Luxury tours · CANOES & KAYAKS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend who asked what the upgrade buys: 9 kayak trips worth the money, each with its price, its group size and the thing to check before you pay.
Spend 6 to 7 hours on Halong Bay aboard a modern luxury cruise with a sky deck and pool. Visit Sung Sot Cave, kayak or take a bamboo boat through Luon Cave, and swim or hike at Titop Island. Guides such as Mr Bean and Harry lead the day. Hanoi pickup is available, with a limousine transfer listed at $10 each way.
“Luxurious boat, great activities, Mr Bean a great MC!”
Spend two days and one night aboard Alisa Cruise in Ha Long Bay with a maximum of 15 people. Expect private cabins, full meals, Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island or a seasonal alternative, pearl farming or kayaking, tai chi, and a cooking class. Guides including Ian and James Bond help keep the schedule moving, while staff such as Phong, Ivy, and Emma are attentive to dietary and drink needs.
“The experience was great! Everyone was very friendly, happy and helpful. I really like the staff! Mr. Phong was a great kelner! If you cannot eat something, don’t worry! I can’t eat gluten and staff did me many dishes gluten free.”
Travel from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Halong Bay by air-conditioned bus, then spend the day on a deluxe cruise with Vietnamese lunch, kayaking or a bamboo boat, Sung Sot Cave, and Titop Island. Guides such as Sam and Hercules are praised for clear explanations and friendly care. Expect a long, active day with up to 48 people.
“Had a wonderful experience at Ha Long bay. Such unrealistically beautiful views. Me and my friends had a lot of fun. The whole guided tour was very a very culture rixh experience for us.”
Spend one night aboard a small-group Halong Bay cruise with a private balcony cabin, meals, cave visits, kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, cooking, and squid fishing. Guides such as Sunny, Alex, Tom, and Tung have helped make the trip lively and well organized, though boat quality and Hanoi transfers can vary.
“We loved Aquamarine cruise. Huge windows for great views. Rooms very clean, huge and comfortable. Staff all helpful and attentive.”
Join an English-speaking guide such as Minh, Tim, James, or Trung for a full Ha Long Bay day. Cruise past limestone islets, visit Surprising Cave, kayak or take a bamboo boat through Luon Cave, swim at Ti Top Island, and finish with music, wine, fruit, and cake at sunset. Transfers from Hanoi are optional.
“The tour guide James really nice person, all the trip was amazing and the food really nice!”
Spend two nights aboard a Halong Bay cruise with an English-speaking guide, balcony cabin, full meals, cave visits, kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, cooking, and squid fishing. Routes may use Halong, Lan Ha, or Bai Tu Long Bay. Day two reaches quieter areas, with Viet Hai Village or Vung Vieng Fishing Village depending on the route.
“My mom and I went on the 3-Day Cruise of Halong Bay and had an absolutely AMAZING experience! Our cruise director on the Athena was absolutely phenomenal and everything aboard the ship was superb. I would highly recommend stayinRead more”
This 8 to 9 hour private trip from Ho Chi Minh City combines cycling around a Long An farm, Vietnamese cooking, lunch, kayaking, a Mekong River cruise, folk music, and Vinh Trang Pagoda. Guides such as Tin Tin, Chow, and Ronald are praised for friendly care and good English. Fishing is available instead of cycling or kayaking.
“I joined a tour and our guide was really friendly and charming. They showed us around Mekan Dalgası and explained every place in detail. The guide was always by our side, making sure we had the best experience. Highly recommended!”
Spend three days and two nights aboard Aspira Cruises, sailing Ha Long and Lan Ha bays with a maximum of 40 people. You’ll kayak or take a bamboo boat through Light and Dark Cave, cycle or ride an electric car around Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island, and enjoy a balcony cabin, jacuzzi, Tai Chi, cooking class, and included meals.
“What a fabulous 3 days we spent on the Aspira ship, food was amazing and staff incredibly helpful especially Ha. Totally recommend”
Spend about five hours aboard a luxury yacht off Krabi, passing Khao Khanab Nam, Chicken Island, Poda Island, and Thale Waek. You’ll have time for swimming, snorkeling with supplied gear, and clear kayaking, plus fruit, bottled water, snacks, and a vanilla passion fruit mousse. Sunset departures include Pad Thai and salt-baked shrimp.
“Yachting around the andaman sea was amazing. Staff extremely attentive and couldn't do enough for the kids or my wife and I. The yacht was clean and despite a patch of monsoon weather (it is october afterall) which the staff kept us all safe and informed. Clear kayaking and paddle boarding was a nice touch. Snorkeling also went down a treat.”
Pick a deck, a car, a lounge or a camp.
