Ninh Binh's Country Side & Cuc Phuong Experience
Duration: 3days/2 nights
Highlight include:
- Boat trip in Van Long nature reserve
- Cycling through villages, ricefields and forest
- Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC)
- 1000 year old tree
- Wildlife Night-spotting
- Bird watching
Ititerary
Day one: Depart from Hanoi at around 7:30 and drive down to Van Long Nature Reserve. At this site you will take a boat trip for 1,5 or 2 hours in the hopes of seeing the Delacour’s langur - one of rarest primate species in the world. After the boat trip, you will have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will start a whole afternoon of cycling to Cuc Phuong national park. This 40km of cycling will takes you through the villages, ricefields, fishing area and farm along the dike that divided Hoang Long river and local communities of Gia Vien and Nho Quan districts. During this cycling you will have chance to explore the dailly life of local people; enjoy the beautifull of the landscape as well as visit a temples, a church and a cave called Van Trinh. While arrive the park, you will settle into your room, have dinner at Cuc Phuong’s restaurant and take a quiet night’s sleep. (L/D)
Day two: After a night’s sleep, you will awake to the sounds of gibbons and the surrounding forest. Have breakfast and visit the Visitor Center, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center and Turtle Conservation Center. After the conservation centers, you cycle 7km into the forest to visit the Cave of Prehistoric Man, a place where stone tools and skeletons were found dated to some 7.500 years old. After the cave, keep cycling for 12km up to the park center, where you will check in to the guest house and have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the 1000 year old tree. This 7km loop trail offers you an opportunity to discover the tropical fauna and flora of the national park. In the evening, after having dinner you and the national park guide will re-enter the forest, using headlights to go and search for nocturnal creatures, including owls, flying squirrels, civets and small carnivores. Followed by a second night in the middle of the park (B/L/D)
Day three: Wake up refreshed, have breakfast and take another short walk with bird-watching before cycling back to the park headquarter for lunch. After lunch you will relax for an hour, the car will then drive you back to Hanoi. (B/L)
What to bring: Boots/walking shoes/sport shoes, headlights, clothes (warm clothes in winter), hat, camera, binoculars, insect repellent...etc.
B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
