SAPA LIGHT TREK — BAC HA MARKET

Hanoi — Bac Ha market -Sapa — Lao Chai — Tavan -Hanoi

Day 1 Saturday: Hanoi — Overnight train to Lao Cai

Transfer to Hanoi train station for your overnight train journey from Vietnam's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai. The train departs at 21:15 pm. (transfer + transfer guide included, no meal)

Day 2 Sunday: Lao Cai — Bac Ha Market- Sapa

Arrive early in Lao cai at 06 00 am, we get picked up and start our drive up to Bac Ha market. Arrive Bac Ha market. Discover the market with ethnic minorities (1h30). Lunch in Bac Ha town. Then we have a short walk to visit Ban Pho — a village of Flower Hmongs. (2 hours — 7 km), visit the H’Mong King Palace. (30min). Transfer back to Lao Cai then up to the spectacular Sapa pass, which is 1300 m high, 33 km long. The ride uphill takes a little over an hour giving you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. O/N in hotel (B)

Day 3 Monday: Sapa

Breakfast at the hotel then we start trekking. The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village Lao Chai. After this you continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. We stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Tuesday: Sapa — Train to Hanoi

After the breakfast we continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai where we also see a waterfall. The Red Dao women have very colorful red embroideries and coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao’ Legend. We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River and trek up to Su pan where you will meet the jeep transfer back to Sapa then take the shuttle bus to Lao Cai train station for Overnight train back to Ha Noi. (B, L)

Day 5 Wednesday: Hanoi

Arrive Hanoi around 05 30 am. Make your way back to your hotel. Tour ends. (No transfer)

PRE-TRIP INFORMATION

Depart from: Hanoi

Return to: Hanoi

Activities: Light trekking, cultural exchange

Grade: Easy to moderate

Trip highlights: Overnight train trip, hill tribe villages, Sapa

What to bring: Comfortable walking boots/ Rainwear / A warm fleece in the winter/ Camera and film