Central Highlands Exploration

Our Ref:     

AT-02

Overview:   This 10-day journey offers you an opportunity to see Vietnam through her culture, her people and her lifestyle. Begin the trip from Ho Chi Minh City where visitors will be walking through the busiest streets with a myriad of shops and stands to look at, then leave on the very next day for the unspoilt central highlands offering hidden treasure troves of the Sedang, Bahnar and Giarai groups. With secluded villages of the hill tribes left behind, the irresistible allure of the world heritage of Hoi An will amaze visitors and make the trip complete with unforgettable moments.

Duration:     

10 Days / 9 Nights

Originating:     

Ho Chi Minh City

Visiting:     

Ho Chi Minh City / Kontum / Konktu / Yangnam / Plei Bloum / Pleiku / Hoi An / Da Nang

During the 5-day trek, overnight stays at local homes and full board will be arranged and participants also need to be physically fit and prepared for basic sleeping conditions. The trip is feasible only in the dry season from November to May and the best time is December and February, time of blossoming wild flowers and colourful ethnic festivals .

Price / Person (for 2+)
Executive	Contact us for current pricing
Deluxe
Standard
(Single person surcharge applicable)

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.