Hạ Long - Sung Sot Cave - Đảo Ti Tốp - Luon Cave - Monkey Lake - Floating House - Đảo Cát Dứa
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 52.43 mi
- Elevation gain
- 614 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 614 ft
- Max elevation
- 94 ft
- TrailRank
- 42
- Min elevation
- -12 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- one day 23 hours 43 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2147
- Uploaded
- September 1, 2018
- Recorded
- August 2018
near Cây Quéo, Quảng Ninh (Vietnam)
Viewed 591 times, downloaded 1 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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One of the most emblematic and well-known places in Vietnam is Hạ Long Bay, declared one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. We couldn't miss such a landscape, so we didn't hesitate to organize a few days in this beautiful place! We booked a nice cruise through Hạ Long Bay for 3 days on a 3-star Apricot Cruise ship, a cruise booked thanks to Phuong Vu, a travel agent. Everything was quite comfortable and simple, so we recommend without fear purchasing their services. Offers several excursions at good prices. We have no doubt that we are facing one of the most touristic cruises, but we don't want to miss it!
START:
After a bus trip from Hanoi lasting about 3 hours, we arrive at Hạ Long Port, where we must wait a few minutes for the boat to arrive that will take us to the Apricot Cruise ship. The day is very hot and the minutes seem eternal, but we don't wait too long. We quickly got on the boat! The cruise begins!
DESCRIPTION:
The Apricot Cruise ship was very close, so, in a few minutes, we boarded the large boat. From the outside it looks like an old ship, and it is, but it's pretty good. Once inside, we sat in the main room to follow the instructions of our guide Bingo, a very funny guide, but who guided us little, to be honest... Time to leave our backpacks and take our room, a room on the corner and with part of the private floor deck. Lovely! And for only 10 dollars more! To enjoy a cruise around Hạ Long Bay, we recommend backpacking, and the smaller the better, as the number of stops and boat changes are considerable. The large boat does not access the docks, but it will be a small boat that we use to approach each visit.
The boat begins to enter Hạ Long Bay, at which point we begin to be surprised by the large number of mountains that surround us. Without a doubt, it is a fascinating landscape! Time for lunch!
While we taste the typical Vietnamese food (rice, vegetables, salad, chicken, pork and watermelon... Every day!), the ship arrives at the most touristy area and where most cruise ships stay. Here we will have the next two visits at hand, very close to each other.
The first visit will be to the Sung Sot Cave, the cave of surprises. Our Bingo guide only tells us two or three curiosities as he brings us closer to the entrance. An express and solo visit along it and out, while we see how the rest of the excursions are carefully guided... When leaving the cave, back to the boat!
The second stop will be the beautiful and well-known island Đảo Ti Tốp (Ti Top Island). It is an island where there is a beach, a beach bar and a wonderful viewpoint. It is the most visited and closest island in Hạ Long Bay! We enjoyed an hour of the beautiful island, especially the views offered by its viewpoint, and returned to the boat!
Between Sung Sot Cave and Đảo Ti Tốp Island we will spend the rest of the first day, floating in the middle of Hạ Long Bay. Dinner time, happy hour, cocktail here and cocktail there! Fun moments with the rest of your cruise companions! Half from Spain and the other half from Malaysia. Only a girl from the Philippines unbalanced equality. End of the first day!
The second day would be the most intense! At 6:00 a.m., Tai Chi time! And before breakfast! After the night before, only a few of us were brave. We didn't want to miss any experience, so here we go, to the deck of the ship! It was fun!
After Tai Chi, it was time to have breakfast. Nothing special, but everything delicious! We continue our cruise through Hạ Long Bay, always with stunning views and surrounded by a sea of mountains, lakes, cliffs, and beaches.
The next visit we made by kayak! A beautiful and short trip visiting the Luon Cave and the beautiful Monkey Lake lagoon, where we have the first contact with the monkeys of the area, an animal as funny as it is mischievous! Good times in the kayak and a heavenly place. It's a shame about the enormous amount of dirt that accumulated in the lagoon, undoubtedly the weak point of the country.
After kayaking, we changed boats. The Apricot Cruise will return to the port, while we will continue our cruise, heading to Đảo Cát Dứa Island or Monkey Island. On the new boat we will eat and continue enjoying a beautiful journey through the bay.
We went even further into Hạ Long Bay and began to lose sight of the boats. Without a doubt, this area is much less touristy and typical for cruises of more than two days, a highly recommended option if you have enough time.
Soon we crossed a nice floating market (Floating House). And there are not only buildings where locals sell things, but also their own houses. It seems incredible that they can live here! A spectacular place!
After passing the floating market, we arrive at a spectacular area, where the boat parks again. The small dock offers a small beach bar and the option to kayak again. Plus, the boat we are sailing on now has a small platform to jump into the water! We didn't hesitate and enjoyed that time like dwarfs! Jump into the water from the platform and have a good time kayaking. For us, a journey with more charm than the previous one. Less dirt, more loneliness and more time. Unforgettable!
