15th Mar 2025 - 25th Mar 2025
11 days/Vietnam /Moderate to Challenging
Online Booking Unavailable Please contact us on info@different-travel.com to discuss making a booking
Supporters of Rennie Grove Peace will pass through remote villages and stay at different local stilt house accommodation to give you an authentic insight into the lifestyle of the ethnic minority people who live in the area.
Time will also be spent in the Mai Chau region of Vietnam working at a local community project. The specific tasks will be determined closer to the time of departure, depending on the most urgent need in the local area at the time but are likely to include painting, decorating, gardening and other hands-on refurbishment type tasks.
NB. Bookings on this trip are now subject to availability and may be subject to flight surcharges.
A moderate to challenging trip. You will be trekking for 5 consecutive days, over varying and sometimes challenging terrain. You will cover approximately 15-20km per day which will take around 6-7 hours. The community project activities will also be physically demanding.
You must be aged at least 18 to participate unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are aged 16 or 17 years old if you are accompanied by a parent or guardian–please contact us for advice. There is no upper age limit. An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new.
You are strongly advised to train to a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s walk. The distances covered may not be great but you must be prepared for, and be capable of, trekking for many hours a day on steep, rough terrain while carrying a daypack of around 6-8kg in weight. If you attempt to complete the trek without training, it will be unnecessarily challenging and will hinder your experience, and the experience of your teammates.
You will be accompanied by professional English-speaking local guides and support staff who have an excellent knowledge of hiking and culture in the region and are first-aid trained. You will also be accompanied by an excellent support team at the community project, and a Different Travel Company tour manager who together will support you and make your challenge memorable.
The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but in general it is mostly flat and on established routes through villages and jungle, and occasionally along short sections of road. There are some steep sections to contend with but your guides will support you all the way. The route offers an interesting variety of scenery as you pass through rice terraces, cross shallow rivers, ascend into cloudy forests and enter remote villages. Underfoot the terrain will vary each day but may be quite stony, on roads, grass, over large natural limestone slabs, and depending on the weather, potentially very muddy trails. The itinerary is subject to change depending on the weather and, particularly, rainfall.
Temperatures are closely linked with the weather conditions but you can expect temperatures to be around 24°C during the day, dropping down to 18°C at night. Weather conditions will vary but in general you will experience hot but cloudy days with high humidity and occasional short rain downpours. It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures so you should ensure you have the correct kit, such as a waterproof dry bag for inside your daypack and a lightweight poncho to keep you dry but cool when walking. When the sun comes out it can feel very hot and be very bright so wearing sunglasses and a hat, and keeping well hydrated is crucial.
The food served throughout the trip will be traditional Vietnamese with some Western dishes too. The food is freshly prepared and plentiful. Vietnamese food isn’t spicy but if you like your food with a kick, chilli or chilli sauce is often available if you ask. You will have breakfast and dinner at the stilt house you are staying in. Lunch will be eaten at local homes along the way. Typical dishes include; Breakfast: Pancakes, fruit, coffee, bread, eggs, omelette, fruit fritters. Lunch: Fried noodles with vegetables and/or egg, bread rolls. Dinner: Rice, fried chicken, meat stir fry, chips, spring rolls, omelette, eggs, fish, vegetable dishes, noodles, fresh fruit.
There are shower facilities located across the courtyard next to the main stilt house. There may not be hot water and the quality of the facilities will vary so please do not expect hotel standards. We recommend that you take quick showers, turning off the water when lathering up, so warm water can be shared. You should also bring a small pack of baby wipes to freshen up during the trek day.
Toilet facilities at each village will vary but you can expect Asian-style squat toilets, and possibly an additional Western sit-down toilet. Some toilets have a flush but some may only be supplied with bucket of water to flush. Toilet paper is not usually provided so you should bring your own which must only be put into the bins provided. Sewer pipes are not large enough to cope with toilet paper so if you attempt to flush it, you are likely to block the pipes and make the facilities unusable for everyone.
During the trek you will need to pack up any toilet paper you use to dispose of properly at the village. NEVER leave toilet paper or other litter on the trail.
Online Booking Unavailable Please contact us on info@different-travel.com to discuss making a booking
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