4 day escorted tour itinerary
Sapa Explorer Tour
Hill tribes and rice terraces
Lying in the very north west of Vietnam, Sapa is a small market town surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Tonkinese Alps. With its mercifully cool climate, here you find beautiful valleys, waterfalls, verdant rice terraces and discover the authentic Vietnam of colourful H'mong and Dzao hilltribes who sell their produce and handicrafts in the town's market.
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Sample Itinerary Summary
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Itinerary Breakdown
Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi and transfer to the station for the night train to Lao Cai, departing at approximately 21.00 hrs in an air-conditioned cabin.
Points of Interest
Overnight Accommodation
Upon arrival at Lao Cai, transfer to the former hill station of Sapa and check in at your hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Sapa town down to Lao Chai village. Views of the Muong Hoa Valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic minority groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) are likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits and sweets. Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, you will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. Continue walking from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house.
After lunch, continue walking to the meeting point for your transfer back to Sapa town. The rest of the day is at leisure. Discover Sapa town on your own, its bustling market, the colourful dresses of the ethnic people, tea and coffee shops as well as the local life in this mountain town.
Points of Interest
Overnight Accommodation
Today enjoy a full day of trekking.
Visit Suoi Ho village with its tea plantations and cardamom gardens. Follow the buffalo trails to visit the hospitable villages of the Black Hmong minority people in Ma Tra. After passing a school and enjoying scenic views en route, a picnic lunch will be served.
After lunch, continue trekking to Ta Phin village where you will meet Red Dao people who are famous for their weaving skills. Proceed to the meeting point and transfer back to Sapa. After a short rest (time permitting), transfer to Lao Cai railway station where you will board the overnight train to Hanoi at around 20:15 hrs.
Points of Interest
Overnight Accommodation
You will arrive back to Hanoi around 06:00hrs and transfer either back to your Hanoi hotel or to the airport for your onward journey.
Points of Interest
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