Fansipan, standing at 3,143
meters, is Vietnam's highest mountain. It is
only 9 km from Sapa Town but can only be reached
on foot after at least 3 days of forest trekking
to get to the peak and back. The peak is accessible
to anybody who is in good shape. As there are
no mountain huts on the way, we will be camping.
Our porters carry all the equipment and food
if you require. No ropes or technical climbing
skills are needed, just endurance and plenty
of energy. The terrain is rough, foggy and often
cool. The tour is available all year round.
Contact us and check for weather forcash before
you make your booking.
This trip is for those who
are fit and seek a challenge. It provides 360°
views of the surrouding area and into China,
from "The Roof of South East Asia".
If you have more time this tour can be extended
to include another peak on the West Side of
the mountain. Each day involves 6 to 8 hours
of hiking.
ITINERARY
The trip
departs everyday in the evening at 8.30 (pm) from
Explorer Tours office by bus to Hanoi Railway
Station. Take the overnight train at 9.30 pm to
Lao Cai (soft berth with Air-con, compartment
of 4 beds).
....................................................................................................
Day
1: Lao Cai - Sapa - Climb upwards - Camp
(Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
included )
Arrive at Lao Cai
railway station at 6.30 am, then transfer by bus
to Sapa. After shower and breakfast at our office
in Sapa. Meet our guide and H'mong porters, pick
up our baggage and start ahead, along with the
cook. From our altitude of 1500 m, we pass through
the Sapa day market and leave Sapa, heading for
the bottom of the valley. After a short while
we pass the H'mong village of Cat Cat, where pigs
are scuffling around freely among the wooden houses,
and the children look curiously at these strange
people. At the bottom of the valley(1200 m) we
pass the river of Linh Ho, carefully keeping our
balance on the fragile bamboo bridge. We start
the long climb upwards, and later in the day reach
the rainforest, which softens our steps and blocks
our view for a while. Before nightfall, we pick
a spot in the jungle and put up our camp in 2200
m altitude. Enjoying the nocturnal sounds of the
forest is a perfect background for the smell of
a good everning meal, being prepared by the cook...
Day
2: Climb to the Fansipan Roof - Camp
(Breakfast, lunch & dinner
included)
After an early breakfast, we start slowly with
a minor descend, before we again move upwards.
If we are lucky, we might see some of the giant
butterflies living around here, reaching a size
of 25 cm. At around 2400 m the rainforest gradually
gives way to huge, succulent bamboo, passing which
we reach a ridge at 2900 m, and now have a magnificent
view down through the long Sapa valley, over the
area we have just passed, to the mountain range
on the other side. We prepare our lunch at an
elivation of 3100 m. Then we set out on the final
ascend. A few steep stretches must be passed,
but nothing insurmountable and we reach the summit
at 3.143 m. We now stand at the highest point
in Vietnam, the view is stunning, to the north
into China as well as to the south and Laos, and
the mountainous area with Dien Bien Phu in between.
Time for a good long break, before we return to
our base camp at 2400 m.
Day
3 : Descend down to Sapa - Night Train to Hanoi
(Breakfast,
Lunch & dinner included)
We enjoy our morning
- coffee and the sounds of nature, then we take
down the camp and move ahead down the mountain.
Trekking back down across well-known country goes
quickly and we will reach Sapa again in time for
a good everning meal, a hot shower, a cold drink...
and free in Town. At 4.30 PM, we will pick you
up by short bus trip you down to Lao Cai staion
catch the overnight train back to Hanoi, you will
arrive at Hanoi railway staion at about 6.00 am
the next morning. Pick up from Hanoi train station
back to your hotel in Hanoi. End of tour (if you
would like to stay one extra day in Sapa please
choose for your optional day tour below: (your
night will be stay at Royal hotel in Sapa Town)
Day
4: (Optional): Sapa extra day - Night Train to
Hanoi (Breakfast,
Lunch & dinner included)
Enjoy breakfast at
our spectacular balcony. Then whole day is free
for shopping or just to relax or visit the day
market in Sapa or make a trek with our guide to
villages of Lao Chai, Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai
of Black H'mong, Zay and Red Zao people. We return
to Sapa at 2.pm then at 4pm transfer by bus to
Lao Cai railway station and take the overnight
train back to Hanoi
Prices
in USD per person
(
No Extra charge for single)
Private
(Pax)
|
3
Days
|
Optional
Extra day
|
1 |
355 |
394 |
2
to 3 |
275 |
319 |
4
to 5 |
230 |
264 |
6
to 8 |
195 |
210 |
9
|
175 |
195 |
Prices
are Includes :
+Return
train tickets Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi (First
class soft sleeper, 4 beds compartments and
Air-con)
+English/French
speaking tour guide
+Return
road transfers (Lao Cai - Sapa - Lao Cai)
+Accommodation
(3 night in tents). Optional cover one extra
night at Hotel)
+All
sleeping equipments (Camping gear, sleeping
bags, rain coats...)
+Porters
+Drinking
Water
+International
Air ticket to/from Vietnam
+Meals
are not mentioned within program
+Visa
for Vietnam
Packing
list : Hiking boots, Light torch,
Toilet paper, Hiking bags with your Changing
clothers (Some of your heavy luggages should
be left at our office Sapa)
