Orientation
If
you want an idea of how beautiful Halong Bay is, see the
French
film Indochine. Now imagine cruising or kayaking these same calm, emerald waters
through caves into hidden lakes and white-sand beach coves, your small
kayak gliding beneath towering limestone peaks...
Michael Buckley notes "The romantic setting of rugged island peaks
and bays dotted with sailing junks has inspired a whole genre of Vietnamese
painting."
The
Tours
Our private tours of 2 to 4 days in length are of the highest quality yet as affordable as many package tours. Our three-day tour is the perfect
compliment to a visit to North Vietnam — a short three-hour drive from
Hanoi.
Meals and long-distance transport are on our "mother ships"
— spacious wooden cruisers equipped with comfortable suites, deck and dining
rooms. Meals designed
by culinary specialist, Diep To, are abundant and delicious highlighting
local seafood cooked up fresh. Vegetarians
can be accommodated.
Three-day Itinerary
Day
1: Hanoi to Halong Bay via private bus. Board cruiser for lunch as we motor out onto the board, sightseeing in Hang Dau Go
(Hiding the Timber Cave), the largest grotto in the Halong area.
Afternoon kayaking and sunset on Halong. Seafood dinner and overnight
onboard.
Day 2: Full day on the bay, exploring grottos, coves, inland lagoons, floating villages, and beach
coves. Seafood lunch, dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 3: Halong Bay. Half day kayaking on the bay followed by farewell lunch with crew.
Cost: Private boat tours starting at US$1,280 (inclusive of private boat and roundtrip transfer from Hanoi in private car).
Kayaking
is optional, but enables up close access, through karst into hidden lagoons
where no boat
can go. In fact, the experience is very similar to cycling on water.
We
use imported one and two-seat models are perfect for beginners and for
more experienced kayakers.
Information on boats |
Halong Bay
was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. The hundreds of limestone
peaks create a natural barrier to the wind blown waters of the South China
Sea and were a favorite hiding place for pirates. These very calm waters
are wonderfully suited for kayaking and the limestone formations are a
fantasy land of exploration. Large caves also served as hidden bunkers
for pirates, revolutionaries, and bandits and which we will explore on
foot and kayak.
Unlike Thailand,
Halong Bay in Vietnam has yet to be developed signficantly and there are few tourists visiting. It remains a tranquil setting for easy exploration.
|
