VeloAsia - Vietnam

Sapa

INTRODUCTION

ITINERARY

MORE INFO

DETAILS

Year-round

Custom tour

5 to 7 days

Max. group size: 8

Jeep Supported

ITINERARY

1 Hanoi to Lao Cai

2 Lao Cai to Sapa

3 Sapa

4 Sapa

5 Sapa to Hanoi

Detailed Itinerary

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS

Hanoi City Tour

Halong Bay

Perfume Pagoda

Sapa is an incredibly picturesque, tranquil village that lies a mile high on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range in Northwest Vietnam along the Chinese border. Although the Sapa means "sand village" in Chinese, Sapa is located within Vietnam and is home to a wealth of colorful, diverse hill tribes, who have steadfastly resisted integration into Vietnamese society and modern life. In fact, the hill tribes, including the Hmong, the Dao, and the Dai, comprise the majority of inhabitants in the area, outnumbering the Vietnamese who prefer the warmer low lands.

Sapa's central market is a main gathering place for hill tribes from the surrounding villages. They congregate there not only to sell handicrafts, jewelry, orchids, mushrooms, and honey, but to also cultivate relations with other groups, play games, and perhaps find a sweetheart. On some weekend evenings, singing courtships and marriages take place. We will immerse ourselves in this hill tribe culture while exploring Sapa's beautiful expanse.

Highlights

Overnight on the Victoria Express, accommodation at the Victoria Resort
Hilltribe villages exploration by bike and foot
Southeast Asia's most scenic mountain range

Hiking and Cycling the Tonkinese Alps

Nicknamed "the Tonkinese Alps," this picturesque area features vaulting rice terraces, lush vegetation and the highest peak in Vietnam, Mount Fansipan, which towers over the small town, swirled in fog from across a deep valley. The town was discovered by Jesuit missionaries in 1918. Attracted by the cool and temperate climate, Western arrivals transformed Sapa into a pleasant hill station. Along with a church, they constructed hotels, tennis courts, airport, hydro-electric station and summer villas. Many were abandoned or destroyed during the subsequent war for independence with the French and the 1979 Chinese invasion, but the colonial influence remains.

The Tours
In addition to the seven-day tour detailed below, our three-day tour originates from Hanoi and is ideal as an extension to our full length tours, although may be booked apart. A scenic train ride along the Red River will takes you to the Chinese border and into the high mountains and Sapa -- your base for of exploring the area. Highlights include exploration of Sapa's natural wonders and peaceful surroundings. We can expect cool weather and early morning fog blowing off Qui Ho Lake high above Sapa.

This three-day tour is the perfect compliment to a visit to North Vietnam, a comfortable overnight train ride from Hanoi.

Accommodations are at a newer first-class Victoria Hotel overlooking the breadth of Sapa's mountain range, terraced rice fields, and deep river valley. A local guide will accompany you in Sapa. Two half-day treks are part of the tour.

Weather
September through November and March through May are the best times for trekking and cycling in Sapa. Daytime temperatures are then 15-28 C, night-time temperatures from 18 down to 10 Celsius. Trekking and cycling are possible at other times too, but the wintertime can be rather chilly, and the summer rather wet.