The Central highlands in 5 Days

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ADVENTURERS

Presentation

The central highlands offer a different and more authentic journey to Vietnam than known places on the tourist map. This region has a natural heritage of great value: forests, lakes, waterfalls, coffee plantations, tea, rubber, pepper fields and elephants. It is also the cradle of peoples who preserve their immemorial customs and knowledge. From the 19th to the 20th century, this land keeps track of the French adventurers who came to study minority groups and make us discover their wonderful work through writings.

Buon Ma Thuot > Da Lat

Detailed program day by day

Buon Ma Thuot

Arrival at Buon Ma Thuot airport to start this trip to Vietnam.

Our discovery of the central highlands begins with a visit to the Ethnology Museum in Daklak.

Then, visit the Akodhong village of the Ede, a beautiful result of the evolution among minorities.

The next destination is Khai Doan Pagoda, built in 1951 by the mother and one of King Bao Dai's wives - Vietnam's last emperor. The architecture of the temple is a combination of a traditional house of the Ede people and a typical Vietnamese temple.

Day 1: Buon Ma Thuot

Buon Ma Thuot

Visit Ban Don, elephant village is located in the middle of the Serepok River. Visit of the 750m long bamboo suspension bridge and the old house on stilts which displays documents and photos showing elephant hunting and taming. The elephant garden is a place not to be missed. There is the statue of the legendary "king elephant hunter" Khusanup. This 110-year-old man had 480 elephants kneel before him!

Gong show, traditional music from the highlands.

In the afternoon, visit the Dray Nur Falls near Buon Ma Thuot.

Day 2: Buon Ma Thuot

Buon Ma Thuot

Vietnam, the second largest coffee exporter, is known for a very special coffee: civet coffee. Visit of a civet farm that produces this type of coffee, the quantity of which is inversely proportional to its reputation.

After leaving for Lake Lak - a large natural lake surrounded by beautiful villages of the Mnong ethnic group..., On the way, stop to discover large and vast coffee, rubber and pepper plantations.

Canoe trip on the lake and visit of the villages Jun, Mlieng and Yang La.

Day 3: Buon Ma Thuot

Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat

Departure to Dalat, a former French retreat place. Alexandre Yersin and his expedition group found Dalat in 1893, at that time there were only a few ethnic minority villages. Nowadays, this city is an important tourist attraction thanks to its landscapes: waterfalls, lakes, fir forests, flowered valleys, colonial villas whose art-deco style recalls the architecture of the French provinces.

We visit the summer palace of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam and some other villas in the area. Then, discover a fantastic place called "Crazy House". It is a villa inspired by nature, fairy tales and Gaudi's works.

Return to the city centre to stroll along Lake Xuan Huong, Lam Vien Central Square and visit the market in the style of the 1960s.

Day 4: Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat

Da Lat

Morning at Lang Biang Mountain where we enjoy a superb view of the mountains and valleys. Then, we go to Lat, the village of several minority groups: Lat, Chil, Ma, Kho,... Visit of an embroidery workshop and tasting of traditional tea.

Trip to the surroundings of Dalat to admire its natural landscape, flower farms, vegetables and coffee trees. Visit of the Linh Phuoc pagoda built with thousands of pieces of porcelain and the Cau Dat tea fields.

At the end of your trip to Vietnam, you can take the train to Trai Mat from the famous Da Lat station, inspired by the one in Deauville.

Day 5: Da Lat