Our Above and Below adventure tours begin with .......

Time to recover, a night in Hanoi, a full day to explore the city. Once you've arrived and settled in, we'll meet you over dinner to say "hello", and talk about your tour. On the following day, we'll show you the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Vietnam's historical city.

Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch and 1 dinner
Escort/guide: transfer from airport to hotel and evening, and the following day.

Overnight on Ha Long Bay:
After breakfast, your car will arrive to take you to Ha Long Bay. A boat will be waiting for you. You'll kayak on both days - it's an excellent way to get close to the rocky islands and see features that are invisible from a distance.

The Ha Long Bay experience is difficult to describe - suffice it to say that most of our customers rate it as their most durable memory. If you're a seafood fan - you're in for something special!

If the weather's good, take the pillows from the cabin, and sleep on the roof - it's magic, especially if you encounter a clear Ha Long dawn! Sadly, it's back to Hanoi on the following afternoon to board an overnight train to Sapa.

Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
Guide: both days

3 days in the northern mountains: (Sapa)
You'll visit a weekly market frequented by ethnic minority people followed with a two-day clycling excursion on a winding road passing ethnic minority villages. The the scenery of mountains and rice paddy terraces is worth the effort.

Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner
Guide: 3 days

2 days in Nha Trang:
On arrival at Cam Rang, Nha Trang's spiffy new international airport, you'll have a boat trip up the Cai River to see the rural lifestyle and local cottage industries. After lunch, you can wallow in an open-air mineral mud bath. You'll be in a communal bath - private tubs are available, but they cost more and are much less fun! There's also a splendid hot mineral water swimming pool in a delightful garden.

On the following day, you'll be picked up to board one of the Nha Trang tour boats. We normally avoid ‘touristy' activities, but this one is an enjoyable experience. Plenty to eat, bottomless local wine, snorkelling and playing the fool in sampans paddled by local maidens - there's even a ‘band' to serenade you! No need for pre-arranged dinners in Nha Trang! There's plenty of variety in the many restaurants on the beach, the menus are in English and the prices are reasonable.

Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Guide: first day only

3 days on Whale Island:
This is serious seclusion. The small resort has the island to itself. Clear sea, soft white sand beach, good snorkelling and diving on coral reefs, and all meals included. The downside is no TV and no telephones - on second thoughts, who needs them on a tropical island?

Meals: full board
Guide: not necessary

Time to leave!
The Whale Island staff will take care of your transfer from the resort to the airport.

Meals: 1 breakfast