Tour type: Sapa Tours & Responsible Tours
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Operate: Year round / on demand
The back trail to Lao Cai – New tour **
(Sapa - Ta Trung Ho - Nam sai - Ben Den-Lao Cai)
Day 1: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Seo Mi Ty (–, L, D)
Departure at 08.30 heading southwards along the paved road for 3 km, turn right to follow a dirt path for nearly one hour through impressive terraced rice paddies gradually downhill to Muong Hoa river(1,486m to 1,018m). This portion of the trip offers breathtaking scenery of Hoang Lien mountain range and Sapa Valley. Cross the river by suspension bridge and then the trail gets narrower and tougher uphill for about another hour from to Lao Chai San 1 (1,146m). This portion of the trek includes a long and steep ascend but offers great view of Muong Hoa Valley. Paying visit to several local homes in Lao Chai San 1 village before lunch break.
Leave Lao Chai San 1 after lunch and trek along the narrow trail for half an hour between farm land and bamboo forest with not too much up and down before challenging the steep path for about 1.5 hour, through thick rain forest to 1,785m high. Taking a long break here for recovery and enjoying the marvelous panorama of Muong Hoa Valley. The last portion of the trek today takes about 1 hour gradually downhill to Seo Mi Ty village of the Hmong which sits near the bottom of a stunning valley (1,548m). The rest of the afternoon is for relaxing by the stream near the newly built hydraulic power station.
Day summary: Trekking 6 to 7 hours, grade 4 of 5/ Home stay or camping at Seo Mi Ty Village of the Hmong.
Day 2: Seo Mi Ty – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B, L, D)
Leave Seo Mi Ty at 09.00 after breakfast. Take an easy walk along a large path for 20 minutes downhill, passing through a small hamlet. And then the trek gets harder for 2 hours along a tougher which is a combination of lose rocks, steep dirt track and stream crossings, through re-grown forest to Den Thang village(from 1,548m to 1,294m). Walking to explore this isolated village for half an hour before lunch break.
Afternoon trek is also downhill for most of the way about 2 hours from Den Thang to Ta Trung Ho suspension bridge (at 872m). The trail is tough plus two stream crossings which makes this part harder. Enjoy a short rest here before challenging 3 km uphill to home stay at a small Red Zao hamlet(at 984m).
Day summary: Trekking 6 hours approx.16 km, grade 4 of 5/ Home stay at Ta Trung Ho Village of the Red Zao.
Day 3: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Ngan – Nam Sang – Ban Sai (B, L, D)
Breakfast and trekking from home stay at 08.30. Morning trek is a real challenge along a narrow dirt trail which sneaks on steep hill sides from the height of 950m up to nearly 1,632m. Lunch break at the top of the mountain in the thick rain forest.
Continue trekking after lunch along the same trail downhill for 1,5 hour through the rain forest of Hoang Lien National Park to Nam Ngan Village of the Red Zao(952m). Enjoy an easy walk to explore this quiet and charming village. Then following a larger dirt path for nearly 1 hour downhill to Nam Sang Village of the Xa Pho peoples(a sub group of Phu La group), whose population is only about 6,500 individuals and well maintained their traditional way of living. The last portion of the trail getting across the fairly flat bottom of Nam Sai valley to Ban Sai village of the Tay ethnic peoples(at 570m). Dinner and home stay in this village.
Day summary: Trekking 6 hours approx.16 km, grade 4 of 5/ Home stay at Ban Sai of the Tay.
Day 4: Ban Sai – Nam Nhiu – Nam Than 2 – Sin Chai B (B, L, D)
Breakfast and leave Ban Sai at about 09.00 am. Trekking along a large & rocky path uphill to Nam Nhiu village of the Red Zao(870m) and then continue along a dirt path for 1,5 hour to Nam Than Village of the Red Zao and Black Hmong(865m). This portion of the trek offers stunning view of Nam Sai and Nam Cang Valleys as well as chances to understand life of tribal peoples in remotest region of Sapa. Leaving Nam Than for an hour through wild land dotting with terraced fields amongst mountain and rain forest…Lunch break.
Continue trekking for 2.5 hours in the afternoon along the same trail passing through the cultivated hilly land of Suoi Thau Commune to Sin Chai B Village of the Red Zao(733m). Check in home-stay, having a short rest and easy walk to explore this small and quiet village.
Day summary: Trekking 5 hours, approx 15 km, grade 3 of 5/ Home stay at Sin Chai B Village of the Red Zao.
Day 5: Sin Chai B – Nam Lang A – Nam Lang B – Ta Thang – Lao Cai (B, L, –)
The trek today is long and hard including 2 descends and one long and steep ascend. Departure from home stay for a sharp descending in half an hour to the bottom of the valley( from 733m to 452m) and gradually uphill for nearly 2 hours to Nam Lang B(676m) and onto Nam Lang B(899m), the 2 village of the Red Zao. Paying visiting to some local homes before lunch break.
Afternoon trek is much better along a large and rocky road on high elevation for ½ hour, slightly uphill to Ban Pho village of the Hmong, then gradually getting downhill to Nam Ket Village(532m) of the Red Zao and the Tay. From here the trek is much easier for nearly 2 hours to Ta Thang village. This portion offers wide view of the Red River valley which runs through the Bao Yen District.
Trek ends at about 4.30pm at Ta Thang village, picked up and transfer by road nearly an hour to Lao Cai station. Trip ends here in late afternoon.
Day summary: Trekking 6 to 7 hours approx.18 km, grade 3 of 5/ Transfer 1 hour to Lao Cai.
Notes:
• This is a hard trekking tour for customers with over average strength and mobile ability plus some trekking practice or experience. The trekking trail is tough at some parts with river and stream crossings in rainy days. Especially the river and stream crossings on day 2, and day 5 may cause danger after heavy rain.
• This trip can be organized the whole year around. Landscapes is lively beautiful from May to September thanks to rice and corn farming. Unfortunately it is hot and wet in these months especially heavy rain in July and August. Weather is nice in October, November and first half of December. January, February is cold and foggy. It gets better from March to April.
• Personal luggage should be no more than 6kg while trekking. Good trekking shoes, rain gear, warm clothes, especially in Jan & Feb and insect repellent should be brought.
• We may change tour plan when needed for the safety of clients.
• English speaking guide (Surchage for French speaking guide $.10/day)
• Black Hmong porters (to carry food and luggage)
• Cook (from group sizes of 6 pax)
• All needed transport
• All indicated meals, plus snacks (B as breakfast; L as lunch; D as dinner)
• Water, Snack, fruit on the whole trip
• Sleeping bag and mattresses
• Waterproof bluebag for luggage
• Tents if needed
• Mosquito net
• All entrance fees and permit
• Overnight in local house or tent
• Personal Pocket Money
• Soft drink (beer, coca cola…)
• Insurance
• All other services not indicated above
* Services arrival/depart from LAO CAI - SAPA and train between HANOI - LAO CAI: bus ticket + train ticket returned: 95 USD/pax
* Extra day of staying at Sapa Town: base on your desired
TOUR PACKAGE
VNR Travel Co., LTD
Address: #762, Truong Dinh Str., Hoang Mai Dist, Hanoi
Tel: 84.24 3715 3538 - 84.24 3715 3558
Fax: 84.24 3715 3560
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