 16km/ 6-7 hours trek .
Day 3: Ban Buoc – Van Mai –Co Luong – Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Hang village)
A morning valley trek of four hours leads to the Thai village of Van Mai (Cum village). After an early lunch there drive approximately 20km to Co Luong. From here board a local boat to cross the Ma River. It takes you around 15 minutes.
Disembark and hike to Trang Village, trekking on an easy trail till hanging bridge of Phu Le – Sai village. The scenery becomes more breathtaking and wild. From Sai take a short transfer of 15 minutes to Duom village to avoid paved road and continue entering the Nature reserve proper with the last 3km till homestay. Pu Luong at this end is a narrow and steep valley with a river running through it. There are beautiful views of valley, forest and terraces.
Overnight in ecotourism home-stay – a Thai stilt house in a small village. (B,L,D)
End of the third day of Ultimate trek Pu Luong
Approx: 20km/7-8 hours trek, 15-20 minute boat journey.
Day 4: Nature reserve trek (Hang – Kho Muong)
A harder full day hiking, 70% on village paths 30% on quiet paved road. There are some steep climbs and yet more stream crossings. The trekking becomes more remote yet one is never far from a villager tending fields or walking back from early morning market. Relax from the heat of the day in a local home at Pa Ban village while lunch is cooked before heading to Dong Dieng and go through forest to our homestay in Kho Muong. Arrive early with energy to spare to hike a two hour round trip to a newly discovered and incredibly large cave, hidden on high ground surrounded by thickets and hanging vegetation. It is now protected by the Forest rangers, due to the delicate ecosystem and bat species inside.
Overnight in ecotourism homestay, Kho Muong village. (B, L, D)
End of the forth day of Ultimate trek Pu Luong
Approx: 17km/ 7-8 hours trek.
Day 5: Pu Luong trek (Kho Muong – Hin village)
Starting the day with short uphill trail to Lan Ngoai village. The scenery is beautiful & along some village canals.
The trail after lunch begins in the valley floor for about an hour and then climbs over a small mountain to Hin village and your final home-stay of the trip. The village is perfectly positioned close to a small river with opportunities to cool off with a swim after a long day. Explore the fascinating architecture and numerous hamlets that dot the valley of the surrounding area or just relax in a hammock and enjoy the serenity of this gorgeous region.
Overnight in ecotourism home-stay (B,L,D)
End of the fifth day of Ultimate trek Pu Luong
Approx: 16km/ 6-7 hours trek.
Day 6: Pu luong Nature reserve – Hanoi
After an early breakfast you will enjoy our last hike of the trip which takes you out of the valley and back up into the mountains.
Option 1: The first hour is relatively flat passing through small hamlets and farmers working their rice paddies before crossing the river and heading up into the hills. Trek uphill for 2-3 hours on a well trodden trail enjoying magnificent views of the valley below and a patchwork of rice fields and forest covered mountains. The trail then levels out and passes along the ridge through thick forest and emerges in the village of Ban Muoi where you will stop for lunch. After lunch hike for an hour on a quiet paved road to the village of ban Ton where you will meet with the bus and transfer back to Hanoi.
Approx: 10km/ 4-5 hours trek
Option 2: From the home-stay in Pu Luong, we start the short trek today with about 1.5 hour for 4km distance to Pho Doan. Then we have the bus pick up client here for the transfer to Hanoi.
Approx: 4km/ 1.5 hours trek
End of the last day of Ultimate trek Pu Luong
