About This Tour
A circular ride through the heart of the Central Highlands — remote reservoirs, a lakeside longhouse stay, and 550 km of the best roads in Vietnam.
Route & Itinerary
Dalat to Ta Dung Lake
We leave Dalat and head south-west toward Ta Dung Lake — a remote reservoir in the middle of a national park, surrounded by forested hills. The route passes coffee and pepper plantations and isolated minority villages. Overnight at Ta Dung.
Stops along the way
- Tuyen Lam Lake — a man-made lake of around 220 hectares, built for irrigation over what was once a hunting valley
- The long mountain pass out of Dalat — cool air, open countryside and wide views
- A viewpoint on the pass itself
- Chicken Village (Hiep Thanh) — a K'Ho minority village with its giant concrete rooster
- A mushroom farm
- Pongour Waterfall — the largest waterfall in southern Vietnam
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- A second viewpoint in the afternoon
- Dinner, with a view
Ta Dung Lake to Lak Lake
From Ta Dung we push east toward Lak Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the Central Highlands. The landscape is wide open and dramatic. We overnight in a traditional M'Nong longhouse on the lakeshore — one of the most memorable nights on any tour we run.
Stops along the way
- Breakfast, then a viewpoint to start the day
- A bamboo forest
- Black pepper, coffee and pineapple farms, and water buffalo in the fields
- A local market
- A rubber (latex) plantation
- Lunch
- A swimming stop
- Arrival at the hotel
Lak Lake back to Dalat
After an optional morning canoe on the lake, we loop back south and west to Dalat, completing the circle. The return takes different roads, offering fresh scenery and more hidden stops. Drop-off at your hotel in the afternoon.
Stops along the way
- Breakfast at the hotel, then a walk around the village — longhouses and traditional rice-wine making
- A bridge over the water, looking out on the minority fishermen at work
- A silkworm cocoon farm
- A coffee farm
- Lunch
- Chua Linh An — the Happy Buddha and the Lady Buddha
- Cuong Hoan Silk — a traditional silk workshop
- A rice-wine distillery (only when the loop runs in the other direction)
- A last Vietnamese coffee before Dalat
Photos From This Tour
What's Included
Included
- ✓Experienced local guide (or self-drive scooter + support)
- ✓All fuel
- ✓2 nights accommodation
- ✓Motorbike insurance for the bike (not personal medical cover)
- ✓Traditional longhouse stay at Lak Lake
- ✓Hotel pickup & drop-off in Dalat
- ✓Sightseeing tickets
Not included
- ✕Food & drinks
- ✕Personal travel and medical insurance that covers motorcycling
Passenger or Self-Drive?
🧑✈️ Ride with an Easy Rider
Ride as a passenger behind an experienced local guide. No licence or riding experience needed — just relax, take in the scenery, and let your guide handle the road and the stops.
🏍️ Self-drive
Prefer to ride yourself? A motorbike and fuel are included at the same price, with your guide riding alongside for support. You should be a confident rider and hold a valid motorcycle licence with the appropriate permit for Vietnam.
How Booking Works
- 1
Choose Your Tour
Select your tour, preferred date and riding option.
- 2
Pay a 20% Deposit
Paid securely online when you submit your booking request.
- 3
Booking Confirmed Within 24 Hours
You receive a confirmation email, and your guide contacts you within 24 hours to confirm.
- 4
Pay the Balance Directly
The rest of the price is paid directly to your local guide in cash.
The 20% deposit is part of the total tour price, not an additional booking fee. If the local operator cannot accept the booking, the deposit is refunded in full within 72 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need motorcycle experience?
No. Most travellers ride as a passenger behind an experienced local guide — no licence or experience needed. If you'd rather self-drive, you'll need to be a confident rider (see below).
Do I need a motorcycle licence?
Only for self-drive, and Vietnam is strict about it: you need a motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, or a Vietnamese licence. Permits issued in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland are not valid here. As a passenger you need nothing at all, and it costs exactly the same.
Can I bring my luggage?
Yes. On multi-day tours your main luggage is carried for you; you ride with a small day bag. Let your guide know if you have a large bag.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run in light rain with provided rain gear, and your guide adjusts the route for safety. In case of severe weather your guide will adapt the plan with you.
What insurance is included?
Every tour includes the motorbike insurance Vietnamese law requires. It covers the bike and damage to others, not your own medical costs. You need your own travel and medical insurance, and it has to cover motorcycling — many policies do not.
What happens if I cancel?
Your deposit secures your booking request — 20% on tours starting in Dalat, 50% on tours starting elsewhere. If the guide centre cannot accept your booking it is refunded in full. If you cancel: more than 30 days before the start you get everything back, between 30 and 8 days you get half back, and within 7 days it is not refunded. You never owe anything beyond the deposit. See our cancellation policy for full details.
How do I pay the balance in cash?
The balance is paid to your guide in Vietnamese dong when you meet at the start of the tour. Dalat has plenty of ATMs, but most cap each withdrawal at a few million dong — less than the balance on a multi-day tour — so allow for more than one withdrawal, or bring currency to exchange. Your guide can point you to the nearest machine or exchange if you need one.
Why is the deposit higher on some tours?
Most tours take a 20% deposit. Tours that do not start in Dalat — Hoi An to Dalat, and Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat — take 50%. Your guide rides to the start point to meet you and commits to rooms and arrangements further in advance, so more of the price is paid up front.