7 days on motorbikes and BMW F800 GS adventure bikes

Điện Biên – A Pa Chải – Kẻng Mỏ – U Ma Tu Khoòng – Sì Lở Lầu – Tủa Chùa – Mường Phăng – Điện Biên

Điện Biên and Lai Châu are the most remote provinces of Northwest Vietnam, with pristine lands and secluded villages barely touched by human footsteps. Here, towering mountain ranges mark the nation’s frontier—bordering Laos and China—offering majestic, poetic natural landscapes. The local minority cultures—Hà Nhì, La Hủ, Xạ Phang, Cống, Xá Lá Vàng, Mảng, Khơ Mú, Lự, Dao, Thái…—blend with landmarks such as the westernmost point A Pa Chải, Kẻng Mỏ at the headwaters where the Đà River enters Vietnam, terraced fields at Thu Lũm, Sì Lở Lầu, Mồ Sì San, Dào San… rivaling Mù Cang Chải and Hoàng Su Phì. Not to mention “checking in” the border markers along the frontier route, like U Ma Tu Khoòng Pass—the highest official border crossing in Vietnam. With four seasons of mist, cloud hunters will not be disappointed.

Starting and ending in Điện Biên, this journey takes you into a fairytale land—discovering the Đà River, a natural wonder gifted to Northwest’s forests. With majestic mountains on both banks, the Đà flows both grandly and romantically. Its waters are neither brick-red like the Hồng River nor “clam-soup green” like the Lô or Gâm Rivers. In spring, the Đà is emerald; in autumn, it “ripens red like the bruised cheek of a reveler” and “dyes its wild banks like prehistoric shores. Its riverbanks are pure as ancient fairy tales” – from “The Ferryman of the Đà River” by Nguyễn Tuân.

Leave behind daily worries and life’s rat race to immerse yourself in Northwest Vietnam’s nature, mountains, and people. However, this is an adventure tour to the country’s most untouched regions, fraught with natural, weather, and road challenges, as well as rustic accommodation—thus unsuitable for those who only seek relaxation.

1. Điện Biên – A Pa Chải, 250km

Your bike and guide await you at the hotel where you stayed last night.

7:30 AM: Depart to explore the “Edge of Northwest Vietnam” via stunning roads on National Route 12 through Thai villages. Then turn onto provincial road 131’s winding passes to reach Nà Sự village—home to the beautiful White Thai community—for sightseeing and lunch. In the afternoon, head to the westernmost point A Pa Chải, stopping at Mường Nhé town market and a Hà Nhì minority village. At A Pa Chải, your guide will handle formalities, and a border guard will escort you to the unnumbered marker at the Vietnam–Laos–China tripoint to watch the sunset.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Hà Nhì homestay

2. A Pa Chải – Ka Lăng – Thu Lũm, 170km

7:30 AM: Farewell to A Pa Chải. Ride to the remote Xá Lá Vàng villages—one of Vietnam’s smallest ethnic groups living in forest caves—and Hà Nhì villages in Mù Cả, following the Nậm Ma River and pristine rainforest. Soon, the Đà River appears at the mountain base like a stranded dragon striving to break free from towering peaks. After lunch at Pắc Ma, continue to Ka Lăng Commune and register at the Kẻng Mỏ border post (marker 18 at the Đà River junction). Though not river source marker 17, we pause at the Kẻng Mỏ suspension bridge—where the Đà officially enters Vietnam—before heading to Thu Lũm to explore more beautiful villages.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: guesthouse

3. Thu Lũm – U Ma Tu Khoòng – Mường Tè, 150km

After breakfast, explore the terraced fields of Thu Lũm and U Ma Tu Khoòng, and visit the mountain-pass border crossing at 1,900 m above sea level. This remote, rugged route is an adventure in itself, for the brave at heart.

Spend the morning hunting clouds, admiring terraces, and visiting local minority villages and the small border market. If it’s market day, witness communities from both sides trading together. After lunch and rest, return via Pắc Ma and follow the Đà River on a scenic road carved between cliffs and riverbanks.

In Mường Tè town, you can shop for rare forest products (lemongrass oil, mushrooms, ginseng).

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Hoàng Lâm Hotel***

4. Mường Tè – Sì Lở Lầu – Mồ Sì San – Pa Vầy Sử – Dào San, 150km

This morning, rise early for breakfast and departure! Ahead lie breathtaking terraces, epic nature, migration legends of local minorities, and tales of border guards and villagers defending every inch of frontier land—reserved for the courageous traveler.

