If you are in Hanoi and want to find peaceful and beautiful places for a one-day tour, Ninh Binh is a great suggestion. Ninh Binh is home to many historical and cultural relics, as well as amazing landscapes for customers to discover. There are many famous natural sites: Trang An Complex, Mua Cave, Tam Coc, Tuyet Tinh Coc, Van Long natural reserve, Thung Nham bird park, and also cultural & historical sites: Hoa Lu ancient capital, King Dinh & Le Temple, Bai Dinh pagoda, Bich Dong pagoda…
Ninh Binh 1-day tour offers you many exciting experiences. And, in this article, Vivu Halong will help you to know more about Ninh Binh one day tour
- Suggested itinerary for Ninh Binh 1 day tour
- Attractions and experiences
- Price of Ninh Binh one-day tour with transfer from Hanoi
Vivu Halong is the #1 local travel agency specializing in tours, cruises, and transfers in Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ninh Binh, contact us to plan your trip!
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Ninh Binh one day tour price & options
If you are looking for one day tour to Ninh Binh from Hanoi, take a look at our suggested tour options with prices. This price has well included all services (transfer, meal, English-speaking guide, entrance fee, ticket…)
| TOUR | PRICE | NOTES |
| Hoa Lu – Tam Coc (with cycling) | 850.000đ/pax |
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| Hoa Lu – Trang An (with cycling) | 900.000đ/pax |
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| Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An | 950.000đ/pax |
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| Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave (with cycling) | 950.000đ/pax |
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| Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave (with cycling) | 990.000đ/pax |
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| Bai Dinh pagoda – Trang An – Mua Cave | 1.050.000đ/pax |
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* The price could be lower if you choose a tour with a bigger group and a normal tourist bus (35 seats), with similar itineraries & visiting sites
>> Bus from Hanoi Old Quarter to Ninh Binh > Check schedule and rate here
Booking Guide
- Traveling to Ninh Binh in one day, you will visit both historical sites and natural sites. The historical sites include Hoa Lu ancient capital & Bai Dinh Pagoda. The natural sites are Tam Coc (boat tour), Trang An (boat tour), and Hang Mua (viewpoint). Some tours offer you a short cycling trip to local villages.
- Tam Coc & Trang An have similar landscapes and you will be on a sampan boat, rowed by locals. The boat trip to Trang An (> 2 hours) is longer than Tam Coc (1,5 hours). If you choose Tam Coc then you do not need to visit Trang An (except if you have a longer time in Ninh Binh)
- Hang Mua (Mua Cave) viewpoint is the peak of Mua Mountain, you have to climb 500 steps to get there. You need to prepare shoes, and water and take care of the children.
- Bai Dinh pagoda complex is very large so an electric car is recommended to explore the whole area. In one day, you could not explore all of Bai Dinh Pagoda, just take a glimpse of the complex in 1-hour visit.
- The transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is 2 hours, easy transfer on the expressway with a stop on half way.
What include in a Ninh Binh one day tour from Hanoi
To explore Ninh Binh in one day, the best way is to book a one-day package tour with a transfer from Hanoi, the tour led by a local guide with a bus transfer that will take you to different famous visiting sites and experience Ninh Binh, it saves you time then you are free to enjoy the beauty of this destination.
- The shuttle bus/ limousine van with pick up and drop you off at your hotels in the Hanoi Old Quarter area and a few other points in the Hoan Kiem district
- Entrance fee to visit places: Hoa Lu, Trang An complex, Hang Mua, depending on the schedule you choose.
- Lunch at local restaurants
- Local Tour guide
- Bamboo boat to visit caves and enjoy the scenery along rivers (at Trang An complex, Tam Coc…)
- Cycling in the countryside, to local villages, and meeting some locals
- Not including drinks, personal expenses, etc.
Visiting attractions
- Trang An Complex (boat ride)
- Tam Coc (boat ride)
- Mua Cave (mountain climbing & photography)
- Van Long natural reserve (boat ride)
- Bai Dinh Pagoda
- Bich Dong Pagoda (cycling)
- Thien Ha Cave (boat ride)
Because one day is not enough t visit all the attractions in Ninh Binh, you might want to choose the best itinerary that suits your time and expectation. We will suggest you some itineraries with details of experience, price, and schedule.
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Ninh Binh one-day tour itinerary
Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Cycling (most popular itinerary)
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, back to Hanoi at 7:30 pm
- Activities: Temple of King Dinh, King Le (Hoa Lu ancient capital), Tam Coc boat ride, cycling in local villages.
