Day trips from Dalat by motorbike: 6 rides you can do in a day

One of the best things about staying in Dalat is how much there is within a day's ride. In every direction there are waterfalls, lakes, passes and farmland, and the roads between them are part of the fun. Here are six day trips that work well on a rented motorbike, from gentle half-day loops to a full-on mountain pass. Distances are rough round-trip figures from the centre of Dalat — check a map before you go.

Before you set off

• Start early. From about May to October, clouds build around midday and afternoon storms are common. Be heading home by early afternoon.
• Fill the tank in town, and carry water, a warm layer and a rain layer. It is colder on a bike than you think, especially on the passes.
• Ride in daylight. Country roads are unlit, and fog comes in fast in the evening.
• Bring your papers: home licence plus an International Driving Permit (1968 convention, category A). Our IDP guide explains.

1. Elephant Falls and Pongour Falls loop

About 130 km · full day · sealed roads, some busy

The classic countryside day. Ride south on QL20 down the Prenn Pass to Duc Trong and on to Pongour Falls, a wide waterfall stepping down over dozens of rock ledges. From there, cut west on country roads through coffee farms towards Nam Ban, visit Elephant Falls and the Linh An Pagoda next to it, then climb back to Dalat over the Ta Nung Pass. Doing it this way round leaves the busy stretch of QL20 for the morning.

The path down to Elephant Falls is steep and slippery; wear proper shoes and take your time.

2. Lang Biang and Suoi Vang

About 60 km · full or half day · sealed roads, optional dirt

Head north to Lac Duong at the foot of Lang Biang mountain, about 12 km out. Walk or take a jeep up to Radar Hill for the view, then ride west through the pine forest to Suoi Vang (Golden Stream) Lake and the Dan Kia reservoir area. The main roads are sealed, but red-dirt tracks branch off everywhere — tempting on a trail bike, not on a scooter. Our Lang Biang guide has more detail.

3. Trai Mat and the Ngoan Muc Pass viewpoint

About 90–100 km · full day · sealed roads

Ride east to Trai Mat and the mosaic-covered Linh Phuoc Pagoda, then carry on along QL20 through vegetable country to D'ran and the Da Nhim reservoir. Just beyond, the land falls away at the top of the Ngoan Muc Pass, with views down towards the coastal plain around Phan Rang and the big pipes of the Da Nhim hydropower station running down the mountainside. Turn round at the top rather than riding down — the descent is long and the climb back takes time. On the way home, the tea and coffee hills around Cau Dat make a good detour.

4. Ta Nung Pass and Nam Ban

About 60–70 km · half or full day · sealed, winding roads

A shorter, gentler version of the first ride. Go west over the Ta Nung Pass, stopping at viewpoints and one of the hillside coffee farms, then drop into the Nam Ban area with its flower farms, silk workshops and, if you want, Elephant Falls. Come back the same way, or loop round through the valley roads — just ask a map app for a route that avoids unsealed short cuts. The pass is often misty early in the morning, so ride with your lights on.

5. Tuyen Lam Lake and Datanla Falls

About 25–35 km · half day · sealed, quiet roads

The easy one, and good on any scooter. Ride south to Datanla Falls on the Prenn road, then turn off to Tuyen Lam Lake. Visit Truc Lam Monastery above the water, then potter along the lakeside roads through pine forest. Stop for coffee by the lake and be back in town for lunch.

6. The Khanh Le Pass, out and back (confident riders only)

About 120–150 km · full day · sealed mountain road with steep gradients

This is the road to Nha Trang (QL27C), and the first part of it is spectacular: north-east through Lac Duong and into Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, high, empty and cold, then the start of the long Khanh Le Pass dropping off the plateau. Ride as far as you are comfortable, find a safe viewpoint, then turn round and climb back. Remember that every kilometre you descend, you have to climb back up, and there is very little fuel or food along the way. Do not attempt it in heavy rain or thick fog, or after recent storms, when landslides can close the road. If you would rather keep going to the coast, see our guide to Dalat to Nha Trang by motorbike.

Which bike for which ride?

• Rides 4 and 5: any scooter, such as the Honda Vision or Air Blade.
• Rides 1 and 3: a scooter is fine for a confident rider; a manual bike is more comfortable over the distance.
• Rides 2 and 6: a manual bike like the Honda XR150L, for the steep grades, the engine braking and any dirt.

You pick your bike up at our shop in Dalat. Browse all our rentals.

Or let a guide do the riding

If you do not have a motorbike licence, or would rather look at the view, each of these days has a guided version. Our full-day countryside and waterfalls tour is ride 1 with extra stops for flowers, coffee and silk; the half-day city highlights tour includes Truc Lam, Tuyen Lam and Datanla. On both, your guide picks you up at your hotel and you ride on the back of their bike. For confident riders with an IDP, the Lang Biang off-road tour puts you on your own trail bike on the forest tracks around Lang Biang and Suoi Vang.