Time for lunch, while the boat prepares to take each passenger to their corresponding destinations to spend the night. Our destination was Đảo Cát Dứa Island or Monkey Island. During the trip, a multitude of cabins, hotel complexes and small coves and beaches.
We arrive at Đảo Cát Dứa Island or Monkey Island (Monkey Island), where we enjoy the first time on the main beach of the island, where we witness the "attack" in first person of one of the monkeys that inhabit the island . It seems that we had taken away the shade from his tree and he did not hesitate to make it clear that that was his place. We also witness the theft of sun cream and a dress... These monkeys are dangerous!
After enjoying a good time on the beach, a small boat takes us to the other side of the island, where Monkey Island Resort is located, where we will spend the night. The hotel complex is very beautiful and, although it does not have great luxuries, it offers everything you need for a pleasant stay. Without a doubt, a beautiful afternoon/night, getting to know the island, accessing its viewpoints and enjoying a spectacular dinner based on barbecue products. End of the second day!
On the third day we had to get up early and have breakfast at 7:00 a.m., since the boat would pick us up around 7:30 a.m. While we were having breakfast, a storm made us think that we could be there for several hours, cut off! Nothing is further from reality. In a few minutes it subsides and we see the ship approaching, with some delay.
Once on the boat, time to return, because on the third day we will no longer enjoy any outdoor activities. Throughout the morning they take us to different places to pick up people and return to the port. Meanwhile, we kill time playing Yahtzee, a fun and exciting dice game! We are also enjoying the beautiful views we have, immersed in the heart of Hạ Long Bay.
Around 10:00 a.m. we change boats again. This time we return to our Apricot Cruise, the one on the first day, where they offer us a cooking class. The cooking class consists of making a Vietnamese roll that we can taste ourselves. Nothing special...
After the cooking class, time for lunch, the usual! It's too early to eat, but you arrive at the port eaten!
After lunch, in a short time, we arrive again at the Port of Hạ Long, where we will end the cruise. Here, depending on the hotel we go to in Hanoi, we will get on one bus or another. 3 hours of travel to the capital of Vietnam and end of the excursion!
CONCLUSION:
Without a doubt, one of the most representative places in Vietnam and a mandatory excursion if you are passing through this country. For adults, the option of 3 days and 2 nights very well completes the visit to one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Boat cruise, kayaking, visit to caves, lagoons and islands, all with great viewpoints towards the bay. The place, simply spectacular!
MORE INFORMATION:
Hạ Long - Sung Sot Cave - Đảo Ti Tốp - Luon Cave - Monkey Lake - Floating House - Đảo Cát Dứa
ROUTE Index
Map of ROUTES and SUMMITS
Rubén Wanderlust (www.rubenwanderlust.com)
START:
After a bus trip from Hanoi lasting about 3 hours, we arrive at Hạ Long Port, where we must wait a few minutes for the boat to arrive that will take us to the Apricot Cruise ship. The day is very hot and the minutes seem eternal, but we don't wait too long. We quickly got on the boat! The cruise begins!
DESCRIPTION:
The Apricot Cruise ship was very close, so, in a few minutes, we boarded the large boat. From the outside it looks like an old ship, and it is, but it's pretty good. Once inside, we sat in the main room to follow the instructions of our guide Bingo, a very funny guide, but who guided us little, to be honest... Time to leave our backpacks and take our room, a room on the corner and with part of the private floor deck. Lovely! And for only 10 dollars more! To enjoy a cruise around Hạ Long Bay, we recommend backpacking, and the smaller the better, as the number of stops and boat changes are considerable. The large boat does not access the docks, but it will be a small boat that we use to approach each visit.
The boat begins to enter Hạ Long Bay, at which point we begin to be surprised by the large number of mountains that surround us. Without a doubt, it is a fascinating landscape! Time for lunch!
While we taste the typical Vietnamese food (rice, vegetables, salad, chicken, pork and watermelon... Every day!), the ship arrives at the most touristy area and where most cruise ships stay. Here we will have the next two visits at hand, very close to each other.
The first visit will be to the Sung Sot Cave, the cave of surprises. Our Bingo guide only tells us two or three curiosities as he brings us closer to the entrance. An express and solo visit along it and out, while we see how the rest of the excursions are carefully guided... When leaving the cave, back to the boat!
The second stop will be the beautiful and well-known island Đảo Ti Tốp (Ti Top Island). It is an island where there is a beach, a beach bar and a wonderful viewpoint. It is the most visited and closest island in Hạ Long Bay! We enjoyed an hour of the beautiful island, especially the views offered by its viewpoint, and returned to the boat!
