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Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Country: Vietnam
Province: Thanh Hoa

Tinh Thanh Hoa Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: November 5, 2024, 12:29 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Overcast Clouds

Temperature: 20.47°C
Temperature feels like: 20.9°C
Minimum Temperature: 20.47°C
Maximum Temperature: 20.47°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1019hPa
Humidity:89%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 3.06m/sec
Wind Direction: 341 degrees
Cloudiness: 100%
Sunrise: 2024-11-04 11:01:24
Sunset: 2024-11-05 10:21:45

Pu Luong Nature Reserve covers an area of 17,662 hectares in the districts of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa Province. Pu Luong is 180km from Hanoi via Ho Chi Minh Road. and 160km via Hoa Binh City & Lung Van Valley, 50km from Mai Chau District of Hoa Binh Province and 130km north-west of Thanh Hoa Provincial Capital. 

The peak of the Pu Luong Mountain which is 1,700m above sea level
The peak of the Pu Luong Mountain which is 1,700m above sea level

Travel Guide to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa

Eco-diversity

According to a research in 1997, Pu Luong is home to 59 mammal species, 162 bird species, 28 reptile species and 13 amphibian species, of which many are listed as endangered species such as Delacour's langurs (White-rumped black leaf monkeys), black gibbons, tigers,..

Forest on limestone mountains at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
Forest on limestone mountains at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam

In the nature reserve, there is a rich floral system composed of over 1,100 species belonging to 152 families, of which many are listed in Vietnam's Red Book. The biggest family of these is orchid family with 160 species.

Pu Luong Thanh Hoa Vietnam
Forests at Pu Luong

Geography

Pu Luong Nature Reserve is basically an area in between two high mountain ranges running in parallel from north to south for 40-50km. The highest peak is Pu Luong Mountain which is 1,700m above sea level. In between the mountain ranges are villages of the ethnic Thai People. The Thai live in houses on stilts and cultivate their rice in terraces around the village. There is a system of streams and rivers crisscrossing Pu Luong to provide abundant water to the ecosystem and to the local communities.

A panoramic view of breathtaking mountains at Pu Luong Nature Reserve
A panoramic view of breathtaking mountains at Pu Luong Nature Reserve

On one side, along the mountains, there is a paved road running the full length of Pu Luong from north to south. The road offers scenic mountain scenery and is great for motorbike or a mountain biking adventures.

From the main road which is mostly traffic free we can have good views of villages, rice terraces, mountains and forest
From the main road which is mostly traffic free we can have good views of villages, rice terraces, mountains and forest

On the other side is a system of trails that offers daunting trekking tours to explore the wilderness of the nature reserve. The trekking trails offer breathtaking views of the valleys and rices terraces from above. There are villages scattered in the nature reserve which provide homestay, so that your adventure through the wild of Pu Luong is also a cozy cultural experience.

View from a trekking path through the dense forest of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve
View from a trekking path through the dense forest of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve

 

The Heavenly Gate at Pu Luong where we enter the dense forest from the outer thin forest
The Heavenly Gate at Pu Luong where we enter the dense forest from the outer thin forest

Weather and Climate

Pu Luong has four seasons per year. The Nature Reserve receives most rainfall during the summer and autumn months (May-October). When it is wet, some roads and trails in Pu Luong may become impassable. In the lowland area of the nature reserve, the temperatures may get up to 40 Degrees Celsius in the summer and drop down to 5-6 Degrees Celsius in the winter. On the higher altitude mountain slopes, the temperatures are more temperate.

Ba Village on top of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Ba Village on top of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Pu Luong Tourism, Things to do, Adventure Travel, Retreat Holidays and Family Tours

Pu Luong Nature Reserve as of writing is off the tourist track and visiting the region you are likely not to encounter many other tourists. Paradissa arranges trekking adventure holidays and bicycle trips through Pu Luong for 1-5 days.

Trekking amid the heavenly landscape at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Trekking amid the heavenly landscape at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve

1/ Hiking and Trekking Tours

On these tours, we trek for 5-6 hours per day on trails through the forests and on karst mountains. At night, we stay with local Thai people in their traditional houses on stilts. Our hosts also prepare the meals for us, so that we have enough energy for the adventure the next day. On these tours, we have an adventure guide traveling with you from Hanoi and another guide who comes from a village in Pu Luong.

A rocky and mossy path in the forest of Pu Luong Nature Reserve which could be extremely slippery especially when it is wet
A rocky and mossy path in the forest of Pu Luong Nature Reserve which could be extremely slippery especially when it is wet

By engaging the local communities in local tourism, Paradissa hope to contribute to the preservation of the local culture and protection of the natural environment at Pu Luong. In the long terms, this would help to keep our travellers' trips to Pu Luong to remain authentic experiences.

Pu Luong Thanh Hoa Vietnam
Homestay at Pu Luong

2/ Cycling Tours

Pu Luong itself is a great place for adventure cycling tours which follow village paths which link a village to another. Paradissa offers adventure cycling trips from Hanoi to Pu Luong for 3 days and to Mai Chau and Pu Luong for 3-5 days.

3/ Retreat Holidays

There are ecologically-oriented lodges in Pu Luong nowadays which offer some comfort to more demanding travelers. Paradissa offers 3-5 days holiday packages which basically include return transfers and accommodations at Pu Luong. You have free and easy time at Pu Luong adoring the fresh nature or walking in the villages.

A hillside resort at Pu Luong Nature Reserve
A hillside resort at Pu Luong Nature Reserve

4/ Family Tours

For families with kids from 6 years of age or older, Pu Luong may be a great destination. If you demand comfort we’d suggest you stay at the hillside lodges. And if you love to rough it, then we would suggest you stay at a homestay in a village owned by a local family. You will have lovely encounters and close communion with local ethnic Thai or Muong then.

A homestay at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve
A homestay at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve

How to get there

1/ Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Muong Khe – Cho Lo Phong Phu

From Hanoi we can follow the expressway or Route 6 to Hoa Binh City, then proceed further to Muong Khen (Tan Lac District) T-Junction. You travel 6km past Muong Khen towards Mai Chau then turn into a small road which goes upward and which offers captivating views of mountains and valleys below.

Scenic landscape on the way to the top of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Scenic landscape on the way to the top of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve

You travel past Lung Van Valley of Tan Lac District (Hoa Binh Province) for 10km to Son – Ba – Muoi Village of Pu Luong, then descend a steep gradient to a valley of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. This way you arrive at at the south of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

2/ Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Mai Chau – Pu Luong

If you love to combine a trip to Pu Luong with Mai Chau Valley then travel to Mai Chau, then proceed to Co Luong and turn into Pu Luong Nature Reserve. This way is 200km and you arrive at the north of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

Thung Khe Hoa Binh
Scene along the road to Pu Luong from Hoa Binh Province

3/ Hanoi – Xuan Mai – Ho Chi Minh Road – Cam Thuy (Thanh Hoa Province) – Pu Luong

This way offers breathtaking landscape of mountain by the roadside at Lac Thuy District (Hoa Binh Province) and Cam Thuy District of Thanh Hoa Province.

Ho Chi Minh Road Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh Road that you can travel to Pu Luong from Hanoi

 


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