DISCOVER HALONG BAY BY KAYAK 1-4 Days

SETTING: Considered the classic example of marine limestone topography, Ha Long Bay is a World Heritage site of more than 1,000 limestone karts islands.

SEASON: Year round, but foggy and rainy from December to March. Water is warm enough to sustain coral year round.

SKILLS: Easy. We paddle inside the caves, but encourage you to learn how to paddle outside the caves. Some caves are large enough to self-paddle on slack tides.

LODGING: Escort boat with full galley providing Sea Canoe's famous Seafood vegetarian meal plan. Showers and Western toilets. Sleep inside the large cabin or on the sundeck. Air mats and bedding is provided.

DEPARTURES: Daily departures from your hotel in Hanoi or Halong.

HOT TIP: Our best Ha Long Bay trip accesses our favorite outer islands. Combining this trip with Ba Be makes an excellent group expedition

DESCRIPTION: As Asia's original sea kayak expedition company, Sea Canoe emphasizes local conditions and culture. . We understand local politics, so we've got the only permit to overnight and/or camp in the Bay, allowing you to visit sites far from the pier rarely seen by outsiders. Although Ha Long is more than 1,000 islands, we've been researching the Bay since 1992, so you see most of the best sites while you fall into the quiet rhythm of Ha Long's spirit.

Kayaking inside limestone karsts is one of our specialties. Aside from the comforts and permits, escort boats allow you to efficiently experience the remote geology and untouched culture harbored within Ha Long's scattered limestone islands. With some tranquil sunsets and some Sunrises on the water, you should have good chances of wildlife sightings, and the eerie romance of the outer islands is unforgettable.

The first day takes you to Hang Toi, our overnighter site where you can adjust to the Bay's drama and ambiance. The next morning you motor further into the endless islands and spend the next few days circumnavigating the Bay. Each itinerary is built around the tides, but there are virtually unlimited options, and the highly technical outer islands' Phong's are exceptional.

Throughout your trip, you explore complicated rock gardens; paddle long dark sea caves and visits cliff-lined inland lagoons. (Phong's in Vietnamese, Hong's in Thailand.) You will learn about stalactites and stalagmites, coral gardens, wildlife and Ha Long' s exceptional geology with English-speaking guides trained in cave kayaking and Ha Long's Natural History. In most caves, staff does the paddling. However, some long-range caves are large enough that cave self-paddling is sometimes an option.

Sea Canoe's self-designed ultra-tough inflatable kayaks allow you to explore deep into small caves. Silent and smooth, you won't disturb bat colonies, and if you are lucky, you might see birds, primates, reptiles, fish and coral closer than you ever dreamed possible. Many species we see were considered rare or extinct in this habitat. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but sunrise and sunset are the best times.

SAFETY NOTICE: Ha Long has large caves and lagoons that create dangerous tidal currents at varying but predictable times. Sea Canoe started exploring Ha Long's local conditions in 1992, and with a 16-year perfect record for safe kayaking and the only kayaks especially designed for sea cave exploring, only Sea Canoe can guarantee your safe entries into the smallest and most complex of Ha Long's sea caves.

Well, there are more!
Sea Canoe offers you a day trip in Halong Bay.
Sea Canoe offers you a 2 day trip in Halong Bay.
Sea Canoe offers you a 3 day trip in Halong Bay.
Sea Canoe offers you a 4 day trip in Halong Bay.
Sea Canoe offers you a 6 day trip in Halong Bay.
Sea Canoe offers you a 4 day trip in Ba Be.

Tour Programs

Ha Long Bay Day Trip
Tour Code: SC1

Eight hours explore Halong bay by kayak instead of four hours stay on boat Ha Long Bay, North Vietnam - On the coast near the Chinese border.

Daily
08.00 Depart from Halong pier
10.30 Arrive one cave and explore the Bay by kayak,
12.00 Return to escort boat
12.10 Depart for other place. Deluxe sea food lunch on the way.
13.30 Continue explore by kayak.
17.00 Arrival Halong pier. Good bye Sea Canoe staff.

Ha Long Bay Overnighter (2 Days / 1 Night)
Tour Code: SC2

Two days, One night (Ha Long's usual "Day Trip" format)
Ha Long Bay, North Vietnam - On the coast near the Chinese border.