Today’s route follows Lai Châu’s border patrol road through cloud-shrouded mountains to the untouched lands of Dào San.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: guesthouse

5. Dào San – Sì Lở Lầu – Pa Vầy Sử – Dào San, 100km ~4h

Just hearing these names evokes the wild remoteness amid endless mountains and minority communities. We’ll keep today’s secrets for you to discover!

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: guesthouse

6. Dào San – Sìn Hồ, 120km

Farewell to the frontier highlands. Ascend to the Sìn Hồ plateau, with an optional detour to Nậm Lúc Waterfall before tackling the pass to Cát Chùa Si peak. In the afternoon, enjoy a Dao ethnic herbal bath and rest.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Hồng Hồ Hotel 3***

7. Sìn Hồ – Pa Phông – Tủa Chùa, 130km

Explore a stunning route through primary rainforest, then challenge 10 km of rocky trail through pristine villages until you descend to the Đà River. A one-hour boat trip takes you to the fairytale land of Điện Biên—Tủa Chùa.

No words can capture the Đà’s raw, majestic beauty or Tủa Chùa’s charm. We’ll stop often for photos, to soak in the scenery, view the river from above, and visit an H’Mông tea plantation of ancient, towering trees.

In the afternoon, follow the Nậm Mức River back to Tủa Chùa town.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Thai ethnic village homestay

8. Tủa Chùa – Pha Đin – Mường Phăng – Điện Biên, 180km

After breakfast, discover the legendary Pha Đin Pass. Although National Route 6 now bypasses the old switchbacks, we’ll ride the original pass before returning to Mường Phăng to visit the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign Command bunker under Tu Đồn Mountain’s forest canopy.

In the afternoon, descend through forest roads back to Điện Biên Phủ city—journey’s end.

• Meals: breakfast

TOUR PRICE: Depends on participation style (solo riding, two riders sharing one bike, or pillion on an Mototours Asia guide’s bike), bike model, and group size (see detailed price table below):

Notes:

• Age 12 and up: adult rate
• Children 5–11: 50% when sharing with parents; full adult rate if requiring separate bike and guide.

PRICE INCLUDES:

• All meals as per program
• Accommodation in hotels/guesthouses (double occupancy; odd gender grouped triple). Homestays have no private rooms. Herbal bathtub at Sìn Hồ.
• Motorbike rental per chosen model
• Fuel and bike fees throughout journey
• Support vehicle and luggage transport with groups of six or more bikes
• Pillion option with MotoTours Asia guide if you can’t ride—local minority riders, expert mountain skills, deep regional knowledge
• Professional guide from local minority communities
• Unlimited bottled water on support vehicle, plus complimentary rice wine at homestays (other beverages at restaurants/hotels not included)
• Breakfast buffets with premium Arabica coffee, seasonal juices, cereals, nuts, milk, spreads, forest honey… plus choices: chicken porridge, instant noodles, pho, rice rolls, crepes, banana cakes…
• Main meals: varied, unlimited portions, fresh local produce, with dessert
• Border post registration and guard escort fees
• All entrance fees in program
• 1–3 hour Đà River boat trip (depending on water level)
• Travel insurance & accident coverage up to VND 100 million/person/incident

PRICE EXCLUDES:

• Transport to/from Điện Biên (bus, flight)
• Beverages purchased outside those provided on the support vehicle
• Personal expenses, tips for guide/driver, and items not listed in “PRICE INCLUDES”
• Extra costs from force majeure (natural disasters, road closures, etc.)

BEST TIME TO GO?

This is a fun but tough question—Điện Biên and Lai Châu transform each season with vibrant hues. Mototours Asia recommends:

• SPRING: flower festival & Lunar New Year on highlands (Jan–Mar). Peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and hundreds of wild flowers blaze the hills. Days warm to 25 °C; nights 12–15 °C, dipping to 5–7 °C. Northwest springs are dry, ideal for cloud hunting and ethnic festivals—H’Mông New Year, Tet, and March’s Ban flower season.

• SUMMER: water season & drifting clouds (Apr–Jun). Hottest season, but rides at 1,000–1,800 m keep temps ≤30 °C. Short afternoon showers (1–2 hrs) quickly clear to blue skies. The terraced fields at sunset are incomparable.

• AUTUMN: blue skies, white clouds, golden rice (Jul–Sep). Cooler, though July–August storms may briefly disrupt travel (rare and quickly fixed). After rains, the atmosphere is crisp and perfect for photography.

• WINTER: mountain festivals (Oct–Dec). Best from late Sept to early Nov: clear skies, golden sunlight, ripe rice terraces, daisies in bloom. Days 20–25 °C; nights 15–18 °C. Early December can chill slightly, but festival season is in full swing—H’Mông New Year starts lunar Nov 30.