Different Sapa - Different Trek - Set Departure Tour on November, 2009 November 11, 2009

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Hanoi
6-day tour with 4 days trek and 3 nights homestay
Trekking grade: Moderate to Challenging
Group size: 12 persons
From US$ 305 per person

This trip gives you the best Sapa has to offer but not in the normal way. The traditional treks start in Sapa and finish back in Sapa. This special trek starts in Ben Den and finishes in Sapa. The trek is tougher but not less enjoyable since you trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Dzay, Tay and Dzao ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

Night 1: Night train to Lao Cai

Transfer from your hotel to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight in AC soft sleeper cabin.

Summary
Transfer hotel – railway station: 15 mins
Accommodation: Soft sleeper in AC cabin

Day 1: Trek from Ta Thang Village to Nam Ket Village

Arrive in Lao cai around 6am. We meet our guide at the train station and have breakfast in local restaurant. After breakfast we will make a 30 minute transfer to Ben Den where the porter team will be waiting for you. We will begin our eight and a half hour trek passing through bamboo forest and green jungle along some of the most remote trekking area of the north. We stop for lunch in the village of Nam Ket. After lunch we will head towards our camp near the Red Dao village of Sin Chai. We may meet the Red Dao ethnic minority tending the fields or working in the forest on our way. There will be time to enjoy the beautiful scenic valley as we pass through. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Summary
Transfer Lao Cai – Ta Thang: 45 mins
Trekking: 4 hrs – Moderate to Challenging grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping

Day 2: Nam Ket Village – Sin Chai B Village – Thanh Phu Village – Ban Ho Village

We will enjoy breakfast in the camp before preparing for today’s trek. Today’s adventure will take us through a number of small ethnic minority villages (including Red Dao, Xafo and Black H’mong). We will see people from the local communities carrying out their daily activities as it is in the northern highlands. Our trek will take us to our home stay for tonight in the Tay village - Ban Ho

Summary
Trekking: 7 hrs – Moderate to Challenging grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay

Day 3: Ban Ho Village – Su Pan Village – Ta Van Village

Following breakfast we will leave Ban Ho behind us and start to ascend to Supan. From Supan we will trek the small trails towards our next stop at the Giang Ta Chai waterfall. From the waterfall we will begin our trek towards Tavan village, where we spend the night with a family. Inhabited by the Zay people, this community has become very adept at rice cultivation and, in marked contrast to the H’mong, they have a higher living standard as a result.

Summary
Trekking: 6 hrs – Moderate to Challenging grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay

Day 4: Ta Van Village – Y Ling Ho Village – Cat Cat Village – Sapa

Today is our final day of our journey through the Hoang Lien Valley. We embark on our four and a half hour trek from Tavan, heading first through rice fields to Lao Chai and then on to Y Ling Ho. We will stop for a picnic lunch by the river. After lunch we will continue on small trails to the Black H’mong village of Cat Cat, from here we will make the final push up to Sapa. Overnight in hotel in Sapa Town.

Summary
Trekking: 6 hrs – Moderate to Challenging grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 5: Sapa – Lao Cai – Night train to Hanoi

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you are free at leisure. You can walk to Ham Rong Park or stroll around in Sapa market. Check out hotel at 11.30 am. In the late afternoon we will take a bus ride to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.

Summary
Transfer Sapa – Lao Cai: 1 hr
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: AC, soft sleeper cabin

Day 6: Arrive in Hanoi – Trip completes

Arrive in Hanoi around 5 am. Trip completes

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.

Official Website: http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/