Day 1
09.00 Depart your hotel in Hanoi.
12.00 Meet at Ha Long and eat lunch at restaurant in Halong Bay.
13.00 Depart Ha Long pier
15.00 Arrive Hang Toi and explore the Bay by kayak,
18.00 Return to escort boat
19.00 Seafood dinner
20.00 Optional night paddle
22.00 Return to escort boat and sleep

Day 2
05.30 Sunrise, optional paddle
07.00 Depart Haeng Toi, breakfast underway
08.30 Arrive Second island (selected according to the tides),
Explore more caves and Phong's
11.00 Depart for Ha Long City, lunch underway
12.00 Arrive at the pier.
12.30 Depart to Hanoi. Return to your hotel in Hanoi.

Ha Long Bay Overnight (3 Days / 2 Nights)
Tour Code: SC3

For adventures on Discover Vietnam itineraries Ha Long bay, North Vietnam, on the coast near the Chinese border (Similar to our Four-day itinerary, which adds more islands)

Day 1
09.00 Depart your hotel in Hanoi.
12.00 Meet at Ha Long and eat lunch at Kim Hang restaurant
13.00 Depart Ha Long pier
15.00 Arrive Haeng Toi and explore the Bay by kayak,
18.00 Return to escort boat
19.00 Seafood dinner
20.00 Optional night paddle
22.00 Return to escort boat and sleep or camp on the beach

Day 2
07.00 Breakfast
08.00 Depart for Second Island
09.00 Kayak caves in Second Island, one with a triple Phong
12.00 Return to escort boat for lunch
13.00 Continue kayak exploration, more caves and Phong's
18.00 Rendezvous with escort boat
19.00 Dinner
20.00 Optional night paddle. Overnight on the boat or camp on the beach

Day 3
07.00 Sunrise breakfast
08.00 Continue island exploration including caves and Phong's
12.00 Return to escort boat, lunch underway
12.30 Depart to Hanoi. Return to your hotel in Hanoi.

Ha Long Bay Overnight (4 Days / 3 Nights)
Tour Code: SC4

For adventurers on Discover Vietnam itineraries Ha Long Bay, North Vietnam, on the coast nears the Chinese border. Similar to our Six-Day itinerary, which adds more islands

Day 1
09.00 Depart your hotel in Hanoi.
12.00 Meet at Ha Long and eat lunch at Kim Hang restaurant
13.00 Depart Ha Long pier
15.00 Arrive Haeng Toi and explore the Bay by kayak,
18.00 Return to escort boat
19.00 Seafood dinner
20.00 Optional night paddle
22.00 Return to escort boat and sleep

Day 2
07.00 Breakfast
08.00 Depart for Second Island
09.00 Kayak caves in Second Island, one with a triple Phong
12.00 Return to escort boat for lunch
13.00 Continue kayak exploration, more caves and Phong's
18.00 Rendezvous with escort boat
19.00 Dinner
20.00 optional night paddle

Day 3
07.00 Sunrise breakfast
08.00 Continue Island exploration including caves and Phong's
12.00 Return to escort boat, lunch underway
13.00 Arrive Fish Farm Island and paddle sea tunnel and coastal paddle
18.00 Rendezvous with Escort boat
19.00 Dinner and Sleep on escort boat or beach camping near Tito beach
20.00 Optional Moonlight paddle

Day 4
07.00 Depart for North Coast of Dao Cat Ba; breakfast underway
08.30 Explore caves and Hong's of North Cat Ba
11.00 Depart for Ha Long City
12.00 Arrive Ha Long City pier. Return your hotel in Hanoi.

Ba Be Overnight (4 Days / 3 Nights)
Tour Code: BABE

For Adventures on Discover Vietnam itineraries Combines well with our Halong itineraries.
Babe national park - 6-8 hours drive North of Hanoi in stream-filled limestone karst lake hill tribe country.

SETTING: Upland limestone country
SEASON: Year round
SKILLS: Easy stream and lake paddling
LODGING: National park cottages with good beds and toilets, mosquito netting and electricity. Meal plan provided by Sea Canoe

DEPARTURES: Daily departures from your hotel in Hanoi

HOT TIP: Picturesque and magical Ba Be is under intense poaching pressure for Chinese traditional medicines - your visit helps us develop a wild life Awareness and Rehab Program in co-operation with the National Park. The drive through Hill Tribe country is very entertaining, especially following a visit to the Hill Tribe Museum.

