Ref. ET2A
Activity: Trekking
Grade:
(Hanoi – Train to Lao Cai – Sapa – Topas Ecolodge – Lao Cai – Train to Hanoi)
Overview:
Topas Ecolodge is located 18 km from Sapa, deep in the Hoang Lien Mountains. The 25 lodges overlook the entire valley with the ethnic minority villages of Ban Ho and Than Phu 400 altitude meters below you. This package has been designed to give you the walking trip to the Ethnic Minority villages living along the Muong Hoa Valley, as well as have the opportunity to enjoy the best possible in the north of Vietnam - to explore the deep valleys, breathtaking mountains and ethnic communities of this unspoiled corner of Vietnam.
Activity: Hiking
Grade: Easy
Short Itinerary:
Day 1: Take night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
Day 2: Transfer to Sapa. Walk along the Muong Hoa Valley to Topas Ecolodge
Day 3: Half day Walking. Back to Lao Cai. Train to Hanoi
Day 4: Tour end in Hanoi
Detail Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi - night train to Lao Cai (-/-/-)
You will take the night train which departs at 21h15 from Hanoi Station to Lao Cai.
Day 2: Full day walking - Topas Ecolodge (B,L,D)
The train arrives Lao Cai Station approx 05h30. Here you will take Topas Shuttle bus to Sapa, where you enjoy your breakfast at the local restaurant.
At 9h00, you will commence your journey from Sapa by car to Lao Chai village, a Black Hmong ethnic minority village. You will then be able to walk from Lao Chai to Ta Van village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe live. Here you will be able to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your guide in a local house. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is waiting to transfer you to Topas Ecolodge. You check in to your bungalow and enjoy the view into the valley and dotted mountain surrounding.
Approx: Grade 2 of 5/ 1 hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch.
Day 3: Topas Ecolodge - hiking to Lech Dao village - Sapa - Lao Cai (B,-,-)
After having breakfast, you will go to visit Lech village of Red Dao minority. You will follow the road for a while before descending toward a river. Going through rice paddy terraces gives you many opportunities to enjoy magnificent valley view. You cross the river by stepping on a bridge made of stone and then follow a trail going up to the village. You will be able to spend some times at the village to experience daily life, and learn how minorities women embroidery. From the village, you head back to the Lodges for lunch.
At 16h30 you will take the Topas Ecolodge Shuttle bus to Sapa and have some hours free to visit the town. At 18h00, you will take the shuttle bus to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.
Day 4: Arrive in Hanoi
The train will arrive Hanoi around 4h30 am. End of trip
Inclusive:
Exclusive: