Activities

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Arrive Hanoi. Meet your adventure guide and transfer to our air-conditioned vehicle for the 35 minute drive to Hanoi. On the bus you will be served fruit and a welcome drink. Your guide will outline the programme for the day and fix a time for a full trip briefing before dinner. Today’ itinerary is flexible depending on the arrival of the international flight, but will contain a combination of the following: Enjoy refreshments on one of the floating boat cafes /pontoons jutting out into Hanoi’s West lake, take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake perhaps stopping off to visit Ngoc Son Pagoda or one of the many coffee shops and ice cream parlours around the lake. Discover the unknown parts of Hanoi’s Old Quarter on foot. The bewildering maze of narrow streets tells a fascinating story of Hanoi where past meets present. Sample typical North Vietnamese cuisine in the evening in one of Hanoi’s best restaurants. Overnight hotel

Meal: Dinner

Day 2: Exploring Hanoi. Train to Laocai

After breakfast, drive to the Museum of Ethnology. The Museum of Ethnology is one of Vietnam’s best with interactive displays and a wide collection of well preserved objects and documents. It is also a great place to learn about Vietnam’s 52 ethnic minority peoples. From the Museum of Ethnology, drive back to the centre of town via Ho chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Enjoy a great buffet lunch at Brother’s café, a wonderful fusion of Vietnamese and European dishes, plus local street food made and served by Vietnamese women in traditional dress. After lunch enjoy a tailor made treasure hunt by cyclo through Hanoi’s old quarter. In the early evening witness the wonderful performance of marionettes – at Hanoi’s famous water puppet theatre. Sample typical North Vietnamese cuisine in the evening before taking the overnight four star Victoria Express train to Sapa. Overnight on board in very comfortable 4 berth cabins.

Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa – Loop trek to Ma Tra and Ta Phin

On arrival in Lao Cai early morning, rendezvous with our trekking guide and support vehicle. Drive up the mountain and Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before meeting the crew, receiving a full trek briefing and begin trekking from Sapa town itself. Today is a warm up hike of approximately four hours on footpaths through pine forest and the beautiful Sapa Valley. Pass through the Black Hmong village of Ma Tra, where you will have the opportunity to observe and experience the daily life of the friendly villagers. Lunch will be prepared here. During the day it will also be possible to visit a local school, before continuing on to Ta Phin, inhabited by Red Dao ethnic minorities. Visit a workshop and a nearby cave. From Ta Phin local jeeps will transport you back to the Victoria Hotel for overnight. Dinner will be served at the Natur Bar and grill in Sapa town. Overnight in hotel in Sapa.

Trek: 4-5 hours trekking. Challenging: Moderate. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 4: Sapa – waterfalls- Sin Chai – Y Ling Ho Camp

Leaving large luggage behind at the hotel, drive by air-conditioned bus 16km uphill to Tram Ton Pass, the highest road pass in Vietnam. Stop for 20minutes to hike to the silver waterfalls. From here meet your Black Hmong team of porters and trek along a forest trail to Sin Chai village, situated at the bottom of the valley. Stop for refreshments before continuing to Cat Cat. Lunch at the Hmong village of Cat Cat near a waterfall. The trail to lunch will take about three hours. After lunch hike to the village of Y Ling Ho - a further 2 to 3 hours. Y Ling Ho also is a Hmong village. En route cross two suspension bridges. Overnight in tented camp. On arrival our cooks will have prepared hot beverages and snacks, and the tents will be erected.

Trek: 5-6 hours trekking. Challenging: Moderate. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 5: Y Ling Ho Camp – Seomity camp

A full day hike to our second camp near the Black Hmong village of Seomity,. There is a stream nearby which is great for bathing after a long day on the trail. Overnight in tented camp.

Trek: 5-6 hours trekking (including one hour to explore the beautiful region around Seomity. Shower tents and toilet tents provided. There is a short section of approx 45minutes walking along a dirt jeep width road. (No traffic) Challenging: Moderate Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 6: Seomity – Seo Trung Ho – Giang ta Chai - Supan – Eco Lodge

This is the hardest hike of the trek, with some steep down hills to negotiate. Hike along small trails through forests across suspension bridges. Enjoy lunch on the banks of Seo River then trek uphill up to Seo Chung Ho village and on to Supan. From Supan take to our jeeps for the short drive to the ecolodge and our comfortable overnight. For those with more energy to spare it is possible to hike all the way to the ecolodge along a good quiet road, (approx 4km along the road) (B,L,D)

Overnight in comfortable ecolodge.

Trek: 5-6 hours trekking.  Challenging: Moderate. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 7: Ecolodge – Ban Ho – Nam Toong. Train back to Hanoi

From the ecolodge, hike out the the Red Dao village of Nam Toong and beyond crossing a suspension bridge and hiking through superb scenery of valley scape and rice terraces. The Tay village of Ban Ho is perhaps the most picturesque of the trip. It is set alongside a turquoise fast flowing stream, and it will be possible to rest on some of the large boulders at the rivers edge while lunch is being cooked. It is also possible to swim in the river – but don’t drink the water! Transfer to Laocai station then take train back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.

Trek: 4-5 hours trekking. Challenging: Moderate. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 8: Halong Bay cruise and kayaking

A natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, magnificent Halong Bay lies 160km to the east of Hanoi. Over three thousand jagged limestone islands emerge from the emerald green waters of Halong Bay. While some islands

are no more than large rocks others are much more substantial and contain huge cathedral-like caves of stalactites and stalagmites. Most of the islands are clothed in thick green vegetation and ring with the sound of bird song in the early morning. Secluded sandy coves are everywhere and in the summer months the warm waters of the bay are ideal for swimming. Halong’s largest island, and one of the few that are inhabited, is Cat Ba, a large ‘karst’ limestone island full of small mountains covered in verdant forest home to one of the most endangered species of primate in the world, the Cat Ba Langur. The best way to appreciate the delights of Halong Bay is to cruise among the islands on a wooden junk.

