|
|
|
| Day(s) |
|
Style |
|
Price from |
US$1,049
|
BOOK TOUR
|
| Start |
|
Finish |
|
Countries |
|
OVERVIEW
|
Northwest Vietnam is a captivating mix of dramatic mountainscapes, crisp fresh air and colourfully-clothed hilltribes. Set on the slopes of a beautiful emerald green valley, Sapa is the heart of this unique piece of Vietnam. The Pu Luong limestone landscape is an area of outstanding beauty, culture interest and high biodiversity value. This hiking tour will offer you the experience of daily life and culture of minority people, stay in scenic villages and in traditional homestay, and indulge yourself in the beautiful Ha Long bay.
|
|
|
HIGHLIGHT
• A traditional homestay is the perfect way to access remote parts of this region and get a real glimpse of Vietnamese life, not to mention the beauty of a home cooked local meal after a day of hiking
• Hike through the rolling rice terraces, waterfalls, mountains and lush green hills of Sapa and you’ll quickly realise why this has become an iconic image of Vietnam
• Meet a community of hill-tribe people who have been in Vietnam for over three centuries. Having emigrated from China, the H'mong settled in Cat Cat Village and invite you to learn about their rich culture
• An included overnight sleeper train through northern Vietnam is a unique experience. This is a great way to rub shoulders with the locals and to squeeze a bit of local knowledge out of them. Local guides will take you to the train in Hanoi, and Sapa local guides will meet you at the other end
ITINERARY
|
Day 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL (Nil)
Pick up Noi Bai airport and then transfer to Hanoi hotel for check in. Overnight at May De Ville old quarter 4* in Hanoi.
|
|
|
|
Day 2: HANOI – MAI CHAU – TREK TO PU BIN VILLAGE (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Depart from your Hanoi hotel at 7:00 am for Mai Chau (130 km). Off the car and off the beaten path, we begin our trek to Pu Bin villages. For 2.5 hours we we will trek (10 km) through outstanding mountain scenery and picturesque rice paddies, see hand-crafted bamboo water wheels, and talk with the lovely local people. Spend the night in a local Thai family’s traditional house on stilts. Overnight at homestay- basic tourist standard (private bath room, hot water, clean).
|
|
|
|
Day 3: PU LUONG 5 HOURS TREK (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
The sounds of village life will tell you that morning has arrived. Breakfast then trek to Hin village (5-6 hours). On this route we will encounter some steep climbs and more stream crossings. Along the way we will visit an incredible cave, only recently discovered, now protected by the Forest Rangers. The trekking will become more and more remote although one is never that far from a villager tending their fields. Pass steep limestone mountains and curiosity conjuring caves, through the dense rain forests all inside the borders of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and onto Nua village. Overnight at homestay- basic tourist standard (private bath room, hot water, clean).
|
|
|
|
Day 4: PU LUONG TREK NUA VILLAGE (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Trek to Xom villages (5 hours, 18 km). The daily life here starts early, it will be interesting for you to get up at the first sign of day light and take part in the activities in the morning, or take a stroll around Hang village before having breakfast with our new Thai friends.
Start trekking at 8:00 am. Today we will be walking for a approximately 5 to 6 hours. The first section is hard with some steep climbs and stream crossings. The second stage is glorious with beautiful views of the valley, rice terraces, rich rain forests, and meandering streams.
Picnic lunch on the way.
Arrival in Xom village is always special as the setting of the village is perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam, nestled between steep karst mountains with rice terraces in the afternoon sun.
Spend our second night nearby in a typical Thai eco, stilt house in Xom village. Overnight at homestay. basic tourist standard (private bath room, hot water, clean).
|
|
|
|
Day 5: PU LUONG – TREK TO TON VILLAGE – HANOI (Breakfast, Lunch)
Get up early morning if you would like to observe or take part in daily life of the local people.
Then breakfast is served by our Thai host family in preparation for a hard but pleasurable trek (6-7 hours) through rich and wild rain forests. This challenging hike wanders through the biodiversity of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
We will have a picnic lunch inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, then continuing our trek to Ton village. The car picks you up here, and transfer you back to Hanoi. Overnight at May De Ville old quarter 4* in Hanoi.
|
|
|
|
Day 6: HANOI – SAPA – HIKE TO RED DAO VILLAGE (Breakfast)
From 6:30 - 7:00 am, you will commence from your Hanoi hotel with Topas Mountain Express for a 5 hours transfer to Topas Ecolodge. After checking in your bungalow, you will enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys from your private balcony.
After checking in your bungalow, you will enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys from your private balcony.
