Day 1: Direct limousine drive to Topas Ecolodge and hike to neighboring Red Dao village (-,-,-)
From 6:30 – 7:00 AM, you will commence from your Hanoi hotel with Topas Mountain Express for 5 hours transfer to Topas Ecolodge. After checking in your bungalow, you will enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys from your private balcony.
The walk in the afternoon starts from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below. You then take a slight ascent to Lech village. You will visit a wooden local house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women, like their ancestors, have hair and eyes brows shaved and wear very colorful customs. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery. On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, you will walk on small trails passing rice terraces and cross a suspension bridge, where you can take some great pictures of the natural landscape. Your guide will explain the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers.
Approx: Grade: Easy/ 2.5 – 3 hours walking
Day 2: Explore the most remote area of Sapa (B,L,-)
Enjoy a great breakfast and prepare for today´s walk. At 8:30 AM, you will commence the excursion with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track” enjoying beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and deep valleys. The trails will soon lead you to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, here you will meet the villagers, visit their houses, and learn about their daily way of life. Leaving the village behind, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvelous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which are used by local farmers as overnight lodges on harvesting days. Passing the rice terraces and a river you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving Nam Cang village. Your lunch is served at local restaurant.
Nam Cang village locates in the most remote area of Sapa. The Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, you will explore the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper, jewelry and embroidery. You may also want to take a swim in the river.
At 14:15, you will have a transfer back to Topas Ecolodge. Here you may want to book a traditional Red Dao herbal bath at the lodge’s spa.
Approx: Grade: Moderate/ 3-3.5 hours walking
Day 3: Leaving the mountain and back to Hanoi (B,-,-)
The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge. You can either relax or borrow high-quality mountain bikes from the lodge for an exploration of the surrounding areas. You can also take a scheduled shuttle bus to Sapa to visit the town or book a half-day tour to explore the highest peak of Indochina, Mt. Fansipan (3.143m) by cable car.
Topas Mountain Express departs from Sapa at 13:15; from Topas Ecolodge at 14:30 and returns you to your hotel in Hanoi.
Please note:
– Topas Mountain Express can only pick up and return passengers at hotels/residences in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Tay Ho District.
This package includes:
– English-speaking guide during shared excursions*
– 2 nights at Topas Ecolodge (twin shared Premium Executive bungalow)
– 2 breakfasts + 1 lunch (B = breakfast, L = lunch)
– Mineral water and snack during walking trips
– Transfer by Topas Mountain Express: Hanoi – Topas Ecolodge – Hanoi
– All other indicated transportation
– All entrance fees to the indicated places
* The excursions are based on sharing a group of maximum of 10 travelers
