Halong Bay boat tours offer much more than simply sitting on board a boat watching the scenery go by. Tourists can enjoy the opportunity of leaving the boat and exploring one or more of the many island on a bicycle. Combining the two activities provides the holiday maker with an exceptionally interesting holiday experience.
Some of the cycling trips make the journey all the way from Hanoi to the city of Halong bay. Although quite a long ride it is done at a leisurely pace and the flat countryside offers only a minimal challenge to anyone of reasonable fitness. It is a very pleasant journey through old rice fields and ancient traditional villages. Once in Halong City you can hook up with your cruise boat and enjoy the bay at its best.
As the boat sails round the tiny islands in this enormous paradise of clear seas and impressive limestone rock islands, the captain will stop at islands where cycling is permitted and there are things to do and see. Cycling through forest paths here is a great way of getting close up with nature and seeing the islands and indeed the bay, from a different perspective.
Often the cycling tours in the bay are combined with other activities. Tourists can cycle, swim, snorkel and enjoy all kinds of other pastimes. Kayaking between islands and cycling round them provides a delighted day trip. Almost all Halong Bay boat tours can arrange cycling trips for their passengers. Anyone who is relatively fit can enjoy cycling here.
The islands are of varying sizes and whilst some are clearly too small for a cycling trip, others provide great cycle paths and exciting things to see on the way. Caves, villages and of course the local wildlife are interesting and varied.