Tour Itinerary:
Day 0: The Night Before - transfer from your hotel to the Hanoi Train Station for boarding night train. You will be in shared AC soft sleeper cabins of 4 to travel to Lao Cai.
Day 1: Lao Cai - Sapa - Tavan, trek to Giang Ta Chai and Ban Ho village (6 hours)
The train arrives in Lao Cai very early in the morning where you will be welcome by our driver. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (about 1.5 hours). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower and breakfast. Then travel by jeep a short way along the rugged but spectacular road downhill from Sapa. We are dropped off at Tavan village of the Zay people which will act as our trekking base. From here we will do a mix of trekking and hiking along the terraced paddy fields, ethnic villages and mountain streams to Giang Ta Chai village. It is a village of Red Dzao. Here you will be introduced to a different way of life as we enjoy the genuine hospitality of these hill tribe people.
We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River and arrive to the Tay village Ban Ho (900 m). Tay is the most populous of the hill tribes. Because of the development and adaptation to the Vietnamese society some of them have started wearing Vietnamese clothing. But most women still wear the traditional checkered headscarf. We stay overnight in a wooden Tay stilt house. If we reach Ban Ho in the early afternoon you will have time to swim in a nearby river. In the evening we have dinner with the Tay family. Trekking distance: 25 km. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 2: Keep trekking to Nam Ken – Xa Pho and Muong Bo village
Sleeping-in here is a rarity as the sounds of morning village life will tell you it is time to get up. Take advantage of the early morning with a village stroll and your camera as your hosts prepare breakfast. Say goodbye and begin a day's worth of trekking (20 km). Travel amongst the mountain fields and valley rice paddies while chatting with the locals along the way. Today, you will trek up to the Red Dzao Village at Nam Ken and the Xa Pho - the village of Xa Pho tribe the smallest group in Sapa who have very little contact with modern Vietnam. Overnight in Muong Bo Village of Tay people. Trekking distance: 20 km. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 3: Trek to Muong Bo – Sin Chai - Ban Ho and back to Sapa. Breakfast then goodbye with the family and take a short morning trek up to Ban Den place (10 km). From here you will be picked up and transferred back to Sapa. In the afternoon you will have time to experience the colorful Sapa market where women from different ethnic minority groups come into town to sell their products.
Day 4: Sapa and night train to Hanoi. Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then enjoy the morning with some of your new friends that you may have met the afternoon before. Free time in Sapa before driving to Lao Cai station for night train to Hanoi by 4 berth compartment train. Overnight on train. The train leaves Lao Cai at night and arrives after a pleasant sleep in your first class, shared, AC soft berth to Hanoi in the early morning. Includes: (B, L, D).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 2 nights at home stay
- 1 night at hotel accommodation in twin-shared room including tax and service charge
- Round trip train ticket Hanoi - Lao Cai in air - conditioned compartment with soft berth
- Land transfer by air-conditioned vehicle for whole trip.
- Entrance fees and sightseeing as specified.
- Meals as indicated in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). Special food requirement could be arranged with prior notice from guest
- English/French speaking guide. Other languages are available upon request.
Price Excludes:
- International flights and airport taxes
- Drinks and tips
- Visa handling and Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Other not mentioned.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Vietnam
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Hiking & Trekking
Cultural Journey
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