Through Hoang Lien National Park to Lao Cai Ref. T6B (6 days)

Through Hoang Lien National Park to Lao Cai Ref. T6B
(6 days)

Sapa – Seomity – Ta Trung Ho –  Thanh Phu - Sin Chai – Ben Den – Lao Cai

Highlights:

On this trip you have an opportunity to explore one of the most beautiful parts in Sapa area, which is under protection of Hoang Lien National Park. The trip also takes you to one of the most remote area where you can meet very friendly locals. The night you spend in Red Dao, Tay family. The trip also offers you opportunity to enjoy wonderful scenery, which is still well protected.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Sapa - Cat Cat - Y Linh Ho – Tavan (-, L, D)

Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and start your trek through the market and leave the busy town behind. After a couple of minutes, you follow a road going downhill to Cat  Cat village. You  will  stop  by  a  waterfall and a  hydroelectric  station  for a while  before you  trek  on a  dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. You also will enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river. You eventually arrive in Y Linh Ho village of Black Hmong minority, where you can take a rest while you are served lunch nearby the river. After lunch, you head Muong Hoa valley.  You will pass through Lao Chai  village  of  Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route.  You will spend the night in local house of Giay minority. You will be able to take a walk to enjoy the valley view as well as swim in the river nearby.

Approx: 6 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.

Day 2: Tavan - Seomity (B, L, D)

After having breakfast, you start today’s trek, which is mostly uphill until lunchtime. Whenever you stop for a rest, you will be able to enjoy valley view. Before noon, you stop again at a nice spot for lunch. The trek will be softer in the afternoon. But the scenery becomes even more beautiful. You pass by Seomity village of  Black Hmong minority before  you arrive  in a campsite,  which  locates  nearby  a river outside the village. While porters put up tents and cook dinner, you can take a walk to stretch the legs.

Approx: 4/5 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 3: Seomity – Den Thang - Ta Trung Ho (B, L, D)

The trek today takes you through beautiful rice paddies and over old  suspension bridges. You  will trek on small trail sneaking through rainforest. You arrive in Den Thang village of Black Hmong by noon. Here you stop for lunch either nearby a river or in a local school according to the weather.

After lunch, the trek will becomes tough on tinny footpath going up and down, which requires a lot of concentration. You will reach to Ta  Trung Ho village of Red Dao minority where you spend the night in local house. Both the valley and the village have just received foreign visitors. The night will be even more interesting when you are in the wonderful hospitable atmosphere of the Red Dao.

Approx: 6 hours walking, 1-hour lunch

Day 4: Ta Trung Ho - Nam Toong – My Son – Thanh Phu (B, L, D)

You are now at the fringe of the rain forest by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina with its 3143 m, is located in this mountain range. You will start the trek today by ascending to Nam Toong village of Red Dao minority. Here y our lunch will be prepared in a local school.

After lunchtime, you descend to the valley where locates My Son village of Xa Pho minority, one of the smallest groups ethnic in Northern Vietnam.  From there you take a short walk to Thanh Phu village of Tay minority. Here you spend the night in traditional house of the Tay.  You can take a walk to explore local daily life while your dinner will be served with Vietnamese dishes.

Approx: 7/5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Day 5: Thanh Phu  - Nam Cum – Sin Chai (B, L, D)

Today’s trek will be relatively short and soft. Once leaving Thanh Phu, you follow the trekking route built in the bottom of the valley, which offers the best view to the surrounding mountains. You stop at a nice spot for lunch. After lunchtime, you continue the walk toward Sin Chai village of Red Dao minority where the night will be spent in a bamboo hut in the village.

Approx: 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Day 6: Sin Chai - Nam Ket –Ben Den – Lao Cai (B, L, -)

You wake up for an early breakfast and repack your luggage for the long trek heading toward Lao Cai. Once  you  leave  Sin  Chai,  the  trip  takes  you  into  a  fabulously  mountainous  area,  the  most remote part of Sapa. En route you meet children’ curious eyes as you are very first tourists passing by. Red Dao ethnic minority inhabits the entire area. You will enjoy the fresh of bamboo forest and jungle until you make a stop at Nam Ket for lunch.

After lunch, your trek will be mostly downhill. After about half an hour, you will have a opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful view of days over a green valley lying along the Red River. You eventually arrive in Ta Thang village of Tay minority. Here you will be transferred by car to Lao Cai.

Approx: 1 hour driving/ 7.5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.

Cost in US$ per person in the party of (valid 30 Sep '11)	Through Hoang Lien National Park to Lao Cai Ref. T6B
1 pax	438
2 pax	330
3 pax	289
4 pax	274
5-8 pax	251
9-12 pax	242
13-16 pax	229

INCLUDING:
• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Accommodation in homestay
• Meal as mentioned: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
• English or French speaking guide
• Entrance fee to indicated sights

EXCLUDING: Other meals, tip, drinks, single room, personal expenses, insurance...