Between Sung Sot Cave and Đảo Ti Tốp Island we will spend the rest of the first day, floating in the middle of Hạ Long Bay. Dinner time, happy hour, cocktail here and cocktail there! Fun moments with the rest of your cruise companions! Half from Spain and the other half from Malaysia. Only a girl from the Philippines unbalanced equality. End of the first day!
The second day would be the most intense! At 6:00 a.m., Tai Chi time! And before breakfast! After the night before, only a few of us were brave. We didn't want to miss any experience, so here we go, to the deck of the ship! It was fun!
After Tai Chi, it was time to have breakfast. Nothing special, but everything delicious! We continue our cruise through Hạ Long Bay, always with stunning views and surrounded by a sea of mountains, lakes, cliffs, and beaches.
The next visit we made by kayak! A beautiful and short trip visiting the Luon Cave and the beautiful Monkey Lake lagoon, where we have the first contact with the monkeys of the area, an animal as funny as it is mischievous! Good times in the kayak and a heavenly place. It's a shame about the enormous amount of dirt that accumulated in the lagoon, undoubtedly the weak point of the country.
After kayaking, we changed boats. The Apricot Cruise will return to the port, while we will continue our cruise, heading to Đảo Cát Dứa Island or Monkey Island. On the new boat we will eat and continue enjoying a beautiful journey through the bay.
We went even further into Hạ Long Bay and began to lose sight of the boats. Without a doubt, this area is much less touristy and typical for cruises of more than two days, a highly recommended option if you have enough time.
Soon we crossed a nice floating market (Floating House). And there are not only buildings where locals sell things, but also their own houses. It seems incredible that they can live here! A spectacular place!
After passing the floating market, we arrive at a spectacular area, where the boat parks again. The small dock offers a small beach bar and the option to kayak again. Plus, the boat we are sailing on now has a small platform to jump into the water! We didn't hesitate and enjoyed that time like dwarfs! Jump into the water from the platform and have a good time kayaking. For us, a journey with more charm than the previous one. Less dirt, more loneliness and more time. Unforgettable!
Time for lunch, while the boat prepares to take each passenger to their corresponding destinations to spend the night. Our destination was Đảo Cát Dứa Island or Monkey Island. During the trip, a multitude of cabins, hotel complexes and small coves and beaches.
We arrive at Đảo Cát Dứa Island or Monkey Island (Monkey Island), where we enjoy the first time on the main beach of the island, where we witness the "attack" in first person of one of the monkeys that inhabit the island . It seems that we had taken away the shade from his tree and he did not hesitate to make it clear that that was his place. We also witness the theft of sun cream and a dress... These monkeys are dangerous!
After enjoying a good time on the beach, a small boat takes us to the other side of the island, where Monkey Island Resort is located, where we will spend the night. The hotel complex is very beautiful and, although it does not have great luxuries, it offers everything you need for a pleasant stay. Without a doubt, a beautiful afternoon/night, getting to know the island, accessing its viewpoints and enjoying a spectacular dinner based on barbecue products. End of the second day!
On the third day we had to get up early and have breakfast at 7:00 a.m., since the boat would pick us up around 7:30 a.m. While we were having breakfast, a storm made us think that we could be there for several hours, cut off! Nothing is further from reality. In a few minutes it subsides and we see the ship approaching, with some delay.
Once on the boat, time to return, because on the third day we will no longer enjoy any outdoor activities. Throughout the morning they take us to different places to pick up people and return to the port. Meanwhile, we kill time playing Yahtzee, a fun and exciting dice game! We are also enjoying the beautiful views we have, immersed in the heart of Hạ Long Bay.
Around 10:00 a.m. we change boats again. This time we return to our Apricot Cruise, the one on the first day, where they offer us a cooking class. The cooking class consists of making a Vietnamese roll that we can taste ourselves. Nothing special...
After the cooking class, time for lunch, the usual! It's too early to eat, but you arrive at the port eaten!
After lunch, in a short time, we arrive again at the Port of Hạ Long, where we will end the cruise. Here, depending on the hotel we go to in Hanoi, we will get on one bus or another. 3 hours of travel to the capital of Vietnam and end of the excursion!
CONCLUSION:
Without a doubt, one of the most representative places in Vietnam and a mandatory excursion if you are passing through this country. For adults, the option of 3 days and 2 nights very well completes the visit to one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Boat cruise, kayaking, visit to caves, lagoons and islands, all with great viewpoints towards the bay. The place, simply spectacular!
MORE INFORMATION:
Hạ Long - Sung Sot Cave - Đảo Ti Tốp - Luon Cave - Monkey Lake - Floating House - Đảo Cát Dứa
ROUTE Index
Map of ROUTES and SUMMITS
Rubén Wanderlust (www.rubenwanderlust.com)
Waypoints
Waypoint
56 ft
Ferry
Cave
Lake
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