Summit Mt Fansipan Challenge
(8 days)
Hanoi – Sapa – Mt. Fansipan – Topas Eco Lodge
Highlights
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Conquer Mt. Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest mountain
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French influence hill station of Sapa
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Relax in Topas Eco Lodge with breathtaking views
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Hanoi sightseeing
Overview
At 3143m, Mt. Fansipan is the highest peak in Vietnam and the entire Indochina peninsula. The mountain lies within Hoang Lien Song Nature Reserve less than 5km, as the crow flies, from the flourishing hill station of Sapa. This challenging trek climbs overgrown paths, through 100-year-old pine forests, bamboo thickets and jungle. On the way, you may even sight mountain goats and Languor monkeys. At the summit, on a clear day, you are rewarded with panoramic views of the mountain ranges of northwest Vietnam, south to Son La Province and north to the peaks of Yunnan in China. Your trek is fully supported every step of the way by guides, porters and cooks who's local knowledge adds to this exhilarating journey.
This expedition combines adventure with comfort. You will travel overnight on a sleeper train between Hanoi and Sapa, enjoy comfortable hotels and camp at designated sites on Mt. Fansipan. At the end of the trek, you will be transferred to Topas Eco Lodge where you will stay in a bungalow with breathtaking views across cascading valleys. Here, you can simply relax and consume the mountain views with a glass of wine or a cold beer.
In Hanoi, you will have the opportunity to visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Museum of Ethnology, a well presented display of Vietnam’s major ethnic minority groups. Take a relaxing cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter as you weave your way through the tangled streets of this ancient merchants’ quarter.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 |
Arrive Hanoi and check into hotel. The rest of the day is free. |
Day 2 |
Hanoi sightseeing + museum tour, overnight train to Lao Cai. |
Day 3 |
Drive to Sapa, afternoon walk to Lao Chai + Tavan villages and school. |
Day 4 |
Commence trek through hill tribe villages and terraced rice fields. Steep ascent through arrowroot plantations and bamboo enclaves. Camp at 2300m. |
Day 5 |
Ascend through 100yr old pine forests to 2900m offering spectacular views across to Mt. Fansipan’s peak. Scramble large boulders and climb a steep descent. Camp at 2700m. |
Day 6 |
Summit Mt. Fansipan in the morning. Awesome panoramic views from the rooftop of Indo China. Descend the mountain and camp at 2300m. |
Day 7 |
Trek to road for a transfer to Topas Eco Lodge. Afternoon free to relax and enjoy the breathtaking mountain views with a glass of wine or cold beer. |
Day 8 |
Morning at the Eco Lodge, transfer to Sapa where you will have time to explore the town. Late afternoon transfer to Lao Cai for overnight train to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi around 4.30am the next morning where your trip ends.
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Prices
Price Per Person |
Twin Share |
3 to 4 people
|
$1199 |
2 people |
$1345 |
| Single supplement | $360 |
Validity |
31 March 2009 |
Prices are in Australian dollars based upon the number of people travelling together. Price is land content only + subject to currency fluctuations. See Booking Conditions for more details. Prices beyond 31/03/09 available on request. Price reduces as your travel group size increases. Call 1300 43 10 69 for bookings.
Includes:
- Hotel accommodation based on twin share. If a single room is required a single supplement will apply.
- Airport transfer upon arrival to Hanoi to your hotel
- Round trip 4 berth soft sleeper train cabin
- One way transfer from Hanoi hotel to train station
- Return transfers between Lao Cai – Sapa
- Return transfers to Eco Lodge
- English speaking guide for sightseeing tour & trekking
- Porter/s & cook for trekking
- One bottle of water per day for trekking
- Entrance & sightseeing fees
- Donation for teaching materials to hill tribe school
- Equipment as listed in ‘Trip notes’
Meals:
- 7 Breakfasts
- 4 Lunches
- 4 Dinners
Excludes:
- Airfares and departure taxes
- Travel insurance
- Visa, passport or vaccination costs
- Other meals not specified in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities
Trip notes
Hotels + camping
In Hanoi and Sapa you stay in centrally located and comfortable hotels with private facilities. Standard hotels have a three star rating. For an additional cost you can upgrade to a 4 or 5 star hotel. It is possible to leave some luggage in a secure storage room in Hanoi while you are trekking in Sapa.