Depart for Halong Bay in a private air conditioned vehicle. Transfer to a shared wooden boat for a cruise among the 3, 000 spectacular limestone islands. The boat is one of the more traditional varieties that sail through the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on board while the captain heads out for the horizon. Visit Dinh Huong Island and others, stop to wander around the impressive Sun Sot Cave famed for its remarkable stalactites and stalagmites. There will be time for a couple of hours easy kayaking with a specialized kayak guide. Dinner on board. Overnight on board Traditional Junk.

Meal: Breakfast; Lunch;Dinner

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi

After breakfast, continue the cruise past rock formations such named after their unusual shapes. Visit Luon cave (tunnel cave) Paddle through the tunnel and emerge into a crater lake, surrounded by impenetrable cliffs and gliding kites. Please note the trip to this cave is dependent upon tidal conditions. Have Brunch on board. After lunch transfer by private air conditioned vehicle back to Hanoi. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi (B, D)

Meal: Breakfast; Dinner

Day 10: Hanoi – Mai Chau

After breakfast, we will head north on a 4-hour bus journey through some spectacular scenery of rice fields and limestone rock formations to the picturesque valley of Mai Chau. We plan to arrive by lunchtime. After meeting our host family we will prepare for our home-stay at Poom Cong village. Our home for the night is a traditional wooden house with one large communal room for living and sleeping. At night, individual mosquito netting is set up around a comfortable mattress and a silk sleeping bag is provided. Bathroom facilities consist of a cold shower and a squat-style toilet. We will enjoy a local-style lunch before our guide takes us on a warm-up ride through beautiful Mai Chau valley. We will trek on quiet country lanes through rice fields and minority villages of stilt houses. The evening will be spent in this village offering a unique perspective into the local culture and customs. We’ll eat home-cooked meals with the families prepared by our special cook who is skilled preparing local food for westerners. After dinner, we can enjoy a traditional dance and music performance by the villagers who farm the rice fields during the day.

Trek: 3 hours trekking.  Challenging: Easy. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 11: Mai Chau trekking

After breakfast, transfer by car toward Bo Nau. Beginning our trek to Xalinh. We stop at Xa Linh for a home-cooked lunch. Following lunch begin trekking to Hang Kia. After an easy start on dirt paths, trek down two slippery streambeds before climbing up a steep mountainside. The vegetation is dense and the trail down is steep. The path eventually leads to an open valley, known locally as “Elephant Valley”, where there is a flat trail. The trail leads up and over a final pass before descending down a rocky path to the H’mong village of Hang Kia. Overnight in local homestay in Hang Kia.

Trek: 4 hours trekking.  Challenging: Moderate. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 12: H’mong village – Sam Khue Thai village. Back to Hanoi

Today’s trekking is mainly downhill, and the scenery a contrast to the previous day. Begin with a gentle descent on a wide track, which turns into a narrow path, which winds through hamlets, cultivated fields and affords beautiful views of the Mai Chau Valley below. The trekking is challenging involving several stream crossings, steep descents and balancing between rice paddies! There are lovely views of karst rock mountains in the distance. Have lunch in Sam Khue village. Transfer back by car to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Trek: 4 hours trekking. Challenging: Moderate. Meal: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 13: Departure Hanoi

At leisure until transfer to the airport for onward flights.

Meals: Breakfast

INCLUSIONS

• 01 English speaking adventure guides throughout.
• Local English speaking trekking expert from day 3 to 7 and from day 10 to day 12
• Local Porters where needed
• Private air-conditioned bus for transfer as itinerary except trekking days & free days.
• Truck to carry food stuff, trekking equipment (bedding, blanket, pillows. Mosquito net, toilet tents…)
• Train tickets Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi on local Tulico/ Ratraco train (AC Soft sleeper cabin)
• Russian Jeep (4WD) to support for trekking days, where supportable.
• Drinking water for trekking days
• Snack and fruits for trekking days.
• Sightseeing tickets where mentioned in the itinerary
• Ranger fees
• Trekking permission
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary ( B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner). Most of meals for trekking day are hot food,
• 01 Silk sleeping sheet bag/person
• Local traditional performance with Can wine In Lac village.
• Accommodation in twin shared room in hotel in Hanoi with daily breakfast.
• Local homestay for trekking day. Our local trekking staff will prepare bedding for clients daily. We provide clean beddings, sheets, blankets, mosquito nets
• Shower tent  where possible (some campsites on the ascent may not have enough space to erect shower tent)
• Waterproof river bag for luggage (recommend max 15kg – clients must repack their baggage into river bags. They can leave big luggage at hotel in Sapa or Hanoi. This protects clothing and helps the porters carry their load.)
• 2 days/1night sleep and cruise in traditional Junk.
• Kayak rental ( cockpit kayak)
• Simple First Aid Kit
• Water puppet tickets in Hanoi
• Vietnamese visa application fee (if any)

EXCLUSIONS

• International air tickets to/from Vietnam and international airport departure tax
• Vietnamese visa stamping fee
• Tips for guides, local trekking team & driver. Recommend 3USD/person/day/guide ( 2 Steppe travel guide) 2 USD/person/local guide/day ( 1 guide), 2 USD for supporting crew ( 6 people include driver, cooks, who help transfer baggage, food stuff, trekking equipment, prepare meals and beds for trekkers daily)
• Beverage and alcoholic drinks.
• Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, shopping…)
• Travel Insurance.
• Doctors and nurses for trekking days.
• Walkie & Talkie
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the itinerary