- Tour price: 850.000 VND/pax
Morning: Depart from Hanoi at 07:30 AM (pick up at hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter), about 90 km to the South of Hanoi, and you will arrive at Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. In Hoa Lu, you will visit the temples of King Dinh, and King Le, and know more about the heroic history in defense of nation-building.
A buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Boarding a small sampan to visit Tam Coc (“Three caves”), the boat of 1,5 hours to enjoy majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscape like peaceful streams, rice paddies, and deserted green fields, Tam Coc really has it all. You will feel the fresh air and peaceful moments, a very good opportunity for photo lovers, to freeze the special moments and scenery.
The boat also takes you to Tam Coc, Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. During harvest time, visitors will have a chance to see colorful golden rice mats.
15:30: Leisure cycling on rural roads alongside the extensive canal network and through small villages with a backdrop of a maze of limestone mountains.
16:30: Get on shuttle bus back to Hanoi. The trip ends at 19:00 at your hotels in Hanoi.
- Only one day to explore Ninh Binh, but surely you will have many memories of the ancient capital with its historical values and beautiful natural scenery.
> Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tours/hoa-lu-tam-coc-day-tour/
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Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An (with electric car)
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, back to Hanoi at 7:30 pm
- Activities: Boat tour in Trang An ( 2 hours), Bai Dinh pagoda visit on electric car
- Tour price: 900.000 VND/pax
Morning: Depart at 7:30 from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, the car will take you to Bai Dinh Pagoda as the first stop. You will get on an electric car to explore, the pagoda holds many records in Southeast Asia with Tam The Palace, the largest bronze statue, and the longest Arhat corridor in Asia
At noon, have lunch at a local restaurant and relax (Vegetarian food is available)
Afternoon: You get on a boat to visit Trang An, then adventure through many natural caves, and unique limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh. Trang An recognized by UNESCO as A World Heritage Site, with a wonderful tunnel cave system. King Kong’s Movie “Skull Island” recorded many scenes here.
Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave tour
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, end at 7:30 pm
- Sightseeing spots: Temple of King Dinh, King Le (Hoa Lu), Trang An Scenic Landscape, Ngoa Long Peak (Dancing Cave)
- Tour price: 990.000đ/pax
Hoa Lu, Trang An, and Mua Cave one-day tour will take you to visit the 3 most famous destinations of Ninh Binh.
You can have a chance to visit the historical and cultural Hoa Lu ancient capital, as well as the beautiful landscapes in Trang An & Dancing Cave.
Morning: Depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, shuttle bus pick you up at your hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter from 07:30 AM. Arriving in Ninh Binh then you will visit 2 temples of King Dinh & King Le in the center of Hoa Lu ancient capital, which was the capital of Vietnam since the 10th century. The area has beautiful scenery and is surrounded by limestone mountains.
Afternoon: After having lunch, you board a bamboo boat to visit Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, and adventure through many natural caves, pagodas, and temples. Embark on a traditional sampan gently rowed down the exquisite river through numerous caves: Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave,…and Cao Sơn Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple…
Mua Cave is the next destination of the tour, which is a beautiful check-in point on Ngoa Long Peak. This is a great opportunity for photography, to get an overview of the Ngo Dong river and Ninh Binh rice fields.
16h30: Get on the shuttle bus back to Hanoi. Trip ends!
*Travellers need to climb more than 500 stone steps to conquer the top of the mountain and take beautiful pictures.
Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tours/hoa-lu-trang-an-mua-cave-day-tour/
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Bai Dinh pagoda – Trang An – Mua Cave tour
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, end at 7:30 pm
- Attractions: Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An Complex, Ngoa Long Peak (Dancing Cave)
- Tour price: 1.050.000d/pax
Bai Dinh, Trang An, Hang Mua 1 day tour takes you to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, the temple that has set many records in Southeast Asia. You can even sit on a bamboo boat to explore the beautiful landscape of Trang An Scenic landscape and conquer Ngoa Long mountain to get to the Dancing Cave area.
Morning: Depart at 7:30 from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, the car will take you to Bai Dinh Pagoda as the first stop. The pagoda holds many records in Southeast Asia with Tam The Palace, the largest bronze statue, the longest Arhat corridor in Asia, etc
Afternoon: You get on a boat to visit Trang An, then adventure through many natural caves, and unique limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh. After that, you can visit sacred temples and pagodas in the middle of the country.