The walk in the afternoon starts from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below. You then take a slightly ascent to Lech village. You will now visit a wooden local house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women, as their ancestors, having hair and eyes brows shaved and wearing very colorful customs. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery. On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, you will walk on small trails passing rice terraces and cross a suspension bridge, where you can take some great pictures of the nature landscape. Your guide will explain about the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers. Overnight at Topas Ecolodge.
|
|
|
|
Day 7: SAPA – NAM CANG VILLAGE – SAPA (Breakfast, Lunch)
At 9:00 am, you will commence the excursion with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track” enjoying beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and the deep valleys. The trails will soon lead you to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, here you will meet the villagers, enjoy a cup of green tea in their house, and learn about their daily way of life. Leaving the village behind, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvelous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which used by local farmers as overnight lodge in harvesting days. Passing the rice terraces and a river you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving at Nam Cang village.
Your lunch is served at Nam Cang Riverside Lodge, with jungle behind the lodge and river in front.
Nam Cang village, located at the most remote area of Sapa. The Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, you will explore around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing rice paper, jewelry and embroidery. You may also want to take a swim in the river.
At 15:00, you will have a transfer back to hotel & relax. Overnight at Topas Ecolodge.
|
|
|
|
Day 8: SAPA – HANOI (Breakfast)
The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge. You can either relax or borrow free of charge high quality mountain bikes from the lodge for an exploration to surrounding areas. You can also take a scheduled shuttle bus to Sapa to visit the town or book a half day tour to explore the highest peak of Indochina, Mt. Fansipan (3.143m) by the newly launched cable car.
Topas Mountain Express departs from Topas Ecolodge at 15:00 and returns you to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight at May De Ville old quarter 4* in Hanoi.
|
|
|
|
Day 9: HANOI – HA LONG BAY (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
08:00: Take 3-hours and half drive by private car from Ha Noi to Ha Long bay.
12:30: Receptionists welcome guests at the International Tuan Chau harbour.
12:45: Captain welcomes guests to Syrena cruises by tender. Check in cruise, whilst enjoy a welcome drink, safety briefing and check in cabin.
13:00: Leaving International Tuan Chau harbour, discover the Halong Bay - natural wonders of the world. Have lunch with special foods while cruising through famous sights Ba Hang fishing village, Dinh Hương island, Cho Da islet, Ga Choi islet.
14: 30: Cruises stops at Bo Nau cave, the core area of the world natural heritage. Transfer by tender to Sprite cave - one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay.
15:45: Leaving Sprite cave, transfer by tender to the Titov island was named by Uncle Ho, after Gherman Stepanovich Titov - the Soviet astronaut who visited in 1962 Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach or climb the steps of the Rock to the top of the island. On the top of the mountain, you can see corner of magical Halong Bay.
16:45: Back to the cruise. Go to the overnight place.
18:30: Enjoy Vietnamese cooking demonstration.
19:00: Acquaint yourseft with the set menu dinner.
20:30: Evening activities include: film entertainment (in the dining room); squid fishing. Overnight on Syrena cruise 4*.
|
|
|
|
Day 10: HA LONG BAY – HANOI (Breakfast, Lunch)
06:30: Enjoy Tai Chi instructions on the sundeck in 30 minutes whilst cruising to Luồn cave.
07:00: Enjoy light breakfast in the restaurant (coffee, tea, fresh milk, water, pastries, bread, egg, fresh fruit & cereals will be served in the dining room).
08:00: After breakfast, take a guided tour to visit Luồn cave - .one of the cave open to the form beautiful about endemic the vegetation of the Halong Bay. Visit Luồn cave by a traditionally woven (bamboo) boat rowed by a local boatman.
08:30: Then come back to Syrena cruise, relax and check out of cabin. Please put your luggage outside the door. Our porters will collect and get them ready on the Pier for you. Finally, the cruise disembarks in International Tuan Chau harbour.
09:15: Enjoy early lunch buffet menu served in the dining room. Settle bills in the dining room after brunch (if you have).
10:45: Transfer by tender back to Tuan Chau harbour and disembarkation. Farewell to guests. Back to Hanoi.
Arrival Hanoi, visit Restored Sword lake. Walk through Hanoi old quarter & do shopping at Dong Xuan market. Overnight at May De Ville old quarter 4* in Hanoi.
|
|
|
|
Day 11: HANOI – DEPARTURE (Breakfast)
Check-out hotel (before 12:00 PM - noon time). Free at leisure. Transfer to Noi Bai airport for leaving flight. End of services.
|
INCLUSION
Meals
21 meals: 10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners
|
|
|
Transport
Private transportation, night cruise
|
|
|
Accommodation
Hotels (4 nights), Home stay (3 nights), Ecolodge (2 nights), Night cruise (1 night)
|
|
|
Activities
Mai Chau – Trek to Pu Bin village
Pu Luong village – Trek to Nua village – Ton village
Ha Noi – Sa Pa – Hike to Red Dao village
Sa Pa – Nam Cang village
Ha Noi – Ha Long bay overnight on cruise
|
|
|
Guide
English speaking guide
|
Price
* Any group size greater than 6 pax, please contact us at inbound.sgn@transviet.com for better quotation
* Date and time correspond to Vietnam time zone (GMT+7)
* All prices are quoted in US$
|