Cycling and Trekking around Sapa

Highlights

- Your accommodation, Topas Eco-Lodge, an exceptional place
- The sumptuous landscapes throughout these 5 days
- Unforgettable encounters with ethnic tribes

Description:

This soft adventure tour is organised in cooperation between My Asian Trip and a local supplier specialised in organising trekking tours in the area of Sapa. Their experienced and well trained trekking and cycling leaders are well familiar with the valleys and their hill-tribe communities.

The Topas lodge is located on the edge of a mountain and offers stunning views over the scenery of the valleys around.

Day 1: Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai

Pick-up from hotel and transfer to the train station for a night train to Lao Cai.

Day 2: Lao Cai – Cycling through heaven gate to Tam Duong

Welcome at Lao Cai train station then transfer to Sapa for a hearty breakfast and refreshment.
Get ready for a full day cycling the amazing road, conquering the heaven gate until Tam Duong.

You will commence the trip from Sapa by going uphill to the Silver Waterfall. From here you will cycle up to Heaven Gate, the highest stretch of road in Vietnam where you will experience the stunning views across the valley.

Next is ride downhill towards Tam Duong. You will stop to visit Bo village of the Black Thai, and then Na Hum village of the Lu minority on the way. 
Your lunch will be served in Tam Duong.

After lunch time, you will be able to visit the local market. After another one hour on bikes and one hour walking from Tam Duong, you can visit a remote village inhabited by the Dao minority.

A long day of activity, adventure, and of course a fantastic nature experience is almost over.
Return to Sapa and check-in your bungalow on the hill top ecolodge.
Dinner and accommodation at Bungalow.

Approx:  5 hours cycling/ 1 hour walking

Day 3: Full day hiking to Lech Dao – Lech Mong villages

After breakfast, you will start your walk by ascending along the footpaths of Mount Silverstone up to the Black H’mong village of Lech.

On the way you will have stunning views of the valleys and rice paddy terraces in this remote and beautiful countryside. As other Black H’mong villages, the village locates high on the mountains and you will get there after 1.5 hour ascending.

You will visit a blacksmith family and inside their local traditional house, you will be charmed by the unmixed culture of the Black H’mong minority through the interesting stories told by the hospitality hosts.
The Black H’mong is very good at making agricultural tools, wooden furniture, musical instruments and jewelry. They are also famous for their hemp production and indigo dying.

You then take a descending to the bottom of the valley, having picnic lunch on the way. The view is beautiful and soon you will reach to the Red Dao village of Lech.

After visiting the village and experience more of the daily life of the colorful Red Dao minority, you walk back to the lodge.

Approx: moderate trek/ 5 hours walking

Day 4: Full day biking to the remote valley

You will start by cycling on a quiet road for a while before enjoying a long descent to Ban Ho village. At the bottom of the valley you will meet the Tay minorities, the largest ethnic minority group living in Sapa area, famous for their traditional stilt houses and silk wear.
You will be warmly welcomed to visit their houses and experience the daily life of farming and fishing in the river.

Leaving Ban Ho village your ride becomes a bit more challenging with ascending parts on winding roads. At Thanh Phu village, also inhabited by Tay minority, your lunch is served at a nice local family where you enjoy the valley view while tasting the local foods.

In the afternoon, you have another short ride to visit the My Son village of Xa Pho ethnic minority, who belongs to one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam. The Xa Pho people are very poor and still keeping their original way of life: getting married early, dyeing their teeth in black…

You will now cycle back to Thanh Phu Bridge for transfer back to the lodge.

Approx: Grade: Moderate/ Distance 25 km/ 4,5hour biking/ 1hour lunch/ 1hour walking

Day 5: Free at leisure - Transfer to Lao Cai station

The day at leisure until transfer to Lao Cai station for the night train to Hanoi.

All our tours are customizable.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to discover Vietnam by bike

Included:

- Transportation in air-conditioned car / minibus / coach
- Transportation from/to your accommodation
- All entrance fees to visits
- Guide
- Double room with air conditioning in selected or similar rooms
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Not included:

- Personal expenses
- Gratuity

Useful information:

- Please contact us by email via the contact form if you wish to get more information about this tour