Through Hoang Lien National Park to Lao Cai Ref. T5B (5 days)

Through Hoang Lien National Park to Lao Cai Ref. T5B
(5 days)

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

Day 1: Sapa - Tavan - Seomity (-, L, D)

Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver then transferred to Muong Hoa valley. Your trek will begin from Tavan village of Giay minority.  The first day trek will be mostly uphill. 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 at the 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: 0,5 hour driving/ 4,5 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

Day 2: 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: 7 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Day 3: Ta Trung Ho - Nam Toong – 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: 6 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Day 4: 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: 3 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Day 5: 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 an opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful views 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: 7.5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.

Note:

The trek is tough. The itinerary can be changed due to high water level in the river between

Seomity and Ta Trung Ho. There will be no toilet facilities in the National Park area. Toilet tent will be provided. This  trip  will  easily  combine  with  the  transfer  to  Lao  Cai  railway  station  without repeating the way or passing by Sapa.

Cost in US$ per person in the party of (valid 30 Sep '11)	Through Hoang Lien National Park to Lao Cai Ref. T5B
1 pax	366
2 pax	277
3 pax	241
4 pax	229
5-8 pax	210
9-12 pax	203
13-16 pax	193

  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...