Ninh Binh
2 days, 1 night
AH-NB04
4/10
$103 USD
CUSTOMIZE TOUR Book Now
DESCRIBE

Cuc Phuong National Park has long been famous for its butterfly season, which occurs from late April to the end of May, with millions of colorful butterflies. However, starting from April and lasting until July is also the season for the incredibly magical fireflies. This time of year is the warm and dry summer, ideal for the activity of insects, butterflies, and fireflies. The most beautiful spots to see butterflies are along the road from the park entrance to Bong and the branch trails with many water holes or along the forest streams. As for the best places to watch fireflies in Cuc Phuong, they are Bong, Ho Mac, and the guesthouses near the park entrance. The green light from thousands of fireflies creates an unforgettable, mesmerizing, surreal scene in the ancient forest.

Highlight

  • Experiencing Cuc Phuong in butterfly & firefly season  
  • Visiting Primate Rescue Center  
  • Camping at Bong

 

SUMMARY

  • Departure Point: Ha Noi

  • Duration: 2 days, 1 night

  • Destination: Ninh Binh

  • Activities: Trekking

  • Min : 2 people

  • Best time: Apr - Jul

  • Max : 15 people

  • Difficulty level: 4/10

ITINERARY
1st day: Ha Noi – Cuc Phuong – Trekking – Butterfly & Firefly Watching

06:30 - Arriving at the pick-up point. Heading to Ninh Binh. You can prepare your own breakfast to eat on the bus or during a stop along the way.

09:30 - Arriving at Cuc Phuong National Park, communicating with the local forest rangers and tour guides, listening to instructions for the trip, and preparing your gears for the exploration. Before entering the forest, we will visit the Primate Rescue Center to learn about the research and rescue efforts at Cuc Phuong National Park.

11:30 - Continue going to Bong by bus, the center of the national park. Along the way, we will stop to admire and photograph areas with large groups of butterflies. When we reach Bong Campsite, we will have lunch at a restaurant before starting a 2-hour hike through the ancient forest, and follow the trail to the giant Cho Dang tree. A forest ranger will accompany us to share knowledge about the flora and fauna in the forest, as well as survival tips.

15:30 - Returning to Bong. Setting up camp and having rest, or freely exploring some of the short walking trails around Bong.

18:30 - Having dinner at a restaurant in Bong.

19:30 - Heading to firefly viewing spots. The rest of the evening will be spent relaxing by the campfire until bedtime.

* Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

 

2nd day: Cuc Phuong – Bear Rescue Center – Ha Noi

07:00 - Waking up and enjoying the sounds of birds or insects. Having a full breakfast with hot coffee or tea at the Bong restaurant.

08:00 - Striking camp and departing by bus for the Cave of Prehistoric Man, located on the route from Bong to the national park gate. We will continue to observe and photograph butterflies along this road. After visiting the Cave, we will head to the Four Paws Bear Rescue Center, located 10 km from Cuc Phuong National Park.

10:00 - Arriving at the Ninh Binh Bear Rescue Center. This is an internationally certified environmental education and visitor site with professional infrastructure and operations. The rescue staff will guide us through various areas of the center. The stories and what we witness here will help us gain a better understanding of how to contribute to bear conservation in Vietnam.

12:00 - After the visit, we will drive to a restaurant in Ninh Binh for lunch.

14:00 - Returning to Hanoi. The tour ends upon arrival in Hanoi.

* Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

 

INCLUSION/EXCLUSION

Inclusion:

  • Round-trip bus: Ha Noi – Cuc Phuong forest (National Park) – Ha Noi
  • Camping equipment (tent, mattress, sleeping bag)
  • Trekking gear (trekking poles, gloves, leech repellent, first aid kit)
  • Meals as the schedule on the itinerary (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner)
  • Tour guides 
  • Daily drinking water
  • Fee for entrance tickets
  • Travel insurance 

Exclusion:

  • Other kinds of beverage unlist in the tour program
  • Personal expenses
  • Transportation fee before and after the trip
  • Beverages during meals

     

 

 

THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY

Equipment provided by us:

  • Trekking poles
  • Trekking gloves
  • Insects preventation spray
  • Tents, sleeping bags, inflatable mattresses
  • 10L backpack 
  • Aid bag 

Essential stuff you need to bring: 

  • Trekking backpack 10L - 30L (if not borrow our backpack)
  • Trekking or hiking shoes
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts, hats, sunglasses, gloves, sunscreen...
  • Flashlight
  • Knife or multitool
  • Personal medication
  • Towel, hand sanitizer gel, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper
  • Phone, camera, power bank, suitable waterproof case, etc.
  • Water Bottle (1 liter)

Other items you may consider to bring:

  • Spare clothes
  • Waterproof phone case

 

TOUR EQUIPMENT
IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Trekking & Camping Route

  • The trekking route is about 6-7 km long. We will walk along relatively open trails that are not very steep. The campsite at Bong is a flat and spacious grassy area. We uses 3- or 4-person tents, which will be very spacious for 2 people. Each tent will have an air mattress and sleeping bag. At Bong, there are toilets and showers.

2. Chance to See Fireflies & Butterflies at Cuc Phuong National Park

  • Fireflies, butterflies, or any other type of insect are natural elements beyond the control of us; therefore, we do not guarantee 100% that you will witness the enchanting world of fireflies and butterflies as captured in photographs at Cuc Phuong. We only promise to take you to the locations with the highest concentration of butterflies and fireflies in Cuc Phuong at the most suitable times.
  • The butterfly season begins in April and may last until the end of May or the end of June, depending on the weather. Butterflies are usually concentrated in damp areas such as puddles and dry stream beds. In Cuc Phuong, butterflies gather in Bong, Mac Lake, and along the 18 km route from the park gate to Bong.
  • The firefly season starts in April and lasts until July each year, with the highest number of fireflies typically occurring in April and May. Generally, the hotter and drier the weather, the more fireflies there will be. The number of fireflies may decrease at certain times during the season if the moon is too bright, there are many lights, it is raining, or there is a lot of smoke.

3. Protecting the environment together

  • We supports and practices Leave No Trace principles in each program and outdoor activities itself. We also encourage our customers and partners to apply to Leave No Trace principles when traveling in the outdoor environment. See details about the Leave No Trace tại đây
  • In order to limit the use of single-use plastic, we encourages each of us to prepare for ourselves a bottle of water with a 1L capacity for daily water refilling.
  • On the tour, tourists comply with the instructions and regulations on environmental protection at the destination. 

4. Medical assistance

  • If you have cardiovascular disease or bone and joint diseases (knees, ankles, shoulder joints, etc.), you should consult your doctor before deciding to join the trip.