The next activity is to go to Dancing Cave and climb more than 500 stone steps to conquer the top of Ngoa Long Mountain. From the high position, you can see the Ninh Binh River below, as well as beautiful pictures.
>> Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tours/bai-dinh-trang-an-mua-cave-day-tour/
Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An – Hang Mua
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, end at 7:30 pm
- Attractions: Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An (boat ride), Hang Mua (conquering the peak for a panoramic view)
- Tour price: 950.000đ/pax
This tour takes you to the top 3 famous destinations, including Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An, and Tuyet Tinh Coc. This trip gives you a chance to visit a record-setting temple, Trang An scenic spot, and Tuyet Tinh Coc, a popular check-in spot for the young.
Morning: You depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am to get to Ninh Binh, and the first stop is Bai Dinh Pagoda. The pagoda holds many records in Southeast Asia with Tam The Palace, the largest bronze statue, the largest temple, the largest temple in the world, and the longest Arhat lobby in Asia, etc.
These pagoda complexes stunningly boast an array of the most massive and magnificent architecture of Vietnamese tradition refined ever built that it takes a full day to explore all. So you will visit some of the highlights that owned the national:500 stone statues of “La Han” (Arhats),2 huge bronze bells, one weighs 27 tons, other weighs 36 tons. Visit The Quan Yin statue with thousands of arms and eyes, and Visit the Gautama Buddha statue.
Afternoon:
Leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an outstanding natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometers that rises dramatically out from rice paddy fields. Deep into the linked chains of towering mountains are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous freshwater ponds, and jungle. Embark on a traditional sampan gently rowed down the exquisite river through numerous caves: Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave,…and Cao Sơn Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple…
15:30 – Visit Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long Peak, enjoy the spectacular rice valley with a precious view of nature.
19:30: Back to Hanoi.
Tam Chuc Pagoda Tour – Van Long Lagoon
- Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, and finish at 7:00 pm
- Attractions: Tam Chuc Pagoda, Van Long Lagoon
- Tour price: 950.000đ/pax
The 1-day tour to Tam Chuc Pagoda and Van Long Lagoon combines famous destinations of the two provinces of Ha Nam and Ninh Binh. Tam Chuc Pagoda is the largest temple in Vietnam, a unique spiritual tourist area located in the limestone mountains with beautiful scenery.
The pagoda overlooks Tam Chuc Lake with Tam Quan Gate, Dien Quan Am, Phap Chu Palace, and Pillar Kinh Garden.
Van Long Lagoon is a flooded ecological area with a diversity of flora and a unique water landscape. You can ride a boat to explore the whole landscape of the lagoon on the trip.
Morning: Depart from Hanoi at 7:30 am, you will have breakfast in Ha Nam province, and then visit Tam Chuc pagoda. You can also visit Jade Well, being built of monolithic red stone and located on the top of the mountain. To visit the pagoda, you need to conquer up to 299 stone steps.
Afternoon: After having lunch at the restaurant, you explore Van Long Lagoon by boat rowed by locals. The place with a vivid natural landscape with diverse flora will be a very attractive destination on your trip.
Where to visit Ninh Binh in one day
Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex
Well-Known for beautiful images in perfect movies like “Tam Cam – Untold Story” or the blockbuster Kong:
Skull Island, Trang An becomes a famous scenic complex of Ninh Binh including ecotourism areas, caves, pagodas, and temples with many historical and cultural values.
Discovering Trang An, you will board a boat rowed by locals and visit the natural scenery with a series of caves and monuments: Trinh Temple, Tu Tru Temple, Tran Temple, Cao Son Temple, Dia Linh Cave, Giot Cave, or Wine Cooking Cave. The journey usually lasts from 1 and a half to 2 hours.
Mua Cave
Mua Cave is not just a simple cave, this is a tourist area. It includes many beautiful landscapes, with both relaxation and entertainment. It is considered the “Miniature Great Wall” and Ngoa Long Peak is the highlight of this destination. Most visitors are impressed by the long, craggy stairs on the mountain slope.
The name Mua Cave is derived from its location, right at the foot of Dancing Mountain. The cave is located in Khe Dau Ha village, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, in Ninh Binh province. Most visitors visiting to Mua Cave try their best to climb up to 500 stone steps and conquer Ngoa Long peak, not forgetting to take amazing photos.
Hoa Lu ancient capital
Hoa Lu is the ancient capital of Vietnam in the Ly, Tien Le dynasties (10th century). It is a large area with many areas surrounded by rocky mountains.