On the trek you camp in designated sites on the mountain and sleep in a cosy tent with sleeping bag and an inflatable mattress. To help reduce the weight your porters’ carry it is preferable that you share your tent with another person in your group.
Topas Eco Lodge consists of 25 individual bungalows with breathtaking views and a Thai stilt house restaurant. The lodge uses solar power and has a wastewater facility to avoid pollution of the local area. Locals are employed and local products and goods are used wherever feasible to ensure the economic benefits are filtered down to the local community. Topas Eco Lodge is a member of the Australian international organization GreenGlobe21. Avoid disappointment and book this trip early to ensure you get a room.
Overnight train trips
You travel overnight by train between Hanoi and Lao Cai sleeping in a 4-berth soft-sleeper cabin with shared amenities. Sheet and pillow are supplied. In Hanoi, your guide accompanies you to the train station and shows you to your cabin. In Lao Cai, your local guide meets you at the station for your transfer to Ben Den. When you return to Hanoi at the end of your adventure, it is easy to find a taxi to your hotel.
Food
A local cook accompanies your tour. All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price. When you are trekking, the emphasis is on healthy and nutritious fresh local produce, for example; Vietnamese spring rolls, eggs, chicken, pork, rice and noodles. Please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.
Local guides
English speaking guides support your sightseeing and trekking activities. These guides love their job and are on hand to ensure you have a great trip. They have extensive experience in guiding outdoor tours in Vietnam and have internationally recognized first aid qualifications. If you feel your guide and support crew provided you with excellent service, a tip at the end of the tour would be truly appreciated… a little bit goes a long way in Vietnam.
Porters & cook
Local porter/s and a cook accompany you when trekking. The porter/s transports your overnight luggage, tents, sleeping equipment, water and food – so please pack thoughtfully!
The trekking day
A typical trekking day starts at around 8.30am. We aim to reach the next overnight stop between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. During the trek you have short breaks for rests, snacks and there’s plenty of opportunity for photographs.
What to bring
Pack lightly for the trek, no more than 10kg is recommended, using a small sports bag for the porters to carry. Use your day pack and travel wallet to carry your personal items and important documents. We recommend using a sturdy day pack with good back support and a waterproof cover.
Your luggage should include: trekking boots or walking shoes, thongs or comfortable slip-on shoes for evenings, light weight long pants & shorts, shirt & t-shirt, warm clothes for at night, raincoat, hat, sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent, flashlight, essential toiletries, water bottle, camera, spare batteries, pen & paper, original passport, barley sugar / lollies for sustenance, zip lock bags, toilet paper and personal medication. Optional: sleeping bag – ideal for cooler months (November to February) if you feel the cold.
Equipment provided
Sleeping bag, silk inner sheet, first-aid kit, inflatable mattress, tent, walking pole and gaiters (on request).
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village or for any other factor that may impact client safety.
Your group + share accommodation
Prices are based upon twin share accommodation. A single traveller pays the single supplement price for sole use of a room. If you are travelling in a group of three and are happy to share a triple room and a triple room is available, you will not be charged the single supplement price. For groups of five or seven people, the single traveller pays the single supplement price if a triple room is not available or you do not want to share. The number of single rooms and triple rooms available may be limited – so book early to avoid disappointment.
Handy travel tips + travelling responsibly
For more information on how you can participate in sustainable tourism go to Handy Travel Tips. To help plan your trip go to Vietnam Visa + Travel Guide.
Please email us for further information or call 1300 43 10 69.
