Central Highlands Loop: Motorbike Tour Dalat, Dray Sap & Villages

Summary

Motorbiking Vietnam’s Central Highlands villages, lakes & waterfalls

You’ll ride pillion on winding roads past terraced rice fields and lakes, wake up to village life on Lak Lake, swim beneath Dray Sap waterfall, and share smoky BBQ dinners with locals. Expect laughter over language slips and quiet moments by jungle pools — this Central Highlands loop leaves you changed in small ways.

What’s the experience like?

“If you’re scared of the curves, just close your eyes and trust me,” our guide Tam grinned as he tightened the last strap on my backpack outside the Dalat hotel. I laughed — but honestly, I was a little nervous about riding pillion for four days through the Central Highlands. The air smelled like pine and distant rain as we zigzagged out of Dalat, stopping at that wild Crazy House (Tam called it “Gaudi meets Alice in Wonderland”) before heading into the countryside. We passed fields where women in conical hats bent over rows of coffee plants, and Tam slowed down so I could try to say “xin chào” to a farmer — she waved back with muddy hands and a huge smile. Lunch was somewhere up on a pass; I still remember the crunch of fresh herbs in my rice noodles and how the mountain air made everything taste sharper.

The next morning at Lak Lake, roosters woke me before sunrise. I sat outside with strong coffee watching M’nong villagers glide their wooden boats across the misty water — it felt like time had paused for a second. Walking through Jun Village later, Tam explained how families here still cook rice in bamboo tubes over open fires; Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin — probably butchered it. Riding again, we stopped at a brick factory where workers’ hands moved so fast shaping clay you’d think they were magicians. The road to Dray Sap waterfall wound through jungle thick with birdsong and wet earth smells; when we finally reached the falls, the sound drowned out everything else. Swimming in that cool “Fairy Pool” after hours on the bike was pure relief.

Dinner that night was BBQ by firelight in a longhouse tucked away near Dray Sap Falls — sticky rice from bamboo, smoky pork, someone’s homemade rice wine passed around until everyone was laughing too loud. The next day’s ride along the Ho Chi Minh Trail felt endless but never boring: tea fields rolling into view, old war stories from Tam (he always had one more), kids waving from roadside houses. There were moments when it was just wind and green hills and not much else — those are the bits I keep replaying in my head now.

We looped back toward Dalat through Bao Loc and Chicken Village (yes, there’s an actual giant chicken statue), stopping for waterfalls or just because Tam spotted something interesting by the road. By the time we reached Truc Lam temple near sunset, I’d lost track of how many times I’d said “wow” or just sat quiet behind Tam watching light flicker through pine trees. If you want something more than just ticking off sights — if you want to actually feel Vietnam under your skin for a few days — this is probably it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dalat to Lak motorcycle tour

• Meet Easy Rider guide at hotel
• Put on safety riding gear
• Visit Crazy House, Railway Station, Dragon Pagoda
• Ride to countryside, see terrace fields
• Learn about local farms and produce
• Enjoy winding mountain rides and scenery
• Break at mountain pass restaurant
• Trek in lush rainforests
• Ride through rice fields, observe M'nong people
• Arrive and check in hotel at Lak Lake

Day 2 — Lak village and Dray Sap waterfall

• Wake to rural village sounds
• Breakfast and coffee watching M'nong activities
• Walk through Jun Village, experience M’nong culture
• Ride through small villages
• Trek to Elephant Rock Mountain peak
• Visit brick factory, learn traditional brick making
• Ride to Dray Sap waterfall via jungle paths
• Swim in natural Fairy Pool
• Stay overnight in traditional Long House
• Enjoy BBQ dinner with bamboo rice

Day 3 — Dray Sap to Bao Loc via Ho Chi Minh Trail

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Ride along Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Visit rustic village, learn local life and history
• Explore unspoiled natural scenery
• Ride winding mountain pass to Bao Loc
• Take photos of terraced rice fields and tea farms
• Arrive and check in hotel in Bao Loc

Day 4 — Bao Loc to Dalat via waterfalls and villages

• Depart Bao Loc early
• Visit Pongour Waterfall
• Drive mountain roads, take scenic photos
• Ride through isolated villages and jungles
• Visit Chicken Village, learn K'Ho culture
• Drive back roads to Dalat
• Visit Truc Lam temple
• Arrive and check in hotel in Dalat

Top questions

How long is the Central Highlands Explorer Loop tour?

The tour lasts 4 days with daily rides between 5–6 hours each day.

Is hotel pickup included for this motorbike tour?

Yes, your Easy Rider guide will meet you at your hotel in Dalat for pickup.

What are some highlights along the route?

You’ll visit Crazy House Dalat, Lak Lake & Jun Village, Elephant Rock Mountain, Dray Sap waterfall, Pongour waterfall, Chicken Village & Truc Lam temple.

Do I need motorcycle experience to join?

No experience needed; you ride pillion behind an experienced local guide.

Are meals included during the tour?

Yes—traditional Vietnamese meals are included along with special BBQ dinners during overnight stays.

Where do we stay overnight?

You stay at local hotels like Lak View Hotel (Lak Lake), Dray Sap Hotel (Cu Jut District), Memory Hotel (Bao Loc), all pre-arranged by guides.

Can vegetarians be accommodated?

The itinerary mentions traditional cuisine but doesn’t specify dietary options—ask ahead about vegetarian meals.

Is swimming possible during this trip?

Yes—you can swim at Dray Sap waterfall’s natural “Fairy Pool.”

What should I pack for this multi-day motorbike tour?

Packing light is best; safety gear is provided but bring comfortable clothes for riding & swimming gear for waterfalls.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup in Dalat by your Easy Rider guide who handles luggage and provides safety riding gear. All accommodation is arranged each night — from lakeside hotels to jungle longhouses near Dray Sap Falls. Traditional Vietnamese meals are served throughout (including memorable BBQs) plus entry fees for attractions like Crazy House and waterfalls are covered before returning to Dalat by sunset on day four.