Sorrento Beach Club - Da Lat
Distance: 250 kms
A big breakfast before you leave is a good plan and Rachel, Ty and her kitchen staff at Sorrento do it well. Otherwise only basic Vietnamese offerings on this route so I tend to load up and skip lunch other than some fruit maybe or a protein bar along the way.
The morning coastal ride North is exceptional. Some great photo opportunities including
(A) Vinh Hy, a quaint fishing village in a protected bay.
(B)Is one of a number of photo opportunities around the headland. Hard to stop though once you’re into the flow. Best 50km of coast ride in the country.
There’s some flat transit time on the highway to the mountains. For the first stretch to the toll booths when you turn onto the A1 take it easy. Always police on your side.
That done, the climb up the first range has recently had new hotmix and is now an excellent section of the ride.
(C) another great photo stop at the top of the range looking back over the switchbacks and with Cam Ranh in the distance a nice backdrop.
Once off the range a nice valley ride following the River. Only local traffic on this but quite narrow in places so care on blind corners.
(D) on the map is a nice waterfall for an afternoon cool off if you’re up for it but a bit of a trek in.
Once you turn right onto the main road its game on again and the more horsepower the better as you climb up the range. Was when first laid perfect hotmix but heavy transport has knocked it around over the last few years so some gravel etc to be mindful of. At the top of that climb
(E) you’ll see some ladies selling fruit and drinks on the left near a pagoda. It’s a great photo stop with great views over the climb just travelled.
The fun doesn’t end there with another climb to the plateau which is Dalat though generally busier traffic wise so caution with that.
(F) Just takes you past the lake on your way to your chosen accommodation. Good spot for a group photo.
(G) A great accommodation option, especially if with a lady. Period furniture, a wooden elevator and old BMW’S and Volkswagons in the courtyard. A short walk to the night market or Down Under Bar for great Aussie Pub Grub.
Dalat has a population of around 650,000 people but in holiday times the hundreds of hotels will fill so book in advance. This unique city sits around a lake in the centre of a farming Plateau at 1500 metres. Its a much cooler climate than the rest of the tropical South so pack accordingly.
