Sapa Trek

7 days (Hanoi)

Destinations visited: Vietnam, Hanoi, World

Grading:

Introductory level

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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Trek in the beautiful valleys of Sapa in Vietnam's remote northwest

This trip is a perfect introduction to trekking in the northwest highlands of Sapa, with time also spent in the architecturally rich capital city of Hanoi. The trip offers a balance of cultural insights and physical activity set amongst some of northern Vietnam’s most stunning landscape scenery. After exploring the vibrant city of Hanoi we travel by comfortable overnight train to the hillside retreat of Sapa in the country’s north. Sapa is home to many of North Vietnam and South West China’s minority groups and we spend the next three days on a remote trek through settlements and picturesque villages. We have ample time to observe the local lifestyles of these unique cultures before returning to Hanoi.

Highlights

Exploring the streets of Hanoi’s old quarter
Explore the former French hill station of Sapa
Travel through the northern highlands of Vietnam
Pass through ethnic minority villages

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi

On arrival into Hanoi you will be met and transferred to our group hotel. Your tour leader will meet you at the hotel where a trip briefing will be held at around 5pm followed by welcome dinner at a local restaurant and an opportunity to sample specialty dishes of Hanoi.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Hanoi, board overnight train

Today we have time for exploring Hanoi to see what this vibrant and cosmopolitan city has to offer. During the morning we will visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his former house on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda and the ancient Temple of Literature. We then sample some of the fine fresh dishes that Vietnam is famous for over lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we take a cyclo journey through the 36 streets that make up the “Old quarter” of town and later visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology. In the evening we will transfer to the train station for the overnight train to Lao Cai. *Please note that Ho Chi Minh Mauseleum is closed on Monday and Friday and all of October & November. The Museum of Ethnology is closed on Mondays.

Day 3 Arrive Sapa

Upon arrival at Lao Cai station, we will be met and transferred to the old French hill station of Sapa. We check into our hotel and have breakfast before starting our great day exploring Sapa. We have a full day today to soak up the atmosphere of this town set amongst a backdrop of lush rolling hills and spectacular cascading rice fields.

Day 4 Commence trek to village homestay

Ethnic minorities or ‘hilltribe’ people as they are otherwise know inhabit the mountainous regions of Vietnam such as in Sapa. Each group is distinguished by its own dress, language and culture and there is thought to be around 15 separate groups that make up the population of over 4 million minority people. This morning we transfer by car to Thanh Phu Bridge where we start trekking to Muong Bo hamlet of Tay people. We then trek to Nam cum, Sin Chai B village of Red Zao people. We overnight with at the local family homestay. Approx: 4-6 hours walking

Day 5 Trek to Thanh Phu village

Today’s trek takes us through several villages where we will be able to meet Tay, Hmong and Xa Pho ethnic minorities. It is estimated there are only 6500 people from this ethnic group all over Vietnam. We will have time to photograph the beautiful rice paddy terraces and the surrounding mountain. On the way we will visit a local school where we will learn a little about Vietnamese education and meet the students. Our lunch will be prepared and served in a local house. In the afternoon, we head back to Thanh Phu village of Tay minority where we will spend the night. The evening is free to relax before we enjoy a delicious local Vietnamese dinner. Approx: 4-6 hours walking

Day 6 Trek from Thanh Phu to Sapa. Board overnight train.

Following breakfast we enjoy a walk around the village where our guide will interpret some of the culturally significant aspect of the village. We then trek to Thanh Phu bridge and transfer back to Sapa. Back in Sapa we have the use of day room in our hotel to freshen up before our late departure from Lao Cai on our overnight train back to Hanoi. Approx: 4 hours walking

Day 7 Arrive Hanoi where trip concludes

We will arrive in Hanoi in the early morning (around 5-7am). Our tour concludes on arrival in Hanoi; however a transfer to your Hanoi hotel or the airport can be arranged if necessary. *Please note if you would like to stay on in Hanoi, your reservations staff would be happy to assist in booking additional accommodation for you.

Additional Information

Inclusions

5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
Airport transfers if arriving on day 1 of trip
Services of a bilingual guide
Hotel accommodation on twin share basis
Dormitory style accommodation at the home stay
comfortable 4 berth sleeper on train
private vehicles
site entry and national park fees

Summary

2 nights village stay
2 nights hotel
2 nights train

Trip Main Activities

3 day trek

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

During out trek some of the facilities at the home stays can be quite basic. At Sin Chai B village toilet facilities are 'squat' toilets and no hot water is available in the village. water can be boiled if required. During winter a sleeping bag is recommended for additional warmth and can be hired in Vietnam, however should be requested prior to your departure. Please ask your reservations consultant for current costs.

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.

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