Sapa is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing their traditional and colorful attire. This cultural trip includes a 6-day trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, encountering several minority villages along the way. This trip provides an authentic experience of local traditions and culture.

Night 1: Hanoi - Lao Cai
08: 30pm Lotussia Travel tour guide will pick you up at hotel lobby to escort you to the Hanoi railway station for night train to Sapa. The train conditions are very basic however we will travel in soft sleeper class which is compartment for 4 passengers. Stay overnight on the train.

Day 1: Sapa - Ylinh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van (15km) (B/L/D)
Train arrives Lao Cai railway station aroung 06: 00. Pick up and transfer to Sapa town. Relax for a while at local restaurant then begin trekking down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H'mong village Lao Chai San, Lao Chai. We then continue to Ta Van village to visit Zay people. We'll stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van. Accommodation is basic but a unique and special experience.

 Day 2: Ta Van- Giang Ta Chai - Seo Trung Ho (15 km) (B/L/D)
After the breakfast we'll continue to the Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai. The scenery is breathtaking on the trekking way. Overnight in the Seo Trung Ho village of Red Dzao.

Day 3: Seo Trung Ho  Ta Trung Ho  Ban Ho (15 km) (B/L/D)
Continue along small paths and trek up to the hill with good views of Ta Trung Ho village the Red Dao ethnic group. On the way we have lunch and trek to Ma Quy Ho village, Red Dzao ethnic people also. Then we continue trekking to Ban Ho village where is the home to Tay ethnic group. We stay overnight in a wooden Tay stilt house.

Day 4: Thanh Phu - Nam Sai - Nam Ken - Ban Ho (15 km) (B/L/D)
After breakfast we'll hike to Nam Sai Village to visit the Tay People, and then we'll trek up to the Red Dzao Village the village of Xa Pho tribe - the smallest group in Sapa who have very little contact with modern Vietnam. Overnight in the Ban Ho Village.

Day 5: Ban Ho  Nam Toong Nam Ken  My Son - Thanh Phu (15 km) (B/L/D)
After breakfast we'll hike to Nam Sai Village to visit the Tay People, and then we'll trek up to the Red Dzao Village the village of Xa Pho tribe - the smallest group in Sapa who have very little contact with modern Vietnam in My Son village. Then we trek one hour to trek up to hills to Thanh Phu village a Tay ethnic group. We arrive Thanh Phu and stay overnight on Bamboo's hut.

Day 6: Thanh Phu - Sapa (B)
After breakfast, we;ll trek to Ban Den place. From here, we are collected by our vehicle and transferred back to Sapa. In the afternoon you will have time to experience the colourful Sapa before driving to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi. Stay overnight on train .Arrival Hanoi at 5:00AM in next day, clients arrangement taxi from train station to hotel. End of service.

Inclusive

English or French speaking guide

Black Hmong porters (to carry food and luggage)

Road transfer by good vehicle and mountain experienced driver.

Cook (for group sizes of 8 pax)

All necessary transport

All indicated meals, plus snacks (B as breakfast; L as lunch; D as dinner)

Water for the whole trip

Sleeping bags and mattresses
Waterproof bluebag for luggage

Tents if needed

Mosquito nets

All entrance fees and permits

Overnight in local houses or tents

Train Tickets from Hanoi-Lao Cai - Hanoi

Exclusive
Personal Pocket Money
Soft drinks (beer, coca cola)
Insurance
All other services not indicated above

Definitely one of the best things we did in Vietnam. We did the 2 day one night homestay trek. Our guide Ker was awesome. She took us off the usual tourist path and had some great stories about her experiences, the local way of life and the different tribes. She even took us to her home and made us lunch on the second day. I think the guide made all the difference as some of the people we met at the home stay didn't enjoy their trek as much because their guide wasn't as interested

We hired Lotussia Travel for two different day treks during our visit to Sapa. I wish we'd had time for more. Lang was a magnificent guide--fun, interesting, impeccable English and absolutely wonderful with both my young daughter and my out-of-shape husband. We rarely saw any other trekkers on our journey--the places we went to were off-the-beaten-track. She provided lots of context about the areas, how people live, her own life. I just can't say enough good things. Our treks with Lang were the highlight of our trip to Vietnam for sure.

On an added note, hiring Lotussia Travel means that all your money is going directly to the locals. While larger companies and hotels may hire Hmong guides, they don't pay them well and the companies are owned by ethnic Vietnamese or outsiders. Sapa is changing fast and the people who have lived there for centuries have much to adapt to, both good and challenging. They deserve to have the largest hand in their future, and to be the foremost beneficiaries of change.

“Excellent tour, best part of Sapa”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 21, 2012

We really wanted to do a tour with the local Hmong women around Sapa and they did not disappoint. Lang, our tour guide, spoke perfect English and was very enlightening about the culture of the Hmong people. The trekking was fantastic and so were the sites. Thanks!

“Great trekking experience!”

We asked for a moderate non-tourist route and that is what Mao gave us. Well, maybe not moderate to us but we definitely didn't see any other tourists until lunch! We visited several villages up on the mountain and luckily Mao suggested that her Uncle/Aunt made us some bamboo sticks for the trek down - and it was very lucky we did. It was a strenuous trek down - muddy and very slippery. At least it was for us - Mao seem to breeze down with her baby Son on her back! Mao was very informative about the way of life of the Hmong people and the different tribes in Sapa. It was great to meet her family who were very welcoming. The only negative point I would say is that most tourist tours stop for lunch at the same restaurant therefore losing that 'local' feel. We got there late so wasn't so much of an issue but would have been nice to keep that unique local experience a while longer.
Thanks Lotussia Travel so much