Central Highlands Exploration Tour

Aug. 4, 2009 - PRLog -- Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City- Pleiku - Kontum
Day 3: Kontum - Konktu
Day 4: Konktu - Kontum
Day 5: Kontum - Kon Chro - Yangnam
Day 6: Yangnam - Plei Bloum
Day 7: Plei Bloum - Pleiku
Day 8: Pleiku - Da Nang - Hoi An
Day 9: Hoi An
Day 10: Departure from Da Nang

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (D)
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Pick up and transfer to a hotel. An afternoon tour round Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, features the History Museum, the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Pleiku - Kontum (B, L, D)
Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Aiport for a short flight to Pleiku. On arrival in Pleiku, pick up and transfer to Kontum (50km). As the most remote province of the central highlands, Kontum is a virgin land with pristine nature and intact hill-tribe culture. The morning city tour includes a wooden cathedral (built in 1918) and a tribal exhibition at Kontum Monastery. Transfer to Dakto (50km) for a leisurely trek (5km) along the Krong Poco River to visit Sedang tribe villages. Return to a hotel in Kontum. Overnight in Kontum.

Day 3: Kontum - Konktu (B, L, D)
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.

Day 4: Konktu - Kontum (B, L, D)
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. Overnight in Kontum.

Day 5: Kontum - Kon Chro - Yangnam (B, L, D)
Leave for Pleiku (50km), a busy town (home to the Gia'rai hill-tribe) on a fertile basaltic plateau at a height of 1,000 metres above sea level. Onwards to Kon Chro (110km) by a pleasant drive down the Mang Yang Pass. Have 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. Overnight at a house-on-stilts at Yangnam.

Day 6: Yangnam - Plei Bloum (B, L, D)
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 soak in clear water. If time permits, participate in sports (volleyball, football) with the villagers. Have dinner at the village. Overnight at a house-on-stilts at Plei Bloum.

Day 7: Plei Bloum - Pleiku (B, L, D)
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 PleiKiaVillage(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). Overnight in Pleiku.

Day 8: Pleiku - Da Nang - Hoi An (B, L, D)
At leisure until transfer to Pleiku Airport for a short flight to Da Nang (daily except Tuesday and Thursday as per the 2002 flight schedule). 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. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An (B, L, D)
Not only 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 or taking a boat ride to nearby handicraft villages or just frolicking in azure water. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 10: Departure from Da Nang (B)
Spend last minutes for downtown shopping (stone-carvings, silk, paintings,...) or at leisure before check-out. Transfer to the airport for departure.

More Information: http://www.greentrail-indochina.com/vietnam/vietnam_adven...

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