Highland Beauty

Day(s)

Code

AH-004

Travellers rating

4.5/5

Price from

$204

Grade :

Holiday type : Adventure Holidays

* Refer to booking conditions

When most people are asked to conjure an image of Sapa, it is the sloping hills and quaint terrace houses overlooking a mountainous landscape that is summoned. Lesser known are the markets, villages and rivers in the surrounding area of Sapa town. Visit the rural market of Can Cau and its busier sister Bac Ha. Cruise along the Chay river, the boat gently splitting apart the reflection of mountains and cloud-strewn skies.

Itinerary in Brief

Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai

Day 2: Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Can Cau – Bac Ha

Day 3: Bac Ha – Trung Do – boat trip to Coc Ly – Lao Cai

Day 4: Lao Cai – Hanoi

haanhdon

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Highlights

Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Bac Ha market
Wander the authentic rural town of Can Cau
Trek down gently sloping paths into Sapa’s stunning valleys
Visit a local village and meet its resident artisans
Be amazed by Sapa’s spectacular mountain views
Hunt for a bargain in the town’s bountiful markets
Cruise along the pretty Chay river

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Overnight train to Lao Cai Station:

In the evening you will be collected by our bus and English-speaking guide to be dropped off at Hanoi train station, from which you’ll alight your overnight train trip to Lao Cai station. Bring some snacks to nibble on and cards to play with as you enjoy the fun of a long train ride. Adjust your personal light to get some sleep to the gentle rhythm of the train.

Day 2: Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Can Cau – Bac Ha (B, L, D):

You will arrive at Lao Cai Station in the fragile hours of dawn, the sun’s peach-coloured fingers peeling back the blackened flesh of night. Limber up after your trip before boarding your personal coach, which will take you first to a warming highland breakfast before heading to Bac Ha town, host to the famous Bac Ha market and located about 75km from Lao Cai Station. Can Cau is an excellent opportunity for an authentic experience of a rural market. The drive is through picturesque Vietnamese countryside with a twist; the typical emerald green rice fields are built into the sides of a mountain. After lunch at Bac Ha town you will take a walk to Ban Ho village, the home of the Nung and Flower Hmong, known for their brightly-coloured attire.

Day 3: Bac Ha – Trung Do – boat trip to Coc Ly – Lao Cai (B, L):

After a refreshing cup of Vietnam’s popular rich coffee you will walk through the crisp dawn air to the old caste of the former Hmong King, affording a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and valleys unfurling around the town. You will visit the region’s most popular market, Bac Ha market. Surrounded by the gorgeous highland scenery of sloping hills and tiered rice fields, the market is a buzzing hive of activity, drawing members of all ethnic groups to converge in a mass of brightly coloured scarves and gesticulating ink-stained fingers. You’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before making the down-sloping drive to Trung Do village, home to the Tay minority, where you will visit a traditional Tay house before boarding a boat upstream to Chay river.

You’ll reach Bao Nhai bridge, where you’ll disembark and transfer to the coach that will take you the remainder of the way to Lao Cai station.

Day 4: Arrive back to Hanoi:

You will arrive in Hanoi Station at around 5.30am where your tour will conclude.

Note: The trips to ethnic minority markets must be on Saturday (Can Cau market) and Sunday (Bac Ha Market). The trip is based on the day of arrival/ departure of the night train to/ from Hanoi. Departure time from Sapa should be no later than 8.00.

Prices per person in USD from 1st Oct, 2014 to 30th Sep, 2015

Number of pax	1	2	3-4	5-8	9-12	13-16	Over 16	SGL
Number of pax	497	338	291	247	230	218	214	3.4

Tour prices include:

Breakfast and accommodation in a twin/double room
Pick-ups and transfers by air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
Return train tickets: Hanoi - Lao Cai – Hanoi (Oriental Express 4 soft sleeper A/C cabin)
Travel in an appropriate air-conditioned vehicle and/or a Jeep with an experienced safe driver
The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary
Freshen up service (shower on the last day in Sapa)
Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program
Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available

Tour prices do not include:

International flight tickets and airport tax
Visas
Dinners, except as specified above.
Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
Insurance

	SUPERIOR	DELUXE	LUXURY
Sapa	King Express More details »

Trip note

Guests should be aware there will be visits to various places of worship, which may require respectful dress and behavior. Female visitors must often wear clothes covering much of their skin – and nothing too revealing.

For all our trekking tours – guests should be in reasonably good health – and bring walking equipment.

Attention: The itinerary may be subject to change due to the unfavorable weather conditions