Sapa is renowned for its trekking with Southeast Asia's highest peak, Mt. Fansipan (3,143 m) providing the perfect backdrop for some great trekking routes. This 3-day trek with outdoor camping offers all of the challenges and rewards of any hike. Upon reaching the summit you be one of the few who have reached up and touched the clouds, marking the roof of Indochina.
The night before: 8:00 pm transfer to the Hanoi train station for boarding at 9:10 pm. You will share an AC soft sleeper cabin and travel North to Lao Cai town.
Today’s morning: The train arrives at about 6:00 am. Look for the “Footprint Travel” sign when you exit the train station, as our guide will pick you up there. Take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa, about 1.5 hours. When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower, breakfast, a short rest and some last preparations before the challenging hike.
Transfer by car / van to the starting point at Tram Ton Pass. Hike through the jungle rainforest along wild mountain streams breaking for a picnic lunch in the middle of an evergreen forest. More hiking to an elevation of about 2700 meters where we will make base camp. Local Hmong porters will help us to set up, start a small fire, and prepare dinner. Share stories of past journeys and cultural myths under the stars before retiring for the night.
Breakfast at the first sign of daylight then final preparations for today - the longest day of hiking. Our goal is the summit of Mt. Fansipan! The first section is steep and very challenging as we weave our way through the bamboo forests. At some points we are even forced to use ropes and harnesses for safety. We are rewarded with all our hardships forgotten, and with the impression of standing on the top of Indochina. After a picnic lunch and a rest at the summit, we begin our descent back to base camp. Clean off and refresh at a mountain stream while our Hmong porters set up camp and prepare dinner. Overnight under the stars with the satisfaction of the day's accomplishment.
Inclusion:
Guide, entrance fee, all meals, porter, camping gear.
Upon leaving base camp, we begin walking downhill back to Sapa town. The steep trail is somewhat arduous but we have great opportunities to get some fantastic views from our vantage point. See the surrounding mountains, terraced valleys and quiet hilltribe villages far in the distance. Picnic lunch on the way, then we will be picked up in Sin Chai village and transferred back to Sapa town.
Back in Sapa we will check into the hotel, take a shower and have a rest. Your full afternoon is free in town for relaxing, shopping or befriending some of the locals. Dinner is on your own, overnight at your Sapa hotel.
Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then enjoy the morning with some of your new friends that you may have met the afternoon before. Today your guide is available to you for the whole day, although, you have the entire day for free time and visiting the lively markets. Some suggestions include a visit to the orchid gardens of Dragon Mountain, or a cultural day trek to Taphin village.
In late afternoon, depart from your hotel for the Lao Cai train station at 5:30 pm. The train leaves Lao Cai at 8:15 pm and arrives after a pleasant sleep in your first class, shared AC soft sleeper car to Hanoi. Arrival at about 5:00 am the next morning. Please find your own way to your hotel, a taxi normally costs about 50,000 VND.
Overview
