4 nights & 3 days Sapa & Bac Ha

Sapa, Hau Thao, Giang Ta Chai, Sin Chai, Sapa, Bac Ha

Sapa and Bac Ha are hill stations long favoured by many tourists. The area is home of unrivalled mountain scenery, including Vietnam’s highest peak, Fansipan, and known for its Sunday markets and some of Vietnam’s most colourful hill tribe minorities.

Day 0 Hanoi - Overnight train to Lao Cai

We pick you up from our office between 19:00 and 19:30 for a short transfer to Hanoi Railway Station. From here, we board an overnight train bound for Lao Cai. The train departs Hanoi at 22:00 to Lao Cai at 6:00 am the following morning.

Day 1 Lao Cai - Sapa - Hau Thao - Giang Ta Chai

We wake up on the train and glimpse the picturesque scenery along the Red River as we arrive at Lao Cai Railway Station in the early morning. From there, we are picked up and transferred by our bus, winding our way through the beautiful mountains to Sapa. After a refreshing shower and breakfast, we set off to discover Sapa and its nearby villages of Sa Seng and Hau Thao, home to the Black H'mong people.

We have ample opportunities to see how they live and gain wonderful insights into their way of life. Finally, we arrive in the village of Giang Ta Chai. Tonight, we appreciate the warm hospitality over dinner and an overnight stay in a traditional stilt house. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included)

Day 2 Giang Ta Chai - Sin Chai - Sapa

The day begins with a beautiful hike through lush rice terraces and along verdant hills before we return to Sapa. Here, we have the chance to appreciate the laid-back pace of the township, visit a local market, and learn about the local cuisine. In the afternoon, we visit the villages of Sin Chai and O Qui Ho. Situated in a region of sculpted rice terraces, these villages are home to the Black H’mong people. We hike around peaceful villages and farmlands at an easy and leisurely pace to suit everyone. We stay overnight in a hotel in Sapa. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included)

Day 3 Sapa - Bac Ha - Lao Cai - Overnight train back to Hanoi

We depart from Sapa and drive to Bac Ha, famous for its lively Sunday market where the Flower H’mong, Zay, Tay, and Dao ethnic minorities gather early in the morning to trade their traditional goods. After exploring the market, we embark on a scenic hike around picturesque villages, experiencing village life firsthand. Later, we drive to Lao Cai Railway Station for a sleeper train back to Hanoi, arriving around 5:00 am the following day. The trip concludes at Hanoi Railway Station upon our arrival. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

The facts…

Physical activities: Our itinerary includes hikes with:

A 9-12 km hike on Day 1
A 12-15 km hike on Day 2
A 4-6 km hike Day 3

Meals:

3 breakfasts
3 lunches
3 dinners

A wide variety of food is commonly available in local restaurants, markets or family homes, using fresh local ingredients, typical of the way people eat in the area. We also cater for Vegetarians but please request this at time of booking.

Transport:

Air-conditioned vehicle (Car or Bus)
Overnight train

Tour Guide: Our experienced and friendly local tour guide speaks good English. She/He is knowledgeable about local cultures, history and the environment.

Accommodation:

2 nights on overnight train
1 night in a local home
1 night in a hotel

Trip cost:

$215USD per person for a group of 1 to 8 people.
$185USD per person for a group of 9 to 10 people

The cost of the trip include:

Accommodation
Transportation
Meals listed on the itinerary
Purified drinking water
Tour guide
Entrance fees
VAT and other taxes

The cost of the trip does not include:

Travel insurance
Drinks (soft drinks, alcohol)
Tips and gratuities
Other personal expenses such as shopping, telephone, laundry and bar bills etc

What to Bring:

Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, hiking shoes, small day pack for hiking and trekking. We also recommend packing: personal articles, camera, insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat, sun hat…

Have a great journey!!!