Magical islands and hill hikes

During our Halong Bay and Cat Ba tour, you'll drift through an enchanting archipelago of 3000 limestone islands. Floating among the islands, you'll get stunning views of the scenery and a glimpse into the daily lives of the locals.

You'll spend one night on the boat and one night on Cat Ba Island, a national park overgrown with virgin countryside. A guide will take you hiking through the dense, tropical jungle on Cat Ba island, past Frog Lake, and down to the dragon rocks that rise from the rice paddies. There will also be opportunities for swimming and relaxing on the shore. You can also choose to do this tour as a completely individual trip, with a chauffeur-driven car and a private boat in Halong Bay.

Duration	3 days / 2 nights Departs daily from Hanoi	Accommodation	1 night in a private cabin aboard a boat, 1 night in a simple but comfortable hotel on Cat Ba Island. Comfort Level 2/3 (see accommodation)
Price	£98 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included	Transport from Hanoi to Halong Bay, 2 nights accommodation with breakfast, main meals whilst on the boat cruise, hike on Cat Ba Island
Transport	Air-conditioned minibus, boat	Excluded	All other meals, drinks and $9 dollar entrance fee to Cat Ba National Park

Day 1: Hanoi - Halong Bay

You'll leave Hanoi early this morning (around 8am) and set off on your Halong Bay and Cat Ba tour by air-conditioned minibus (3 hrs). After a few hours you'll eventually see the picturesque landscape of Halong Bay unfold in the distance. Here, more than 3000 bizarre craggy islands rise dramatically from the clear waters of the bay. Some are thickly forested (one of these is Cat Ba Island where you'll begin your Vietnam hike), others are bare rock and many have secluded sandy coves for a sneaky dip.

You'll drift through Halong Bay by boat, relaxing and taking in your surroundings. The captain will give you plenty of opportunities to dive into the turquoise waters. If the weather permits, you'll be able to climb to the top of Titop Mountain. Lunch and dinner will be served on the boat on which you'll also spend the night. Your cabin will have air conditioning and a private bathroom.

Halong Bay and Cat Ba Tour: Hiking on Cat Ba Island

Day 2: Halong Bay Cruise - Cat Ba Island National Park Hike

Breakfast will be prepared for you early in the morning and afterwards your boat will set off for Cat Ba Island. When you arrive, you'll head out with a guide to explore Cat Ba Island National Park on foot, with a limestone ridge towering at a height of 150 metres. The highest point on the island is Cao Vong, reaching an impressive 322 metres. There is a huge diversity of flora and fauna in the park - 745 different plants, including 300 kinds of medicinal plants. There are also 32 different species of mammals, 69 species of birds and 20 types of reptiles. You'll hike through Cat Ba National Park for about 2.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to see some really exotic plant and animal life.

After the Cat Ba Island hiking tour, you can dive into the salty water of a lagoon to refresh your energy. Following your morning trek, you'll be taken back to the hotel in Cat Ba, where a well-earned lunch will be served. In the afternoon, you'll be free to explore Cat Ba Island on your own or head for Cat Co beach. Your guide can also organise a kayak trip to Monkey Island. You'll spend the second night of your Halong Bay and Cat Ba tour in the comfortable hotel on Cat Ba Island.

Day 3: Cat Ba Island - Hanoi

This morning, you'll check out at 8:45am and a bus will take you back to the pier. Then, you'll sail lazily from Cat Ba Island through Halong Bay back to the mainland, absorbing the spectacular views for the last time. After lunch on the boat, you'll hop on the bus back to Hanoi, where your Halong Bay and Cat Ba tour will end. The bus ride should take approximately 3 hours and will include a short rest stop. Depending on traffic, you'll arrive in Hanoi at the end of the afternoon.

After this Halong Bay and Cat Ba tour you can choose from all sorts of options. If you like the idea of another trek, try our popular Hill Tribes of Sapa tour. Alternatively, you can head south via Classic Hoi An.

Halong Bay and Cat Ba tour - Taking a quick dip

A peek at your accommodation

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