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Tour Pricing
Couple
$118
Family of 4
$94
Group of 7
$82
*Prices quoted as per person. Tours are generally inclusive of all costs listed in the itinerary. Prices do not include optional extra's or alcoholic beverages. Prices may also vary on national holidays.
Tours - Sampan + 1000 steps & cycling adventure
This action packed day starts with a ride in the Trang An sampan. There is a choice of 3 routes to take depending on your preference of sights to see - all will be explained when there. Please note that the sampan only takes 4 passengers per boat as they are human powered! Lunch is included, not at a restaurant but with a family famous for their local food. We will also climb the 1000 steps, visit the cave underneath and the lotus garden next to it. Ninh Binh is very flat so it’s perfect for cycling which we do rounding off the day, visiting nearby pagoda’s and caves.
Price covers travel to & from Ninh Binh with a dedicated driver for the day, lunch (excluding drinks), sampan tour, 1000 steps admission and cycle hire. Your guide will organise everything for your special day as well as informing you about the history of the local sights, culture as well as any translating that is needed naturally.
Itinerary
07:30
We start the tour early and either collect you from your hotel or residence in Hanoi. We have a private car with driver to take us the 100km (2hrs) to Ninh Binh. We aim to get there for around 09:30.
09:00
In Ninh Binh, our 1st activity of the day is a sampan boat ride at Trang An. We have an option of 3 boating routes - the choice is yours naturally. The boat ride takes us down the river, passing many limestone karsts which tower 100s of metres above us. We also pass under a few of karsts as they straddle the river, as well as through a cave! This is quite the sight as some of the clearances are very low and we have to lower our heads which feels quite special. We thank the ladies for rowing us and make our way for some tasty lunch.
12:00
Lunchtime! We are in for a treat. We eat at Chef Dung which is actually a local family for some amazing food. Their speciality is goat & crispy rice. We also have many other dishes brought to the table. The view from the location is beautiful too. There is a small stream that is near by as well to walk around. After lunch we drive to a nearby location…
13:00
1000 Steps - we get to this famous site, with 486 steps carved into the side of the biggest limestone karst in the area. The steps are not difficult and the summit is reached in 1/2 hour. The view from the top is spectacular. Seeing smaller karsts lining the river below in one direction, the dragon temple in the other with Ninh Binh town visible in the distance. We descend the steps and visit the Mua Cave under the 1000 steps. Hear of the local legends of the cave & the stream that runs though it. There is also a beautiful lotus garden next to the cave to see. The lotus garden is on a raised wooden walkway as the lotus flowers are in a large pond. After such a treasure of sights we go off to collect some bicycles!
15:00
Cycling in Ninh Binh is very popular because of the flat terrain surrounding the river. We cycle to the Bich Dong Pagoda, enjoying the scenery as we ride. The pagoda dates many centuries and was added too over the years. It’s extremely beautiful, so its in our tour. We then cycle back to our pickup point for around 17:30.
19:30
Alas now its the end of the tour. We can drop you off at your point of choosing back in Hanoi. We hope you had an amazing day & many wonderful memories of the tour.
*As an alternative option instead of cycling in the afternoon we can see the Bai Dinh Temple Complex.
Tour Pricing
Couple
$118
Family of 4
$94
Group of 7
$82
*Prices quoted as per person. Tours are generally inclusive of all costs listed in the itinerary. Prices do not include optional extra's or alcoholic beverages. Prices may also vary on national holidays.
Featured Sights
*Main / featured sights are listed only as there are too many otherwise. Thank you for your understanding.
Treks / Activities
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*Featured treks only, otherwise too many to list.