DESCRIPTION: This trip puts you right in the heart of upland Vietnam in a remote National Park that's set in limestone karst mountains. Ba Be means "Three Lakes". In fact, there is only large lake with three different sections. Rivers flow into the lake from all directions, and you paddle one river that flows through a large cave. Early morning hikes and paddles from Park headquarters offer rewarding wildlife sightings and sunrise vistas, and there's a traditional lakefront village whose residents are so isolated they still speak Thai. All the paddling is easy. As Asia's original sea kayak expedition company. Sea Canoe emphasizes local conditions and culture. This trip puts you right inside Vietnam's Thai-speaking hill tribe culture.

Itinerary:

Day 1
08.00 Depart your hotel in Hanoi
09.30 Hill tribe museum and snack break
11.00 Depart Hill Tribe museum
13.00 Lunch on the way
14.00 Drive cut-off road to Babe
17.00 Produce shopping in Hill Tribe market
18.00 Arrive Ba Be Park headquarters and check-in
20.00 Dinner catered by Sea canoe

Day 2
06.00 Optional sunrise nature walk
08.00 Breakfast catered by Sea Canoe
09.00 Depart for river paddle
10.00 Begin paddle through marshlands and down easy and calm small river
12.00 Picnic lunch on the stream bank
13.00 Continue river paddle
14.30 Arrive at lake, short picnic break, and paddle into the lake
17.00 Take out at park dock
19.00 Dinner catered by Sea Canoe

Day 3
06.00 Optional sunrise lake paddle
08.00 Breakfast catered by Sea Canoe
09.00 Lake paddle put-in from Park dock
12.00 Arrive Hill Tribe Village
13.00 Visit Hill Tribe Village
16.00 Lake paddle or rendezvous with motor launch and transfer to dock
17.00 Take out at Park dock
19.00 Dinner catered by Sea Canoe
20.00 Optional cultural visit to "Disco Ba Be "

Day 4
07.30 Breakfast catered by Sea Canoe
08.30 Check-out
0900 Depart for Hanoi
12.00 Lunch
13.00 Continue to Hanoi
15.00 Snack Break
15.30 Continue to Hanoi
17.30 Return to your hotel in Hanoi

We provide almost everything from your hotel pick-up to your return - transfers including two snack breaks, English speak kayak guides, all Deluxe meals with brewed coffee, gourmet teas and soft drink included (lunch, dinner, breakfast, lunch), all kayaking, sleeping gear and all escort boat privileges.

What to bring:
Hat, Shorts, Sleeping clothes, Sun block, Mosquito repellant (just in case), Sunglasses, Swimming gear, T shirts - protection from the sun, Toiletries, Towel/Sarong, Very light long pants - protection against mosquitoes, Beachcomber's footgear (booties, Tevas, heavy-duty sandals, etc., Camera with lots of film (We have dry bags, but Sea Canoe is not responsible for cameras optical or electronics gear.)

This information is a sample only, offered to give you a general idea of our product and is not contractual. Times and locales often vary according to tides, weather and the decisions of the expedition leader. Our objective is to give you the best possible experience within the time frame and detailed conditions of your expedition. Our policy is to continually update and improve our products for your benefit.

Halong Bay Sea Kayak Trip
Validity: November 1, 2005 - October 31, 2006
All Rates are in US Dollar per person

Validity: November 1, 2006 - October 31, 2007
All Rates are in US Dollar per person

Tour Cost Include the following Services:
- Accommodation at hotels in twin sharing with daily breakfast,
- Land transportation with stationed English/German/French speaking guide,
- Entrance fees and boat fees,
- Water puppet show,
- Meals as mentioned in the program,
- Local train and domestic air ticket and airport tax.

Tour Cost Exclude the following:
- International airport taxes,
- Beverage (beer, wine and other soft drinks) and personal expenses,
- International air ticket,
- Visa upon arrival including visa stamp fee at airport: 35 USD per person,
- Supplement for Spanish/Japanese/Italian speaking guide.