Sapa Homestay &
Eco Lodge (6 days)
Hanoi – Sapa – Tavan Village – Ban Ho Village – Topas Eco Lodge
Highlights
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2 ½ day trek through Sapa + Muong Hoa Valley
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Homestays with hill tribe families
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Relax in beautiful Topas Eco Lodge
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Hanoi sightseeing
Overview
This cultural adventure combines village homestays with a night in Topas Eco Lodge, located deep in the Sapa Valley. Starting in Hanoi, visit the Museum of Ethnology, a well presented display of Vietnam’s major ethnic minority groups which provides a great introduction to your Sapa hill tribe trek. From Hanoi, travel overnight by train to Sapa and head off on a 2 ½ day hike to explore the Muong Hoa valley, staying in local Dzay and Tay villages. At the end of the trek, you are transferred to Topas Eco Lodge to 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.
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. Commence trek via the picturesque valley of Muong Hoa to reach Tavan village to overnight in a local Dzay house. |
Day 4
|
Trek across mountains, bamboo forests and terraced rice fields to Ban Ho Village for an overnight stay in a Tay traditional wooden home. |
Day 5 |
Short trek to the road for a transfer to Topas Eco Lodge. Afternoon free to relax and enjoy the breathtaking mountain views.
|
Day 6 |
Morning at the 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. |
Prices
Price Per Person |
Twin Share |
3 to 4 people |
$725 |
2 people |
$810 |
Single supplement |
$290 |
Validity |
31 March 2009 |
Prices are in Australian dollars, per person, 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 more information and bookings.
Includes
- Hotel accommodation based on twin share. If a single room is required a single supplement will apply.
- Village homestay permissions
- 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 and Sapa
- Return transfers to Eco Lodge
- English speaking guide for sightseeing tour and trekking
- One bottle of water per day for trekking
- Entrance and sightseeing fees
- Donation for teaching materials to hill tribe school
- Equipment as listed in 'Trip notes'
Meals
- 5 Breakfasts
- 3 Lunches
- 3 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
Hotel + homestays
In Hanoi you stay in a centrally located and comfortable hotel 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 while you are trekking in Sapa.
Homestays in villages are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You are provided with a mattress, clean sheet, pillow, sleeping bag and mosquito net. Accommodation and amenities are shared with the host family. Toilets are usually western-style.
Topas Eco Lodge consists of 25 individual bungalows all 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 economic benefits are filtered down to the local community. Topas Eco Lodge is a member of the Australian international organisation GreenGlobe21. Avoid disappointment and book this trip early so you can ensure you get a room and experience this peaceful eco lodge in the mountains.
Food
A local cook accompanies your trekking 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.
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, a local guide meets you at the station for your transfer to Sapa. When you return to Hanoi at the end of your adventure, it is easy to find a taxi to your hotel.
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.
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, as you are carrying your own pack. Remember, you are only going for three nights and can leave a change of clothes in Sapa for your return. 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 at night, 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 for the cooler months between November and February.)
Equipment provided
Sleeping bag, silk inner sheet, first-aid kit, 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 for bookings and travel advice.
