Mountain High Vietnam Women’s Challenge

November 25th – 3rd December 2010

Proudly supporting The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation

Introduction Calling all women with a spirit of adventure to join Julie Lewis of Mountain High on this fabulous adventure to Vietnam! This is a trip for women who dare and women who care! Sign up now and explore North Vietnam by foot, bike and kayak. Be a M.A.D Women - a woman who Makes A Difference by visiting & supporting the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation ( CNCF ) Centre of Social Assistance for Disadvantaged Children in Ho Chi Minh City . www.cncf.org Trip highlights:

• Visit to The Centre of Social Assistance for Disadvantaged Children in Ho Chi Minh City

• Cycling in Sapa • Trek to the summit of Mt Fansipan (3143m) • Cruise & Kayak around the Islands of Halong Bay

Itinerary Day 1: Thursday 25th November Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

- Participants from Hong Kong depart on Cathy Pacific Flight CX767 at 9.00am , arrive HCMC at 10.35am . Participants from Dubai & overseas to co-ordinate flight arrival time in line with this

- Meet and assist at HCMC Airport

- Overnight at Le Duy hotel

- ( www.vietnamopentour.com.vn)

Day 2: Friday 26th November Saigon – Hanoi

- Breakfast at Hotel, check out and Transfer to the Centre of Social Assistance for Disadvantaged Children. Full details of visit to follow

- Transfer to airport for flight Saigon – Hanoi/ VN224 (15:30-17:30) or VN222 (14:00-16:00) TBC

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Day 2 Friday 26th November cont’d: Arrive in Hanoi (D) Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to our hotel. Much of Hanoi still retains an air of provincial France with shady tree-lined boulevards and green-shuttered villas. En route downtown stop at the award-winning Ethnographic Museum which has excellent exhibitions and collections of the country’s many tribes and cultural artifacts Time permitting, wander the narrow streets of the Old Quarter or visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. Following dinner, we will transfer to the train station to board the sleeper train to Lao Cai. Train departs at 21.00pm Overnight on the train !

Day 3: Saturday 27th November Arrive Lao Cai – Sapa (B,L,D)

Sapa Arrive early in Lao Cai and transfer 1 hour to Sapa. After breakfast freshen up before a morning walk to Cat Cat village. The walk will take 2-3 hours total and return to Sapa to check into our hotel and lunch. We will be staying at the Chau Long Hotel- www.chaulonghotel.com Today we start cycling after lunch on a paved road mostly downhill toward Taphin village of the Red Dzao ethnic minority. From here you can choose to continue cycling back to Sapa or hop in the bus and transfer back. The return journey back to Sapa follows a dirt road with rolling terrain and a manageable climb back into town. Overnight in Sapa Cycling distance: 25-40km Day 4: Sunday 28th November Loop ride around Sapa (B,L,D) After a hearty laid back breakfast in Sapa, we begin the cycling with 15km on the paved road toward Lau Chai then cut off onto a dirt road and pass through numerous small villages with stunning view over mountains and sculpted terraced rice fields. After lunch in a local village by the majestic Muong Hoa River we continue on to a paved road for the last 11km to the Topas Eco Lodge. Arrive at Topas around 3.30pm and enjoy the afternoon at this picturesque location. www.topasecolodge.com Cycling distance 40Km

Topas Eco Lodge Bungalows

Day 5 : Monday 29th November Fansipan Trek Babes ! (B,L,D)

After breakfast we take a 45min transfer toward the Tram Ton Pass. On the way we pay a visit to the Silver Waterfall and then transfer to Heaven’s Gate and the entrance to Hoang Lien national park. From here we begin the challenging assent of Mt. Fansipan; the highest peak in Indochina at The first stretch of the trek will be relatively soft. After a couple of hours of hiking we stop for a break in the forest to enjoy lunch. With renewed energy we continue ascending & descending towards the campsite. En route you have many opportunities to enjoy the scenery and magnificent views of the deep valleys and beautiful landscape of Lai Chau province. Arrive to the campsite at 2900m by late afternoon. Dinner at campsite 6 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch.

Day 6: Tuesday 30th November Summit On Fansipan 3143m Sapa – Hanoi (B,L,D) After an early breakfast we continue with the challenge to reach the summit of Fansipan, where you can celebrate your Mountain High victory. From there, stunning views of the valleys surrounding Sapa will leave you with a feeling of pure serenity. From here we trek back through rainforest to the campsite for lunch. After lunch we trek back to the park entrance to be met by your trusted driver ready for the transfer back to Sapa. Freshen up with a shower and do any last minute shopping before the transfer to Lao Cai to catch the evening train back to Hanoi. 7,5 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch Day 7:Wednesday 1st December Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

