Day 1: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30 am. On the way, we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft center. Upon arrival in Halong City, we board a wooden boat for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave. After a short exploration of the cave, we start our exploration of the bay 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 mother boat, a junk in Chinese style, in front of the cave. Aboard the junk for dinner and overnight in AC, private cabin.
Summary
Transfer Hanoi – Halong Bay: 3.5 hrs
Kayaking: 2.5 hrs
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared cabin
Day 2: Kayaking Halong Bay
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. We can also explore some other caves nearby. Lunch on a 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 the mother boat
Summary
Kayaking: 6 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared cabin
Day 3: Kayaking – Halong Bay
Breakfast on the 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 swimming. Optional paddling around the island. Lunch on the support boat.
Transfer back to the mother boat for dinner and overnight.
Summary
Kayaking: 5 – 6 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared cabin
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Breakfast on the junk and enjoy the sundeck of the junk while she navigates the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City. Lunch on the junk before heading back to Hanoi by bus.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch on the mother boat
Summary
Cruising: 3 hrs
Transfer Halong Bay – Hanoi: 3.5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
