Tour Itinerary
Day 1:
Hanoi – Lao Cai
You will be picked up at your hotel 1 hour before train departure (20.15) for transfer to the railway station. Night train (soft sleeper) to Lao Cai. The night trains leave at around 21.15
Day 2:
Lao Cai - Sapa
You arrive at Lao Cai train station around 6 am in the morning, from where you will be picked up and have a public shared bus transfer to Sapa (35 km - about 1 hour drive). Check-in at Cat Cat Hotel. The guide will then provide you with more information about the following trekking days. The rest of the day you will have time on your own to relax and go to the Sapa market where women from different ethnic minority groups come into town to sell their products. Stay overnight in Cat Cat hotel.
Day 3:
Sa pa - Mong sen - Ta phin
Departure from Sapa at 09.30. Pick up by Jeep and drive 11 km to Tac Ko pass. After that, we start trekking to visit the H’Mong people in the Mong Sen village. Picnic lunch here. After luch, continue trekking to the Ta Phin village to visit the Red Dao people. Overningt in Ta Phin.
Trekking distance: 13 km (L, D)
Day 4:
Ta phin - Ma tra - Sin chai
Leaving Ta Phin at 09.00. Trek through the terrace rice fields to visit the Ta Phin church which was built in 1911. Then we walk to the Ma Tra village of the H’Mong people. Stop for lunch by the river. Continue to Suoi Ho, Bang hill and stop in Sin Chai village. Dinner and overnight here. (B, L, D)
Trekking distance: 15 km
Day 5:
Sin chai - Cat cat - Lao chai - Ta van After breakfast, we leave Sin Chai at 09.00. Visit the Cat Cat water fall, the Lao Chai church. Lunch by the river. Keep trekking to the Ta Van village of the Zay people at about 16.00. Dinner and overninght in the village. (B, L, D)
Trekking distance: 15 km
Day 6:
Ta van - Giang Ta chai - Ban ho
After breakfast, start trekking through bamboo jungle to visit the Red Zao people in Giang Ta Chai village. Lunch enroute. Continue to the Ban Ho village of the Tay people. Dinner and overnight in Ban Ho. (B, L, D)
Trekking distance: 15 km
Day 7:
Ban ho - Sa pa - Hanoi Have breakfastand visit the local people. Trek up hill for a short distance. Pick up by Jeep and drive back to Sa Pa. Free time to visit Sapa town ultill pick up to the train station to take the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on train. (B) Trekking distance: 7 km
(B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner).
How you stay overnight:
Ø 2 nights on train (soft sleeper) from Hanoi to Lao Cai.
Ø 1 night in Hotel, Sapa.
Ø 4 nights in homestays.
What to bring:
Trekking shoes or boots; Rainwear; Warm fleece jacket in winter; Cap or hat, sunglasses and sun lotion; Torch; Medicine for personal use; Earplugs
Note: On the trekking part of the trip, you have to carry your personal belongings yourself
Including:
Ø Transportation from Hanoi to Sapa and return to Hanoi (soft sleeper on the night train)
Ø Shared public minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa return + Jeep
Ø Accommodation as mentioned above.
Ø Sleeping bag on Day 3 and Day 4
Ø Entrance fees Ø Meals as mentioned above.
Ø English-speaking guide.
Note:Day 3 + Day 4 with hard trek; Entrance fees are not included for any of the sights.