Getting to Hoa Lu, you will visit 2 sacred temples worshipping King Dinh and King Le. You can also learn many historical values and listen to stories about kings who have built and defended the country during its long history.
Tam Coc – Bich Dong
Tam Coc is a place with 3 caves: Hang Ca, Hai Hai, and Hang Ba. All these three caves are formed by the Ngo Dong river crashing through the mountain and belong to Tam Coc – Bich Dong landscape complex.
To visit Tam Coc, visitors will sit on a bamboo boat rowed by local people, and watch the wonderful scenery of the mountains, and Ngo Dong River for about 1-2 hours.
You can cycle from Tam Coc for about 5 km to visit the Bich Dong pagoda and enjoy the natural landscapes and villages. The pagoda was built on the Truong Yen limestone mountain range with extremely wonderful scenery, known as Nam Thien De Nhi Dong.
It has three non-contiguous buildings along with a mountain shape. The temple is hidden in the mountains, merging with nature, mountains, caves, and pagodas, in a breathtaking natural & spiritual landscape.
Bich Dong pagoda
Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the famous scenic spots of Ninh Binh province, where it is known as “Nam Thien De Nhi Dong” (meaning the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam). Bich Dong Pagoda is one of the sacred places that tourists desire to visit in Ninh Binh. The pagoda is the perfect combination of ancient pagodas with cross-covered roofs, natural caves and majestic mountains, hidden in the green trees of mountains.
Tuyet Tinh Coc
Tuyet Tinh Coc is the favorite check-in point for young people when visiting Ninh Binh. It is also home to Am Tien Pagoda, where Queen Mother Duong Van Nga worshipped Buddha in her last years.
It is a large area of a jade-green lake surrounded by limestone mountains. Tuyet Tinh Coc is in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, close to many attractions in Ninh Binh. To visit Tuyet Tinh Coc, you need to buy a ticket at 20.000vnd/person.
Van Long naturalal reserve
Van Long is a wetland ecosystem formed by a length of dyke of more than 30km used to control floods on the Day River. Van Long Lagoon is an area in Bac Gia Vien, Ninh Binh province.
The lagoon is up to 2700 ha, including 500 ha of wetland. Going to Van Long, you must admire the unprecedented sights such as herds of thousands of storks, and rare white shorts langurs.
To discover Van Long Lagoon, you will be on a boat with local people. It takes you to the wetland zone. You can also cycle around the flooded area and have an overlook of the landscape and peaceful villages.
Galaxy Cave (Thien Ha cave)
Thien Ha cave is a complex of caves in Son Ha commune, Nho Quan district. It is known as the Milky Way in the heart of the mountain, including dry caves and wet caves.
To visit the destination, you have to take a boat and get inside the caves, then hike to get to dry caves in the mountain.
Phat Diem Church
Phat Diem Church is a Catholic church in Phat Diem town, Kim Son district. The church includes the Cathedral area and the stone church built in 1875.
Phat Diem Church is famous for its unique architecture, in harmony between Catholic architecture and Vietnamese cultural symbols. It is considered one of the most beautiful churches with historical and cultural value in Vietnam.
Activities in one day Ninh Binh tour
Bamboo boat to visit the cave and river
This is such a special experience on any Ninh Binh tour. Visitors can sit on the boat and watch rivers flow around limestone mountains, and visit caves formed over millions of years.
You can also be on a bamboo boat to get to Tam Coc and visit Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. On the boat, you can also enjoy rice ripening, or get to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex to discover a series of caves and historical temples.
Thien Ha Cave is also a place that you can visit during the tour.
Here are attractions for visiting on a bamboo boat
- Tam Coc
- Trang An
- Thien Ha cave
- Van Long natural reserve
- Thung Nham bird park
Cycling in Tam Coc
You can cycle anywhere in the peaceful countryside of Hoa Lu. But you need to know about the most beautiful cycling routes, which take you to beautiful landscapes with rice fields, lotus ponds, or peaceful villages. They are:
- Hoa Lu route (Temple of King Dinh, King Le) – Tam Coc
- Tam Coc – Bich Dong route
- The route around Van Long Lagoon
- Tam Coc – Mua Cave route
Visiting temples and pagodas
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and surrounding areas is the center of many temples. You can visit King Dinh Temple, King Le Temple, or Bai Dinh Pagoda, which set many records in Southeast Asia.
They are all scattered in the famous landscapes of Ninh Binh and will make you feel like being lost in an emotional spiritual journey.
Kayaking in Trang An
Kayaking is a new activity you can try when visiting Trang An. The best experience is to kayak along the Sao Khe River, get closer to the limestone mountains or go through the caves full of animals.