The Bai Tho Junk The Train arrives early in Hanoi. After breakfast in a local restaurant, we transfer to Halong bay.We check into a shared wooden boat for a cruise among the 3, 000 spectacular limestone islands. The Bai Tho Junk is one of the more traditional varieties that sail through the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on board while the captain heads out for the horizon. We will visit Dinh Huog Island and other Islands, stopping to wander around the impressive Sun Sot Cave famed for its remarkable stalactites and stalagmites. We continue the cruise stopping at Titov beach where we can kayak and paddle around the islands. Overnight on board www.baithojunk.com

Day 9: Thursday 2nd December Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L) After breakfast we can take an early morning swim then continue the cruise past rock formations named after their shape. Enjoy a short trip by sampan Luon cave (tunnel cave) Paddle through the tunnel and emerge into a crater lake, surrounded by impenetrable cliffs and gliding kites. The trip to this cave is dependent upon tidal conditions. We then cruise out to Bai Tu Long Bay around Bai Tho Mountain and head back to dry land. Lunch will be on board. After lunch we transfer by private air conditioned vehicle back to Hanoi to check into the Maison D’Hanoi . www.hanovahotel.com . Dinner & overnight in Hanoi. Day 9: Friday 3rd December Hanoi (B) Breakfast at the Hotel then free time in Hanoi before checking out and transferring to the airport for our return home. Hanoi to Hong Kong on KA296 10.45am departure, arrives HK 13.35. Participants from Dubai & overseas to arrange flight departure accordingly.

ACCOMODATION

CITY HOTEL ROOM TYPE HANOI Maison D’Hanoi Classic HCMC Le Duy Superior

SAPA Chau Long New Wing Superior

SAPA Topas Eco Lodge Deluxe Bungalow

HALONG BAY Traditional Junk Boat Bai Tho Junk

PRICE PER PERSON ON A TWIN SHARE BASIS : UAE Dirham’s 7,800 Dhs HK$ 16,500

• Single supplement applies

Price Includes :

• Julie Lewis as trip leader • One English speaking biking & trekking guide. • Visit to the CNCF Centre of Social Assistance for Disadvantaged

Children* • Local guide and porters for trekking days to summit of Fansipan • Train ticket Hanoi- Lao Cai- Hanoi on 4 berth air-conditioned soft sleeper

Price includes cont’d • Bike rental on cycling days • Private air-conditioned bus for a group transfer at airport and all support. • Bottled drinking water for cycling and trekking days as itinerary. • Good snack, soft drinks, ice fresh fruits and refresher tissues for cycling

day as itinerary. • Disposable chopsticks! • 01 Silk sleeping sheet bag/person • Tented accommodation on trek • Mosquito nets where needed • Basic First Aid kit • Meals in local restaurants as mentioned in the itinerary. (B= Breakfast,

L= Lunch, D= Dinner). • Sightseeing entrance fees where stated in the itinerary. • Sightseeing tickets where stated in the itinerary • Basic First Aid kit • Accommodation in twin sharing room with daily breakfast. See hotel list

above. • Domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines

( economy ) • Mountain High Kit Bag, team shirt and bandana

*More details will follow on the format for the CNCF visit Price Excludes : • International air ticket to/from Vietnam ( special fares will be requested) • International airport departure tax ( 15.4 USD) • Visa to Vietnam. • Tips to drivers, driver assistants, local people, porters at boat station,

hotels and airports, guides. Recommended tip: $6 per day per pax for biking leader, $3 per day per pax for drivers , 40 000 VND per pax for hotel porters.

• Alcoholic drinks and drinks during meals and at cafes en route, water at restaurants.

• Personal travel insurance. • Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping, camera film and so

on…)

IMPORTANT NOTES

- Please make sure you have an entry visa to Vietnam valid for the duration of your stay prior to your arrival and carry a passport which is valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Vietnam.

- Please ensure that your passport has a minimum of 2 blank pages on arrival in Vietnam.

- Before your trip we require that clients have an insurance policy inclusive of repatriation services (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.

Clothing & Equipment A kit list for the trip will be sent upon receipt of your booking form and deposit General Info Visa requirements: Tourist visas are generally valid for 30days. Check with the Embassy and consulate in your country re application procedures & requirements specific to your nationality / the passport you hold. First Aid: Julie and the guides from Exotissimo will carry a comprehensive first aid kit. Please bring along a small personal first aid kit along with any of your usual medications. Insurance: Please arrange your own travel insurance prior to departure. Preferred partner AXA Open to women only Maximum group size 16 Guaranteed to run with 10 clients Next step: Contact Julie to register your interest in the challenge. Complete the booking form and pay the 50 % deposit to secure your place. Send the completed booking form along with a scanned copy of your passport to jules@mountainhighme.com Balance payment 30 days prior to departure. For more information: In Hong Kong call Julie on + 852 92427589 In Dubai call Lynn on 050 6595536 Or email: jules@mountainhighme.com

www.mountainhigme.com