Central Highland Vietnam Impressive

Duration: 10 days / 09 nights
Tour features: Buon Ma Thuot - Kon Tum - Pleiku - Da Nang - Hoi An

If you crave outdoor adventure combined with an unforgettable cultural experience, then this is definitely the tour for you! Learn about the traditional lifestyles and cultures of some of Vietnam’s oldest tribes by visiting their villages, seeing them at work, sharing their meals and even sleeping in a house on stilts. Leave the city traffic far behind as you opt for alternative (and more natural) forms of transport: trekking through the jungle, riding an elephant, taking a scenic sampan cruise and paddling a dugout canoe. Your journey culminates in Hoi An, a World Heritage site famous for its tranquil countryside and endless sandy beach: the perfect place to unwind after the adventure of lifetime.

Itinerary

Enjoy the drive along the National Highway 14 with plenty of rubber and coffee plantations. You then have chance to visit the Ho Chi Minh Trail at the Daksong Junction and the Draysap Waterfalls o­n the way to Buon Ma Thuot city. Dinner o­n guest’s account. Overnight in hotel in Buon Ma Thuot.

Morning trip to Don Village - located northwest of Da Lat near the Serepok River, close to the Cambodian border, approximately 55 km from Buon Ma Thuot. Don village is well-known throughout Southeast Asia as the land of elephant hunters and trainers. Take a tour of the village o­n foot to learn about the culture of MNong minority, cross the marvelous suspension bridge and enjoy riding elephants through the primitive forests outside the town. Depart for Kontum in the afternoon. Dinner o­n guest’s account. Overnight in hotel in Kontum.

A soft adventure day begins at Plei Konang, 12km from KonTum. Take an exciting trek to Kon Monang (6km) o­n a jungle trail and discover more about exotic flora and fauna. Then paddle an inflatable raft or dug-out canoe o­n the Dak Bla River to the Bahnar tribe village of Kon Ktu (3 hours). Stop by a white sandy bank circled by hills, forests and clear water for a picnic lunch and a swim. The day ends with a gong show where villagers including young women and old men in traditional dress dance around a bonfire. Have dinner at the village. Overnight at the village communal house at Konktu.

Take a morning walk around the village to visit a house-on-stilts, a church and a school, many still retaining the ancient way of life. Continue to trek over forested hills o­n a trail under dense foliage (6km). Picnic lunch is arranged at Kon Chri Village. The afternoon is exciting with a delightful trek through villages and rice fields (6km) to the spectacular Kon Klo suspension bridge. Return to Kontum. Dinner o­n guest’s account. Overnight in hotel in Kontum.

Leave for Pleiku (50km), a busy town (home to the J’rai hill-tribe) o­n a fertile basaltic plateau at a height of 1,000 metres above sea level, then o­nwards to Kon Chro (110km) by a pleasant drive down the Mang Yang Pass. Have a picnic lunch en route. Take a trek through a chain of Banhar tribe villages (14km), which is separated by cultivated lands or forests. Have dinner at Yangnam Village. A gong and dancing show performed by villagers is held at the village communal house. Accommodation at a house-on-stilts at Yangnam.

In the morning, continue trekking through bamboo forests to H’nga (12km) for a scenic sampan cruise o­n the Krong Pa River to Plei Bloum Village (2 hours). Have picnic lunch o­n a sandy bank and bathe in the crystal-clear water. If time permits, participate in sports (volleyball, football) with the villagers. Have dinner at the village. Overnight at the house-on-stilts at Plei Bloum.

In the morning, explore the secrets of grave statues standing in lines at the J’rai tribe’s tomb house in the village. Transfer to Plei Kia Village (100km) for a fun elephant ride through J’rai villages, rice fields, forests and streams. Have a picnic lunch under a canopy of leaves by Ia Nhi Falls. Proceed to Pleiku (60km). Dinner o­n guest’s account. Overnight in hotel in Pleiku.

At leisure until transfer to Pleiku Airport for boarding flight VN 342 to Danang (12:10 – 13:00). O­n arrival, pick up and transfer to Hoi An (30km) with a stop-over at the Non Nuoc stone-carving village where a wide variety of articles is sculptured from marble and sandstone. The rest of the day is leisure by a pool side or o­n the sandy beach of Cua Dai. Lunch & dinner o­n guest’s account. Overnight in hotel in Hoi An.

Well known as a World Heritage site, Hoi An is also famous for its tranquil countryside and endless sandy beach. Spend the whole day exploring the ancient town, taking a boat ride to nearby handicraft villages or just frolicking in the azure water. Lunch & dinner o­n guest’s account. Overnight in hotel in Hoi An.

Do some last-minute shopping (stone-carvings, silk ware, paintings, etc) downtown or enjoy a little leisure time before check-out. Transfer to the airport for departure.

trip Price

Quoted rates are in USD per person

Tour package includes:

• A/c private car/van for pick up, transfer & sightseeing as per program
• English/French speaking tour guide.
• Entrance fee & travel permits.
• Elephant rides.
• 3 nights home stay arrangements.
• Hotel accommodation based o­n Twin/double or triple share.
• Meals as indicated in the program (B = Breakfast; L - Lunch; D = Dinner).
• Domestic flight: Pleiku – Danang (Economy class)

Tour package excludes:

• Travel insurance.
• Drinks & other meals not mentioned in the program.

Accommodation:

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