However, kayaking is only suitable for those who are healthy enough to follow the long journey, needing flexibility and perseverance.
Conquering Ngoa Long Peak (Mua Cave)
Considered a Miniature Great Wall in Ninh Binh, the way to Dancing Cave is not an easy journey. You need to climb up to 500 stone steps to reach the top of Ngoa Long Mountain.
The worthy achievement is the amazing view of Ninh Binh. You can immerse yourself in natural landscapes and have a great chance to take the best photos that make others jealous.
How to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi?
Shuttle bus: you can get a shuttle bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, the bus is mainly for tourists with pick up at different hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter then drop you off at tourist places in Ninh Binh.
Limousines, buses: Ninh Binh is a famous tourist area for a long time. Therefore, there are many vehicles you can take to get to Ninh Binh. Popularly, people catch a bus from Giap Bat bus station to Ninh Binh at a fare of 100.000 VND.
But if you can afford and want to experience high-class luxury, a limousine is a good choice. The fares range from 125,000 to 400,000 VND for one way. Here are some local companies you can contact:
- Trang An Limousine (19000336)
- X.E Vietnam
- Khanh An Limousine
- Duy Khang Limousine (19003086)
>> Please, note that this local limousine just picks up and drops off at some default location in Hanoi city then you have take a taxi/grab to your hotel. If you prefer to have shuttle bus with pick up and drop off at hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter, take a look at: Tourist bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Private cars: If you go by private car, you will go through the Phap Van – Cau Gie – Ninh Binh highway. It takes you about 90 minutes to reach Ninh Binh city center.
Trains: Both North and South trains have stops at Ninh Binh Station, including Cau Yen Station, Ghenh Station and Dong Giao Station. It takes 2 hours and 10 minutes to get to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. If you want to book a seat, you can visit the website https://dsvn.vn/
- Train No: SE1, SE3, SE5, SE7 và SE19, departing from Hanoi Station
Motorbikes: You can also ride a motorbike from Hanoi, along the old National Highway 1A. However, you have to pay attention to be safe during the trip. To be better, you should use a car and then rent a motorbike in Ninh Binh to get to many attractions.
Restaurants in Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is most famous for mountain goats. That is the reason why all restaurants in the city and major tourist areas specialize in serving goat dishes.
Besides that, Ninh Binh restaurants are also famous for hill chickens, pigs, beef, and other specialties. Here are some local restaurants for you to choose from:
- Chinh Thu Restaurant
- Dung Pho Nui Restaurant
- Ba Cua Restaurant
- Tam Gia Trang Restaurant
- Thang Long Restaurant
- Anh Dzung restaurant
In Tam Coc, you can find other Western food restaurants served by locals at affordable prices.
The cost of traveling to Ninh Binh by yourself
Tickets to visit tourist attractions
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (Temple of King Dinh, King Le): 20,000VND/person
- Trang An Complex: 250.000 VND/person, including scenic tickets and boat trips.
- Tam Coc: Scenic ticket: 120,000VND/person, ferry ticket: 150.000VND/boat
- Mua Cave: 100,000VND/pax
- Van Long Natural Reserve: 20,000VND/pax for scenic tickets
- Tuyet Tinh Coc (Am Tien Cave): 20,000VND/person
- Thien Ha Cave: 120,000VND/person including scenic tickets & ferry
- Thung Nham Bird Park: 140,000VND/person including scenic tickets & ferry
Food
Ninh Binh is famous for goats and many specialties. The price varied from 150,000VND to 300,000VND for a comfortable meal. Restaurants are located in the city and around tourist areas like Tam Coc, Trang An, Hang Mua, and Bai Dinh…
Transportation expenses
- Bus ticket, limousine Hanoi – Ninh Binh: 100,000VND – 300,000VND / 1 way.
- Bike rental: 50,000 VND/day.
- Motorbike rental: 100,000 – 150,000 VND/day.
Hotel and homestay (for staying overnight)
If you spend the night in Ninh Binh, there are many options for 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star homestays, hotels, and resorts in the city and around tourist attractions.
- Homestay: from 450,000VND/room
- Budget hotel: from 300,000VND/room
- 4-star, 5-star resort: from 1,200,000VND/room
Through this article, Vivu Halong hopes that you have enough information to choose a suitable tour to meet your needs. If you want to book a 1-day Ninh Binh tour, we will be happy to advise you and arrange the most suitable program for the trip.
